Boxes

Boxes, boxes, boxes, boxes, boxes, I'm buried in boxes! Boxes in the living room, boxes in the bedroom, boxes in the bathroom, boxes in the closet, boxes in the kitchen. Walls of boxes surround me like a fort. I dream about boxes.

The problem with moving is that WE HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF! The mover estimated 14,800 pounds or more than 7 tons. I'm sure stuff is growing on it's own at night while we are sleeping. The more we haul away the more it multiplies.

Worldly goods fall into common categories. Useful items like beds and toothbrushes; sentimental things such as greeting cards and a child's first artwork; bits and pieces of "I might need this someday" art supplies or extra sheets; collections of bottle caps or teacups; gifts from relatives with bad taste; pretty things that never get used; food and equipment to make or eat food; clothes and shoes for any temperature or occasion; and gear for playing games or working. 

We are trying to simplify our life by paring down the number of items in each category, but what should go and what should stay. Do I keep the clay swan from 1st grade and what about the collection of pressed leaves? Even though I don't use four sets of dishes, which ones do I keep? Mother's 'Made in Occupied Japan' china; Grandma's sweet Desert Rose pottery (18 place settings of every size and description); the 'Rose Chintz' Gary and I both grew up with; or the china I paid for by working a whole summer in a sweat shop. One thing is certain if we decide to keep something we will never use it and as soon as we throw something away we will desperately need it.

Tomorrow morning I will get up and start on box number 83.