I know this is an odd topic for a site dedicated to collecting things, but I've been in the throes of a major downsizing project since early June. I looked around the house and saw (literally) tons of stuff that's no longer used or is unneeded. It's amazing how much stuff one can stash in one's home/garage and not realize the scope of it until you really start poking around in closets and storage areas.
I donated my entire CD (around 1,600 discs) and DVD collection (approx. 200 films) to a local non-profit organization that's starting its own library. Most of the CD collection has been uploaded to Apple's "cloud," so it's all available to my iMac, laptop, iPod, and iPad. Also gave them close to 80 cookbooks.
I donated all my catering equipment and dishes (approx. $8,000) to the owner of a cool little local restaurant who wanted to move into catering but had none of the specialized equipment needed to do so. (In turn, she gave me a 4-figure gift certificate to the restaurant, ensuring I'll never pay for my beloved Bull Run Roasting Co. coffee beans or a meal for the rest of my life, yay!!)
The recording studio has been dismantled and parted out to friends, and friends-of-friends.
At least fifteen 30-gallon garbage bags of clothes, towels, bed linens, etc., went to a local charity.
I filled a 6-yard Dumpster with still more stuff and sent that off to the landfill.
After all that, I continue to find a few things each week to either give away or dispose of.
All in all, it's been a very liberating experience. The garage is nearly empty; there is, once again, plenty of closet space throughout the house. I've kept everything that gets used on a regular basis---I'm not living some spartan existence with one plate and a fork or anything like that.
I'll admit it has taken time getting used to not seeing all the CDs, records, and recording equipment, as I'd been amassing it for decades; but that 'empty' feeling is always trumped by the great satisfaction of having 'paid it forward.'
My question to AW members: Have you downsized? Are you currently doing so? Have you plans to downsize in the future? If so, what are you parting with?
[this post was last edited: 8/30/2014-21:47]
I donated my entire CD (around 1,600 discs) and DVD collection (approx. 200 films) to a local non-profit organization that's starting its own library. Most of the CD collection has been uploaded to Apple's "cloud," so it's all available to my iMac, laptop, iPod, and iPad. Also gave them close to 80 cookbooks.
I donated all my catering equipment and dishes (approx. $8,000) to the owner of a cool little local restaurant who wanted to move into catering but had none of the specialized equipment needed to do so. (In turn, she gave me a 4-figure gift certificate to the restaurant, ensuring I'll never pay for my beloved Bull Run Roasting Co. coffee beans or a meal for the rest of my life, yay!!)
The recording studio has been dismantled and parted out to friends, and friends-of-friends.
At least fifteen 30-gallon garbage bags of clothes, towels, bed linens, etc., went to a local charity.
I filled a 6-yard Dumpster with still more stuff and sent that off to the landfill.
After all that, I continue to find a few things each week to either give away or dispose of.
All in all, it's been a very liberating experience. The garage is nearly empty; there is, once again, plenty of closet space throughout the house. I've kept everything that gets used on a regular basis---I'm not living some spartan existence with one plate and a fork or anything like that.
I'll admit it has taken time getting used to not seeing all the CDs, records, and recording equipment, as I'd been amassing it for decades; but that 'empty' feeling is always trumped by the great satisfaction of having 'paid it forward.'
My question to AW members: Have you downsized? Are you currently doing so? Have you plans to downsize in the future? If so, what are you parting with?
[this post was last edited: 8/30/2014-21:47]