Modern Vespa

I'm near the finishing line with my move, 28 years in this house. And this weekend was cleaning out the attic.

Let's just say, I'm glad we're mostly paperless at this point. I have tax records going back to 1986, phone bills from 1988, and car insurance information from cars I haven't owned in over 25 years.

And gobs gobs gobs of photos and scrap book stuff. Childhood photos of my first wife, her family, and friends. I scooped out the good ones (not blurry, not too dark), and will mail a box to her mother.

Letters from a girl I knew in college that I was infatuated with (a nursing student in a neighboring city).... my wife is laughing at me and what I saved.

And I'm reminded that although the same face has been looking back at me in the mirror all my life, I wasn't always bald! Some pics from when I was 14 that have now been called my "Alfred E Neumann" phase.

And more stuff that needs to be shredded. Amazing how much stuff has a SSN on it.

I guess its good I dont have an attic. I only have closets to horde things in. I also have some boxes that havent been unpacked from when I moved in.... 11 yrs ago.

I can relate. Last September we had a major water leak on the second floor of our home while we were on the last day of our vacation. About 80% of the home, all 3 levels, had to be demolished and rebuilt. Tile floors, hardwood floors, ceilings, walls, the entire electrical system, all trashed and rebuilt. We were out of the house for 6 1/2 months. We lived here for 35 years.

Long ago, we had several large closets built. Having them is both a blessing and a curse. It was unbelievable how much stuff was accumulated. Much was discarded by the contractor. Even when the contractor brought back what was saved, it occupied 100 large cardboard moving boxes. Over the past three months we threw out most of what was brought back. We are still today, setting up rooms. It's downright amazing what we save thinking we'll need it someday. I think I overheated my shredder 4 or 5 times already.

Shred is going to Staples. We have a shredder, but it gets jammed every fifth page.

Floods are such a hassle. At my father in law's store we just rebuilt after a huge roof failure. Backstock that was custom ordered for customers 20 years ago he can't seem to part with because "it cost me like $200", even though it's not useful anymore.

Today it's the garage. "Two car" garage, rarely did I park smyth

When we moved to Barton in 2003 we were in such a rush we just grabbed everything and shoved it onto the moving truck. Here it is 2019, 16 years in this house and we still haven't unpacked. My husband inherited his mother's hoarding tendencies so we have all her things in the attic and his things going moldy in the basement. Why does someone save their college textbooks from the 80s?? I'm trying to donate my Print and How magazines to any local college libraries that still offer graphic design, but so far no one wants them. That makes me mad, I referred to mine a lot when I worked at Ben & Jerry's. Maybe I should just post them to craigslist.org...

Amy, sometimes it's hard to acknowledge to ourselves that something that we spent a lot of money for, or something we once found indispensable has now become worthless or unwanted by anyone else.

I sell books on Amazon and other places, and it's always a challenge to tell someone that their collection has no value.

After being married twice, to two women who each had collecting tendencies, I have no desire to have something (or twenty somethings) to make me happy.

I've read dozens of books on WWII submarines, both American and U-Boats (I prefer first person accounts to researched ones) but when asked if I collect them I shudder at the thought of having a shelf full of them that I would only read once.

I'm not a hoarder but really need to get rid of a lot of crap that I've been keeping cause I'll need it 'someday'. Even things like music cassettes and video tapes of dubious quality. A year ago I threw out a sack full of 8 track cartridges including the entire Deep Purple inventory. And don't get me started on the books that I haven't opened in decades.

Anyway, interested to know why you are moving and where to ? Thanks.

Same here, however I moved in the house in 1988.....

Been in my house for maybe 25 years. Single for a while.....plenty of room. Marriage and child, less room, more stuff. After a couple of decades even more. I have a couple of bookshelves of my favorite books that should sustain my casual reading for a good decade after retirement, maybe 80 years at my current rate of reading.

Anyway, going after clutter more aggressively...it's high time, and I don't want a 5 yard dumpster like we needed when we cleaned out my dad's shop.

Where is easier to answer than why. I'm moving to Lock Haven, PA. Wife's hometown, she's not thrilled to return, but I am excited to be in a small town. Though knowing that everyone talks about everyone else is a bit unnerving.

Why? My internet book sales business has been off for a few years, and my father in law is running two businesses by himself (with the dubious help of a useless employee). So I thought it made sense to join him. He sells and installs high end window treatments, and maybe it's time to get someone a wee bit younger on the ladder for installs. He also owns a small gift shop, which my wife has been running remotely (and often on site) for the past year. Was able to cash out my house and pay off some debts, get an old house, and cover the renovations. And the pace of life is slower there....

You might want to check with your local municipality, and/or your bank.

Our city has a "free shred day" a couple times a year for residents, and I think some banks will shred items for you, too.

Either way, make sure they shred it while you're there.

Staples has a locked shred container which is serviced by an outside company like shred-it.

Our town does a shred day, but often they run out of room on the truck. I think I'm moving before the town day.

I retired on May 31st after 32 years in Public Service.
I brought 4 document filing boxes from office of "work stuff" - salary slips, etc for the period and some reference material in case I am requested to consult.

I have been in this house since 1984 and the garage is full of this and that I keep to be recycled as needed - electrical wiring, surplus timber pieces, PVC pipe and conduit, off-cuts of board used for projects, etc.

My wife says I am a hoarder...
As I have kept her for almost 40 years, I reluctantly must agree.