Friday Five: de-cluttering edition

From the RevGals:

With Jo, Jon and Chris all moving to college and University accommodation there has been a big clear up going on in the Coleman household. We have been sorting and trying hard not just to junk stuff, but actually to get it to where it can be useful. On a brighter note we have used Freecycle ( check it out) to provide the twins with pots and pans etc that other folk were clearing out.Making the most of our resources is important, I have been challenged this week by the amount of stuff we accumulate, I'd love to live a simpler lifestyle, it would be good for me, and for the environment I think...With that in mind I bring you this Friday 5;

1. Are you a hoarder or a minimalist?
I'm a minimalist at heart, but a hoarder in practice. Which echoes the dichotomy I deal with at work too: I'm a neat freak trapped in a clutterer's body. I WANT to have few things and a nice, simple, neat house (and office). But stuff just keeps accumulating. And getting put into piles. And before you know it you take a step back and exclaim, "good LORD how did all of this get here?" Then begins the purging process (affectionately referred to in our household as "gutting the house").

2. Name one important object ( could be an heirloom) that you will never part with.
Other than my wedding ring (which is a no-brainer), I'm gonna have to cheat and say my pictures. I love pictures. Love 'em. And with the advent of digital photography, that's both wonderful and dangerous (in a cluttery sort of way).

3. What is the oldest item in your closet? Does it still fit???
In January of 1987 I took all my Christmas money, went to the local sports clothing store at the mall, and bought a Red Sox jacket. Looked just like the one Sam Malone wore in Cheers, with the big pair of socks on the left chest. The only size they had was Adult XL, and even though it was a little big on me (I was only a 7th grader, after all) it still worked well enough. My friends can attest--I wore that jacket for years and years and years until Sweetie FINALLY put her foot down and bought me a new one for Christmas in 2004 (after the World Series win). It still hangs in the closet, though. By FAR the oldest piece of clothing I own. Still fits, too.

4.Yard sales- love 'em or hate 'em ?
Generally not so fond of 'em, with two exceptions: 1) when looking for kids' clothing or toys, and 2) every once in a while, when someone with a great library decides to clean it out.

5. Name a recycling habit you really want to get into.
After years of doing nothing and feeling guilty, Sweetie and I have finally started to recycle cans in the past year or so. Eventually, I'd like to see that expand to other stuff...plastics, paper, etc. But you've gotta start somewhere, right?

LH