Go vs. Keep

If only I had the initiative, (and time...tho, I think that is just another one of my excuses....lol), to have a yard sale, I'd be rich!

My lord......It absolutely amazes me the stuff I've hung onto over the years....and WHY?....lol.
Ok. I'm the first to admit that, sure, I'm the "crafty" kind full of creative ideas and intentions. My creative abilities exceed my energy level, (and I'm aware of this), yet I can't help but have all these incredible ideas linger in mind, sometimes flooding me.

Over the years, I've dabbled in almost every aspect of creative "crafting"...with some projects reaching completion...while many others remain halfway done..gathering in excess.
I'm down to the wire now....time to weed through the goodies, eliminating the bulk. Sigh. For most, I'm certain that this wouldn't be a difficult task. But for some reason, regardless of my focus and awareness of the fact that I HAVE to eliminate to the absolute minimum....Wahhhhh....I find myself surrounded with my "to-go" pile and "keeper" pile. The dilemma I repeatedly face is....ALL of my stuff is really cool...lmao....and I put what's not "that" important in the go pile...but then....later, I sabotage self ...glancing over and recognizing something in particular, and it "somehow" (lol) manages to make its way back into the keeper pile.

Indecisive much?.....rofl.
Like I've said, I have many hobbies, but I can't keep em all, especially the ones which require more space to maintain these hobbies due to the bulky material these hobbies require..so, I begin to chuck it. Keeping what's remaining down to anything painting-related, jewelry-crafting, sculpting, and sketching.
This means, all of my quilting & sewing, (including ALL of the most awesomeness of fabrics & supplies) have to go, wood working, (some incredible wood supplies and the "expensive" tools related for that hobby), small pet cage designing (constructed from the best of plastics on the market and again, tools & supplies), stain glass art, (probably the most expensive of all my hobbies)....ALL have to go.

My problem?.....I don't seem to have an initial problem telling myself to let them go...but when it comes down to actually doin it....I'm back to go again.
I can't help BUT to recognize the expense that this stuff has cost me over time. Hundreds, if not, thousands of $$$ worth of materials and tools sit in this pile...awaiting the fate of being donated. NO time for selling it, (could have done that long ago, but as I've said, the initiative to have that sale simply would not surface).
The thought of keeping it all in storage is ..well....STUPID...lol. Especially here in the bay area...a mere 5x10 storage unit costs me $110. a month..O.O.(which is only temporary). But still, the idea of moving it from this storage unit to another where I'm relocating simply is a moronic tactic. So, that's simply not rational..or financially sane....lmao.

I'm moving next week..out of state. What I am keeping is going into storage, which I deliberately rented a smaller unit to force me to a minimum....lol....but, again...now I'm trying to sabotage myself by beginning to talk self into getting..."just one more even smaller unit" so that I may keep this stuff. The bizarre thing too is, that once I've relocated, I'll be back to work, (thus no spare time for all these hobbies anymore), living in a MUCH smaller place without a garage to work in....snow country....my options are sooooooo limited TO rationally continue these hobbies I so love....yet, I'm so struggling with letting em go....LOL....Imma mess....lmao.

Anyone have any suggestions you can throw my way regarding how to let go of something that does mean so much to you?

Btw...Free to anyone who wants to come n gets....roflmao....

Thankies moocho.....lol.

Shangrala

I would suggest the buddy system. Once you've decided that you don't need something have a buddy take it for donation. Like ripping a bandaid off, quick and only painful for a minute. Another thing that makes it easier for me (although the time element may prevent this) is givinging it to someone I know that appreciates it.

Get yourself an assault rifle or machine gun; then when you see the to-go pile, before you have a chance to think about it, just blast away! You won't need to keep all those shards after that...

Awww....thanks. Your idea would be ideal....IF I had a buddy...or any real life friends....(anymore, over time, I've lost contact with em all..haven't seen any of them in years).
I suppose, a pretty logical solution is to just simply leave it all here for (soon to be ex), hub to deal with....LMAO. After all.....he continuously reminds me how HE bought everything, and how it's HIS money that I seem to be constantly spending......(lol...He so hasn't a clue).

I also like the idea of these orginizations (primarily for the homeless), who make routine visits for goods pick ups....Ran into one of their stations just yesterday outside of the shopping center..donated what $$ I could afford atm, and got to jabbering with em....lol...got their fone # for donation pick ups. (Been homeless before in my young...er years....Know that tragedy...A orginization WELL worth donating to).

Thanks AAAAA....I appreciate your help.

Shangrala

OMG...lol...You know, that can be quite therapudic in its own right...Lmao.

