4: Hoarder in the Court

[scotticus]

Somehow that picture of her with all the bags is sexier than the purposefully sexy shot in episode 8. I might have a thing for crazy women.

[poingjam]

You and me both, buddy.

[thelastknowngod]

Just went VIP the other day and I'm catching up!

I used to have a lot of shit laying around. At one point I had moved 3 times in one year. The last time I moved I was like "WTF am I carrying all this stuff around for?" So I hatched a plan..

I packed everything I owned into cardboard boxes and I didn't label anything. When I moved into the new apt I didn't unpack much of anything. 6 months later the boxes still sat there, unopened. I thought, "If I don't even know what's in here then it must not be that important." Without even opening the boxes to see what was in there, I just threw everything out. I don't know what I got rid of and honestly, I don't really care. If I needed it I would have been looking for it.

Another thing I did was hang all the clothes up in the closet but hung then hangers backwards. When I wore something I would turn the hanger back the right way. After about 9 months (long enough for the seasons to change) I took everything that still had backwards hangers and donated it. I obviously didn't ever wear it..

This was a few years ago. I'm now at the point where I own very little and try to keep it that way. Before I buy anything I ask myself 2 questions:
1. Do I NEED this?
2. Am I going to want to pack this when I move?

The answer to both is usually "no" so I don't buy it.

About 5 months ago I moved from Philly to Chicago and packed all of my possessions in 2 backpacks. That's it.

I still don't think I'm at the McNally level of minimalism but I try..

[albi]

So glad I became a VIP - I’m addicted to your amazing interviews Chemda!

Great ep -
My dad died over a year ago and I’m still clearing out his house. He was definitely a hoarder and nothing I could say or do seemed to help him when he was alive.

I spent whole weekends (for several months) organising his home, taking loads of bank receipts (and other seemingly inexplicable junk) from the 1970s to the tip...and he’d just fill the space in a few months. It was so disheartening.

I’m sad that he lived like that for so long, and when he died I was surprised to find things I didn’t even know about (like twelve identical, unopened bottles of vinegar in the kitchen shelves). It’s such a stubborn, frustrating affliction.