The complete opposite of hoarding... - Page 2

[fresh_veggie]

I think my husband has this. Hehe. I do to a degree, but some things really hold sentimental value for me. But I LOVE donating things!!!!

[mommaof3boz]

I have kept a baby outfit from each of the boys, a tub full of artwork, pictures. Those things are special and precious. I have no problem with those. Its the day to day living life junk that bothers me. Toys everywhere makes me crazy. I'm not saying the boys can't have toys out, just a reasonable number. Its also things like kitchen utensils, socks in a drawer that I never wear, books we never read, christmas decorations I no longer like, shirts in the closet that no one wears anymore, half empty bottles of cleaners,shampoo bottles half full of shampoo I don't like. I do have a few things on the walls. However, periodically they start to annoy me and have to go. When we built the garage/workshop my dh got everything organized in tubs, on shelves, etc. He keeps that area very tidy. We do have some junk in one of our barns. I purposely avoid that area or it will freak me out. I could totally live like the Quakers. lol.

I take a med daily for panic attacks which helps a lot. Before I started it I used to WAKE UP in a panic thinking about all the stuff I needed to get done. Not a good way to live. I am in a better place than I was 8 yrs ago. But I still gotta talk myself off the ledge occasionally.

"No no! Do not take the couch to goodwill, you gotta have somewhere to sit. Put the couch back. Melissa, leave the couch alone" lol

[lolar2]

Originally Posted by SAHDS

Thank you for that. I know it's silly, but I tell DH the main reason I don't want to go on OCD meds (for far more things than just my cleaning habits) is because I'm afraid it'll make me lazy and I'll stop caring about the house. It would be nice to take the edge off, though. To stop the constant and irrational cleaning would be a nice break.

I don't know anyone who has gone on anxiety/ OCD meds who has completely changed his or her clutter style. I know a borderline hoarder who became a still-messy but manageable non-hoarder, and my grandmother stayed extremely neat but no longer neurotic. Just took the edge off, as you say. If it did make you lazy, that would just call for a change in meds.

Originally Posted by HappilyEvrAfter

AAAAHHHH!! I don't understand this either. I literally feel strangled. The minute I wake up the blinds get opened!!

I can think of four reasons off the top of my head:

1. A medical condition causing sun sensitivity.

2. The sun can cause furniture and rug colors to fade.

3. Agoraphobia!

4. Some blinds are such a pain in the butt to open that the residents of the house just give up after a while.

I'm a blind-opener, myself, though.

[phatchristy]

My brother used to come over our house look around and tell me that things looked "bare" (I have like two pictures on the wall). We didn't have a lot of furniture and there wasn't much stuff. To him it was bare.

After my father died though I went up north to my moms. And, everywhere, anywhere there was just stuff. It was bad. It took me two weeks to clean out half of the garage so they could fix the garage door. They actually had a broken water heater (don't know for how long, but it was a while) and never called anyone to fix it because the basement was so full. When we flew up there we took showers at the neighbors.

When I finally got home after a month it was like I was able to breathe...

[Ruthiegirl]

I always wonder if I am prone to being too minimal in the house. I keep a very bare home, very bare. People often ask us if we just moved in and then gasp when I say we have been here for 7 years.

My dh teases me that I could be packed and ready to leave this house in a hour. I think he underestimates me and I could be ready in 30 minutes.

Each room is outfitted with the basics -- chair, sofa, rug in the living room. Little else. Each bedroom has a bed, the dining room has a table and chairs, but there aren't the little extras that people normally have.

That said, I will admit to being a very poor housekeeper. I just can't keep up with too much stuff, so I keep it minimal and I can tidy and clean the floors in very little time. It makes my life much, much easier.

And I was raised Quaker, so maybe that does have something to do with it.

[HappilyEvrAfter]

Originally Posted by lolar2

I can think of four reasons off the top of my head:
1. A medical condition causing sun sensitivity.
2. The sun can cause furniture and rug colors to fade.
3. Agoraphobia!
4. Some blinds are such a pain in the butt to open that the residents of the house just give up after a while.

I'm a blind-opener, myself, though.

Lol. I know that there are reasons that some people must or choose to keep their blinds shut, I just don't understand those people who don't suffer from these conditions who voluntarily leave them shut. ::gasp::

Ok, maybe "I don't understand" was the wrong phrasing. Maybe I should have said, "AAAAHHHH!! I couldn't stand this either. I literally feel strangled. The minute I wake up the blinds get opened!!"

[lolar2]

I usually figure that anyone who keeps the blinds closed, does it for one of the four reasons I mentioned. My other grandmother was HUGE on keeping them closed because she was compulsive about keeping all her furniture looking brand-new forever.

As I said, I do prefer them open myself.

[SuzyLee]

Yeah, a lot of it for me is that I hate and avoid housekeeping, and the easiest way to minimize housekeeping is to have less stuff to vac around, dust, put away, etc.

[Jackies Ladybug]

Originally Posted by mommaof3boz

"No no! Do not take the couch to goodwill, you gotta have somewhere to sit. Put the couch back. Melissa, leave the couch alone" lol

haha, you have no idea, i got rid of my couch 6 months ago and am still looking for a replacement.
my husband hates me.

[nascarbebe]

Well my house is far from being clutter free but I do have episodes of OCDness. Like when I clean out a closet and get it OCD clean I get some sort of high from it. This week I did my spice/dry goods cabinet and I just get so excited everytime I open it to cook. It's next to my stove so I just keep it open until I'm done cooking. And dropping off things at the thrift store is so liberating! I've never even tried drugs but I bet it's the same feeling. I just dropped off two bags today and I'm already looking around the house for more things so I can have more things to donate on Monday. My goal is to only have beautiful things that I love and use in my home. I have a tendency to attach value to things and keep them until I'm sick of looking at them and I'm really trying to get that under control.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Oh yes (raises hand) I am a purger.

I love open space and clear, clean countertops.

I have three children though, so I can purge to my heart's content and they STILL manage to bring stuff in faster than I can get it out.

I definitely throw away stuff that I know I may eventually have to re-purchase...but my thinking is that storage costs money -- I don't want to pay for a big house to store all my stuff. I would rather have a small home that I have to keep free of clutter.

And peace of mind is worth something too. So if it will keep me more peaceful to throw something out and not store it all those years until I need it again, then it is worth it.

Throw it out!!

[becoming]

I'm with you