I have had another spurt of productivity and made some more space on the boat and recycled several things. I was beginning to feel the boat was beginning to get somewhere until it was suggested that the shed I store things in should be emptied to make way for coal. This is a very good thing on all accounts.
Everything in the shed came from my boat and as I haven't seen any of it for ages I decided non of it would come back onto the boat. You just KNOW that isn't what happened don't you. I now have to make space for 3 boxes of precious things. To be fair the precious things just need time to be sorted out into the really precious things.
Included in the pile there are photographs from a LONG time ago. Every time I come across them I have ignored them. Those days are gone! I have decided to go through them carefully and select a few to store in an album that I can return to if I ever want to. It is about time I reclaimed some of those moments and I think it will be a therapeutic and enjoyable time. That is what I call productive de-cluttering. (I almost sound convincing don't I!)
The sheer amount of stuff I have accumulated over the years is shocking. However I am comforting myself by assuring myself that I don't accumulate as much as I used to these days and that I AM making progress. This is true, I don't, however, it might take me another life time to sort through all the things I have here in Oxfordshire.
Decluttering is a very therapeutic process but it really is disheartening too. Chin up. Progress is being made! You know, I think I might just hold my heart in my hands and dispose of the things that I have already put aside to come on the boat - what is the worst that can happen?
I am sure it will feel good in the end. It usually does.
Scan your photos. I've done nearly 2000 now - and they are now on the computer, won't deteriorate, and I can look at them whenever I like.
ReplyDeleteMy HP printer/scanner will scan up to 6 each time - into 6 files.
They are backed up of course, so little chance of losing them.
If you must, store the originals at the ancestral home.
= SPACE!
you are brave ...i have had a dream for a long time to live on a narrowboat ever since I first went out on one for a weeks cruising in 1976 ..but what I would find difficult is the de-cluttering ...I am a hoarder and don't know if I could part with all my art/fabric supplies for a start.....but if you haven''t seen or missed stuff then i guess you don't need it....good luck ...
ReplyDeleteBJ - storing at the ancestoral just means postponing clearing out. I will be selective about the pictures that most represent that time. There won't be too many. Of course, all the ones I take now are stored everywhere and I must make the digital copies easier to find, but that is for another day.
ReplyDeleteartymess - it is a reasonably therapeutic process....
Can't persuade Boots to have a chew on some stuff to ease the decision-making process?
ReplyDeleteBrave? Brave indeed!! So much courage in letting go.....
ReplyDelete