My Dad is like you , only I think he has still got his first dinkie. lol
He keeps everything .
Me , I'm the opposite , only keep what is sentimental and necessary
at the time .Another way to do it is to put an add in the paper .
"Garage sale items , one lump sum , everything must go , $100"
This is only an example of course , I don't know how much value
you would put on these items , if any . lol
The Salvation Army is another option .
I wish you good luck in finding a home for your junk . lol
Remember you can always buy more junk
Take Care ,Hugs

Why not try craigslist. I just sold a bunch of my stuff on there that I wanted, but have no room for. New beginnings right.

I agree with what has been mentioned. I strongly think that you should donate what you can to people that are less fortunate than yourself.

Thanks, guys, for ideas...

Yeahhhh....I'll end up donationg it all as I simply don't have the time, or energy to sell it....even if on craigs list.

As it already is..started gettin it in order today at 2 am, (now 11:30 am), and I don't dare eat anything or sit here for too long, (taking my quick coffee shot...lmao), otherwise I'll never get back up.
Dang....don't know how I usedta do it those hundreds of years ago....lol, (constanty on the go go go).

SWEET thing is......goin through a bunch of old paperwork this morn...find $110. bucks in cashier checks, (previous gifts from family members form years past...GAWD, I'm bad). Pays to tidy once in a blue moon....lmao.

Thanks again..

Shangrala

Good luck, babe......

The best course of action, even if we don't like it, will ALWAYS present itself.......

Maybe an "emotional separation" ceremony from your things will open some doors for change?

And then the right person, right circumstance, right situation........will present itself.........because you are READY to let go......

Hate to sound "cosmic".........but true nonetheless.........things become a part of us, hold memories, stir emotions........and we are loathe to part.......so we must peacefully seperate........in order to be free....

Take care babe......change can be a powerful and frightening time......but intensely liberating.......

Big hugs......

Michah

it's cool that you are donating your stuff, I'm sure it will make someone else's day to find something cool.

I remember going to the Salvation Army as a little kid of about 5 or 6 years old and getting a little stuffed animal cow holding a rose because it had my name on the tag. I loved that stuffed animal for a long time and for a small amount of time I'd take her everywhere and I even named her Rosie (and I think that was the last time I went with my mom to the salvation army my dad threw it away with almost all of my other old stuffed animals that weren't over at mom's because he took the liberty of picking and choosing ones to keep without telling me (it still makes me a little sad to this day...I wouldn't have kept all of them but there were definitely a few there with some sentimental value that were tossed)

to this day though sometimes my mom and I go to those consignment shops so she can but cheap clothes and I can buy things that catch my eye like knickknacks and stuffed animals (I even bought a kimono there once! I'm still trying to figure out an occasion to wear it, maybe I'll take a picture of it sometime)

Normally, anytime clothing or anything else of excess would accumulate I'd regularly donate to whichever organization would be willing to pick up.

I'm a Thrift Store lover. Usually, visit them whenever I get in the mood, (prefer them over full retail), and in my location, there are so many that I've learned how each store has their own individual "speciality", such as one is great for clothing, another for furnishings, one for electronics, and so on. Got most of my antique stained glass floor lamp collection from thrift stores, which is what actually got me interested in the hobby of restorations, construction & design of such lamps).

Some of THE most coolest stuff is in thrift stores!!

What's bizarre is, I have found on numerous times things I've donated, in the stores I shop....LMAO.
My sister commented this last time we shopped together that she needsta find new thrift stores cuz as she's looking through the clothing, she's finding more of her previously donated things...lol.

There are many who thumb their nose to the "second hand" goods. But the way I see it, you buy something, let's say an article of clothing, at full retail, and as soon as you wash it the first time it's considered "used", (lol....I suppose it's those very persons who feel that it's beneath them to be seen as said stores which are for the "less fortunate".....IF they ONLY knew).
I love the idea of getting infant and young children their clothing there as they grow so fast that buying full retail isn't exactly practical.
For what you pay $20 bucks in full retail, you can get 10 fold in "used".

Anyway...nuff of babble....time to resume packing.

Thanks all for responses.

Shangrala


Shangrala

I really don't think it should matter where you shop personally. If your like me you just love to shop. I have shopped at Saks Fifth Ave. all the way down to the trift store. I can find something to buy anywhere, and my bf hates it. LMAO And just to let you know Mary he even RUSHES me out of the thrift store. I just put a bunch of stuff on craigslist to sell, and just to give away free. I have even taking things that people throw away. About 2 months ago someone threw away a perfectly good outside table, so I went and picked it up, so I could put my house plants on it.