Cleaning closets

At some point in the next few years we will either need to or want to move from this house to a more manageable building and location.  Whether one year from now or three years,or something in between, that day is coming.  We cannot begin to prepare too soon.  With that thought in mind, just recently we have been on a periodic effort to deal with the "too much stuff" syndrome.

Today, with the help of our once a week housekeeper, we tackled the two large front hall closets that had not been thoroughly vetted for at least 12 years, maybe longer.  They were crammed with windbreakers, raincoats, bulky down jackets, vests to wear under jackets, ski jackets, hooded light jackets with golf course insignias, all ranging in size from a few that would fit a four year old and going up to sizes that would have fit us thirty years ago to those that fit us now.  Hats and gloves of all types and sizes were on the top shelves and the bottom of the closets were filled with winter shoes, flip flops, sneakers, tennis rackets, lacrosse sticks, a box of sun lotions and more.  This was a big job that led to keepers, throw aways, and those things that could go to a thrift store or Goodwill.  We finished one closet and made a decent start on the second, to be continued next week.

Some things were far overdue for the trash basket.  Several hats that brought back memories but had no other purpose given their condition had to be parted with.  The big box of at least 20 tubes and bottles of sun lotions was useless, as that stuff deteriorates over time.  Several vests from Eastern Mountain Sports were so nappy that they just did not look right, although they went into the thrift store bag because with a wash they might be fine.  We just had too many of the things.  Obviously the jackets for young children could be destined for Goodwill despite the memories carried with them, and worn out sneakers could go in the trash.

Then, there were the "finds".  Those are discoveries that we, or I, had forgotten were there.  That included an almost new London Fog windbreaker of the type that I wore from 11 years old on, getting new identical ones whenever they wore out for my entire life, and there was a new one.  There was a London Fog raincoat, a little bit short but in perfect condition; a lined Paul Stuart raincoat that had been bought at a sample sale for next to nothing and never worn; a colorful Obermeyer ski jacket in perfect condition; and those do not include whatever else that K discovered of her past.

While this is not necessarily interesting to most readers here, it may be to those in similar situations who can "enjoy" doing the same thing, and we did actually enjoy going through everything, especially with the benefit of our housekeeper to help with lifting and organization. The result is a closet that can be used, one where things now can be found and not mangled if put in.  If we would have waited until that time in the future when we "needed" to do this, the effort would have not been too much fun.  Getting it done now has led to a closet that we or guests can effortlessly use, as well as some garments that can give us more choice whether we choose to wear them or not.

Speaking of someone maturing in the last post, the thought comes to mind that we are too.  It's about time.