# Living with a packrat

Category: Daily Living

## Post 1 by ablindgibsongirl (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Sunday, 20-Jun-2010 7:11:31

Ok, I'm getting to the poit where cleaning and keeping things nice are two different things. My housekeeping is that of a momma tortise slow and steady wins the race. My darling husband is an artist and loves well, everything. Toys games books records, you name it we've got it somewhere. I have fought off my own packrat tendencies and do my best to keep it in check. He always says he can find a use for just about anything and I've seen him do so. It's hard to think plan and organize when there's so much stuff hanging around. Much of it just sits and I gently point out that someone else could use it. Alas, to no avail. He's waiting for the day when he has his basement studeo for all his toys and art equipment. He says that's when the rest of the house will be my domain. In a small apartment everything is magnified but it was like this when we lived in a house the garage too was overflowing. I can only apprehend and control what is within the reach of my two hands and I am quite overwhelmed. I want a nicely kept house and shouldn't be afraid of disturbing a stack of books or line of figures to dust the bookshelf. Any thoughts? Tiffany

## Post 2 by Nicky (And I aprove this message.) on Sunday, 20-Jun-2010 7:28:30

A few things.
If you take a thing here and a thing there and put it away some wears for a bit then see if he notices it gone, if not then toss it out on trash day or whenever you can. Just a few things at once. Yes over time he will notice. Then you could always say something about packing it all up in boxes tape in all and store it if he is welling to do that. I use to be a pack rat until I move across country. I was only able to bring a suit case of things and after a couple of years without the things I realized I like not having it all better. I don't want most of it back but a few things here and there I can use. I am now a crazed freak wear I can't stand stuff; I am finding myself throwing away a ton of stuff all the time. I have found that empty space is the best decoration of all. The less you have makes it look like you living place is bigger. I also found that if I set things aside to give away I would never get around to giving it away, so that is why I chunk throw and toss everything practically. If you haven't used it in a year, it’s time to go or if you haven't used it in a month in your case. Books and stuff can be given away to schools and overseas to kids who don't have anything. Church is a great place to take it, or if you and a few friends want to have a yard sell, do it together. But comes the whole thing of trying to get it out the door. Try what I said at first and box a few things away and hide it some wears and if he doesn't notice it gone then toss it or something.

## Post 3 by OceanDream (An Ocean of Thoughts) on Tuesday, 22-Jun-2010 16:06:02

Hmm. Nicky, I see your point, but at the same time, you want to be careful what you throw out or box away. Make sure you know what he likes, and what he never pays attention to, because there could be problems later on down the road. I really do feel your pain, Ablindgibsongirl. I'm sure it gets on your last nerves seeing the things that mean little or nothing to you being packed in a space too small for its own good, but maybe the two of you can work something out, a compromise or something. Maybe he'd be willing to temperarily store some of his less important items until you have the extra space. Compromising can be amazing if you can work together and agree on something.