I’m a pack-rat by nature. I’ll hold on to empty toilet paper rolls just because there’s a potential craft. I have a hard time throwing out used envelopes (you never know when you’re going to need to make a list!). I love books and magazines (although I find that the library helps a little bit with this, the exception being, of course, when it’s an obscure title). I get distracted, a LOT. And this was before-kid, so I can’t hide behind that reason (which, believe me, is a very, VERY viable one!). I have several projects going, half of which I don’t even know I still have going. I read somewhere that every knitter has about 8 knitting projects going – fortunately, I’m not quite the knitster that some are, and only have 6. 
Right now, half of the dinner table is covered with paper stuff: mail, books, magazines, and god knows what else. Two other shelves and the desk where I sit share a similar fate (also, Nate has a bit of an affinity for what I call dust-magnets or chotchskies). Oh, and the top of the fridge. So, I’m not totally rescued from clutter. However, I’m not totally consumed by it, either.
I have found that the larger the space, I interpret it as a place to put “stuff”. I’m not sure if this is because, growing up one of 8 children rendered me precious little of my own personal space, or some hereditary gene I inherited from my similarly sentimental pack-rat father (although he’s much more neat with his stuff!). In any case, learning this about myself has really been illuminating. I’ve decided that I really LOVE the 747 sq. ft that is our place, mostly because it’s given me a chance to achieve what before now was never possible: a (mostly) clutter-free environment.
Living on such a small, simple level has really allowed us to examine what is really important to us. It’s not just a move toward economic or environmental conscientiousness. It’s much more personal than that. Almost spiritual in a way, as we seek to let go of our attachment to “stuff” and follow a less cluttered path to spiritual growth.
2 Comments
April 15, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Hi there! I found your blog through the kiss journals. It’s so funny…I’m single and childless and I have a 770 sq. foot condo that I feel like is too big for me sometimes! I identify with a lot of your situation…I love my place because it forces me to purge every once in a while because I simply cannot keep a lot in such a small space. It’ll be a challenge when my boyfriend moves in next month, but a welcome one in that I’ll have to do my yearly purge again—and this time even moreso than usual to make space for him!
I admire you for posting up your financial situation. I’ve always struggled with keeping organized in paying bills. I finally set up on-line bill pay last year when I was going to be out of the country traveling for several months. Because of those travels, I’m now in debt and paying it off as quickly as possible to avoid too much interest (it was worth it to go into a bit of debt to live my dream).
I’m also an organic/health food junky and would love to spend less….
Sooooo, considering all that, I’m looking forward to looking through your older posts and seeing new ones! ~Shawna
April 22, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Ha, I keep tp rolls too… I filled up a milk crate with tp rolls that sat in my bedroom for approximately one year, before I finally admitted that no craft was forthcoming and recycled them. Even now, I tend to let them accumulate around the bathroom before I put them in the recycling.
Oh, and you’re right about boys grabbing themselves… I think it’s also true of scab-picking. All kids do it, but boys seem to have a special talent.