one of the biggest benefits is that she keeps me from dawdling too much being nostalgic over some of this stuff... and not reading every book that I find in an odd place :)

Oh boy, can I ever relate. :) I've read two in the last two days, and I'm not even trying to get rid of any right now -- just move them around!

hunted down a professional to come haul away about a car-sized pile of cardboard

Hmmmmm, that's an idea...