Kennita's Patented Kamikaze Raid

[cjsmith]

Inspired by kennita's work last weekend, I went on a decluttering spree today.

Having only part of a weekend, I wanted a very small area to attack. I chose the bedroom closet. Looking back on it I'm glad I started small! Trying on clothing is very time-consuming, so a closet is "bigger than it looks", and taking frequent longish breaks to rest my feet certainly expands the timeline.

I was conservative (keeping probably way more than I should have kept) and I still got rid of a lot of stuff. I'm pleased.

Timeline

10 (roughly) - Choice of target made. Breakfast consumed. (I even got Duchess to eat some bacon, and she hadn't been eating ANYthing since last night.) Countertop cleared so it can hold "Get Rid Of" boxes. lkeele, this means I found the books destined for you and packed them to ship!

11:10 - Bed protected with cut-apart garbage bag, as we just washed those sheets. Closet emptied onto bed. Closet walls, shelf, rod etc cleaned. (Amazing how dirty.) Boxes for "Get Rid Of" procured and lined up outside the door. Feet hurting.

1:30 - Everything from wall hooks sorted and put away. Every single shirt from closet has been tried on. I'm probably keeping more than I should, yet two "Get Rid Of" boxes are already looking pretty full. This makes me impatient to do the dresser! That's the clothes I don't wear!

2:25 - I'm surprised at how painful it is to get rid of my shoes. Stared at my running shoes for ten minutes.

3:30 - Physically it's great to do shoes, as I can sit down while I dust/scrub them all. (They're all gray and fuzzy. It's been months to years since I've touched them.) One shoe-rack cleaned, one to go.

4:30 - Both shoe racks and all their shoes cleaned. I'm keeping way too many shoes considering I don't wear shoes any more. I pronounce that "hope" but if you pronounce it "stupidity" I won't call you wrong. Just over half are slated to go.

6:30 - I found the most unflattering pants I have ever seen! Now down to the last few blouses and skirts. They fit and most are flattering, but they are not allowed back in the closet unless they go with something. Seems draconian except that I don't wear blouses and skirts much. Feet hurt lots.

8:30 - Almost done (leaving two boxes for tomorrow). Impressive how much time is spent dusting things. Inside a dry cleaning bag I found a pair of pants I don't remember ever seeing before in my life, but they were with things of mine and they fit so they're probably mine. They were dusty inside the bag.

OK, must go clear the piles of empty hangers off the bed so we can sleep.


I have the feeling that if I did another pass through the closet in another couple weeks I'd get a bunch more stuff out of there. I'd be less tentative on the second round.

Comments

[layer.livejournal.com]

i try and weed my clothes every couple of months. first few times were insane (i had three closets worth), but it gets easier every time. another trick once you've done the primary sort: anytime you pull out something to wear and wind up taking it off because it doesn't look/feel/fit right, out it goes. (though i can't seem to be quite that brutal, usually give them another chance in case i'm just in a mood, but i definitely hold fast the the three strike rule.)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Wow, every couple of months? I bet it does indeed get easier. It's probably like any other chore, too, in that if you keep on top of it then each iteration is less painful.

I like that rule. I have one shirt in that category that went into the mending pile, but that's because I made it and can rework it (and it's such a beautiful color that it's worth the time). I do worry about a few things I pitched for minor too-small-ness. In two weeks the phase of the moon will be different and those things would probably fit fine.

[canseefour.livejournal.com]

You must have bigger closets than we do! I have to keep my out-of-season clothes in the basement so every spring & fall I weed out anything I haven't worn that year. I probably wouldn't do that if I ever got my dream of a large walk-in closet.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

It's a small closet, but densely packed, and I'm slow. Trying on clothes had me on my feet so I took a lot of breaks. :)

of things long gone

[moriamerri.livejournal.com]

Maybe this is a good time for me to mention that I am making much use of the Birks I inherited from you. One pair of sandals that didn't make much of an impression on me when I met them has become my favorite footwear. I don't know that this makes the letting go side of the equation any easier, but, still, I'm still enjoying them, and thankful.

Re: of things long gone

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you! That's great to hear!

The only reason letting go of shoes is painful is that I'm facing the fact I can't use shoes. The specific items aren't all that sentimental. I suppose I should just bite the bullet and get rid of them all (except a pair for dire emergencies). If I ever have healthy feet again I'll be overjoyed to shop for shoes.

Re: of things long gone

[moriamerri.livejournal.com]

1. I know that is why. Damit.
2. but then, there are so many kinds of loss. And it is NOT "all the same" -- but it is all "variations on a theme". I'm thinking of how I held on to so many art supplies for so many years because I still felt IDENTIFIED with them, they were PART OF ME, so how could I not have them? I gave a LOT away when I found people who I knew would value them and use them. But I STILL feel that tug inside about it.
3. your posted bit about correcting some misstatement (and getting lots of heat) interests me, and it has no "comment" link. Must be that you don't want comments on it? (I assume that LJ asks you whether to add a comment link, and that it is NOT accidental that there is not one there.) It speaks to me -- thanks for it.

Re: of things long gone

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yes, coping gracefully with loss is one of my lessons to learn right now. I hope I get the hang of it soon and don't need any further exercises for a while. ;-)

That post, yeah, I was all upset and didn't want to get any MORE heat. I just wanted to spill out my frustration onto the virtual page. I thought of re-enabling comments once I was calmer, or removing the post entirely, but on the other hand as it stood it was an accurate portrayal of how I'd felt at the time. Eventually I just shrugged and left it.