Pack Rats Anonymous

Great, so now this stuff is in my bedroom. At least it's out of the computer room, formerly referred to as the "junk room" and now my shared office space with Howie (who is not a neat freak like I am).

The only issue is I am a neat freak with way too much stuff! And most of this stuff is miscellaneous stuff that belongs to the girls but doesn't really have a permanent home. There is a lot of art stuff, meaning half dried out markers, broken crayons and all kinds of Mickey D's toys and bouncy balls out of gum ball machines.

So here is some new math leading me to the concept of forming a pack rats anonymous support group.

Me + Bargains = Too much stuff = Stress
Purging + Pruning = Less Stress + More Joy (but only after my stress first goes way up when I realize it is all self inflicted).

I was talking with a friend who marvelled at what my friend Audrey and I had accomplished in my storage space a few weeks back and now she wants to get on Audrey's list. I told her we should just be partners, that her stuff wouldn't hold any emotional value or significance to me and vice versa and I could tell her not to hold on to all that stuff "just in case" just as well as Audrey could. Which then led me to the idea of forming partnerships, which then led to the support group concept, because isn't hoarding just another addiction? I hate to admit it, but I am somewhat addicted to my stuff, especially if it was a gift, free or a bargain...(although my primary drug of choice is - and always will be -caffeine.)

Then, we could all just have one big happy yard sale and use the money for outreach to people who really need things, not just "in case" but to make it to the next day.

Of course it is easier said than done which is why we need the support of fellow pack rats. So share your story and share your stuff. Guaranteed to help you feel less stressed once you get over the hump!