key principle of clutter creation

A key principle of clutter creation is saving things for later.  Examples:

• Getting mail, looking at it once, then putting it on a pile of papers to deal with later.
• Buying a book that looks interesting, even though you have no time to read it, figure you’ll read it someday soon.
• Recording a TV show that you can’t watch right away, putting the tape with your library of things to watch later.
• Skimming through email subjects, intending to devote time to reading them all later.  Hundreds of unread emails building up.
• Buying a set of pots and pans for the new larger kitchen that you hope to have someday.
• Getting new clothes that don’t fit, so you’ll have something to wear when you lose weight.

It’s good to plan for your future, but … come on!

The mail could in theory be handled right when it comes in.  Open it, pay bills, file paperwork.  But that requires the energy and mental focus to deal with it at any time, which for me is rare.  I get mail after work, burned out from the day’s effort and only have energy to look at the envelopes.  If the energy is there, the focus may not be – because of the distraction of the mess and piles of things I’m responsible for doing.

another month

Just wrote my check to pay for renting the storage unit for May.

Somebody shoot me.

Holding on

I read an ebook today that has a great quote in it.  The author wrote that someone once said to him, “Letting go is really hard, but not as hard as holding on.  You let go once.  You have to hold on all day every day.”

Bicycles

I have two bicycles stored outside in a shed.  Sometimes I think about selling one or both of them.

The 10-Speed.
Not used in a really long time, more than 20 years.
Would need many new parts: tires, chain, brakes, cables, handlebar tape.
Sturdy high quality design – was solid last time I used it.
My first adult bike!

The Mountain Bike.
More comfortable ride.
Nice features like: index shifting, oval gear ring, removable wheels.
Light weight, wide tires.
Bought it in the late 80’s, so this is my “new” bike.

Haven’t been out bike riding in a few years. If I get back into it, I’d have one of these two older bikes rebuilt instead of getting a new one. You know, I had not realized how long it’s been since I was bike riding. I used to do it at least a couple times a month during the summer. I stopped about two years before I started my weight loss so that means it’s been six years since I used them!

Three options:

1. Face the fact that I’m not interested in bike riding anymore and get rid of both bikes. If I decide to get back into it someday in the future, get another bike at that time.

2. Sell the mountain bike and fix up the ten speed.  The mountain bike was worth over $500 when I got it, so it should still have some value.  I’d like to ride the ten speed again, and have been thinking about fixing it for a really long time.  Is this just nostalgia?  Unsure if it would still be a solid ride after all this time, even with new parts.

3. Give away the ten speed (not worth selling in present condition) and fix up the mountain bike.

Boxes and a board

Last weekend I finally summoned the energy to pack up the friend’s stuff that was scattered around this bedroom to dry. Put it all in new cardboard boxes and they went back down to the basement. Not sitting on the concrete floor this time! So all of that chaos is out of sight now.

Sunday I had the time and motivation to actually go to the storage unit to see if the flooding last month got in and damaged anything there. The floor was dry, so that’s a relief.   Brought back another box to sort through, and also my old ironing board.

The ironing board used to belong to my Grandmother, and it’s a good sturdy metal one that they don’t make anymore.  There is some rust on the bottom now, and paint was peeling in one spot.  I can’t part with it, even though I don’t iron my clothes.  Reorganizing my wardrobe was a project to simplify my life – I only wear clothing that does not need to be ironed.  Still can’t let go of the board.