Stuff

I’m loosing my space! I moved into a two-bedroom condo. I had a garage sale to get rid of all my junk. Yet—not four months later, I have EVERY space filled, even my stove stores my old pots and pans that I can’t bare to get rid of.

Yet, every weekend, I go out and buy more stuff. Am I part of a consumptive generation or what? Even after I buy something I see something that will look/work better…so I buy it. I currently have 12 silk plants that will only work as the centerpiece for my dining room table. I have 40 table clothes (20 of which require ironing—and I don’t even own an iron!). I have twenty-five extra chairs stored around my apartment and in the storage unit just in case an unexpected battalion of company shows up (aren’t they releasing the troops for Christmas soon?). I have 50 of my very best ashtrays that I used to collect, which I keep just in case these guests need to smoke (in my smoke free environment). Plus, they’re pretty! Even though they typically remain hidden in my kitchen cabinets.

I have all these things—most of which cannot be used in combination with one another. But these are things I can’t give up. I just can’t get rid of that old sweatshirt that has twenty two bleach stains on it, because it’s my favorite around the house (though I can’t wear it around the house because it’s usually 90 degrees in my condo). I have 10 pairs of sweat pants from when I used to work out—but I keep them in case I’m ever cold—which doesn’t usually happen in 90 degrees. But I might need them someday.

I have 9 pairs of cut-off work pants—that might come in handy if I ever paint anything (and want paint to splatter on my legs)…but they’re comfortable (even though I never wear them out—they’re too ugly—and I never wear them in—because I have so many nicer around-the-house shorts). But I keep these cut-offs. If they ever go missing—I’d miss them.

The odd part is that I moved into my condo—got rid of loads of junk—then just went right back out and bought another load of junk. And I keep buying. Granted, it looks good, it works well in this home. But now, I don’t have anywhere to put the new stuff. My closets are full. My cabinets are full. My shelves are full. My storage cabinet is full. Soon, the trunk of my car will be full with all the overflow stuff.

Is this why people buy houses with large storage basements and garages (which they can never park their cars in, because all their junk makes the garage its home)?

And finally, the one questions I’ve been avoiding. The one I don’t ever want to answer again. The one that scares the living hell out of me (how can hell be living?): Is it time to move again—to accommodate all my newfound stuff?