Sunday, June 05, 2005


Hi, My Name is Chrysanthemum, and I'm A Packrat

Hi Chrysanthemum

Okay, so I admit it. I'm a packrat. I can't throw anything away. And now I find myself engaged to the king of the minimalists. I see how The Boy looks at my stuff, fantasizing about them in piles in front of our house during bulk pickup. Every once in a while I even get rid of stuff to appease him. But it hurts.... the wound is deep.

Our across the street neighbors are moving in a few months and have had tag sales the past couple of weekends. I found myself standing by the front door staringly longingly at their "stuff" and wondering what treasure were over there. The Boy shook his head at me as if to say don't even think about it. I did break free at one point and snatched up some great tables for the lawn. $3 for a set of four... GENIUS!

My friend Kristin has made an artform of minimalism. Below is an excerpt of a conversation we had about it last week. It nicely shows the difference between those on each side of the issue:


K: I think I’m going thru some anxiety about leaving my apartment. It’s such a great place.
K: BUT its just walls and carpet. And this is a house. Small, but a house. And I love moving. :)
C: I hate moving. And when I do, D is going to make me throw a lot of stuff away
K: Moving is great for that. I don’t hang on to a lot - I take loads to Goodwill. Last time I took in TWO garbage bags of just shoes. TWO!
C: See? He’ll make me do that. I’m not emotionally prepared for something like that. Although I’ve been doing really good since I’ve been with him. I have a bag of goodwill and will show it to him... "See? I’m getting rid of stuff!"
K: That’s GOOD! But one bag isn't enough. :) It doesn't have to be shoes. It can be anything. If you haven't used it in more than 2 years - its fair game
C: Keep away from D. You'll side with him and I’ll lose all of my worldly possessions.
K: When I was home last month, we accidentally got locked out of the house for about an hour. We started going thru boxes in the garage - things my sister and I packed when we were like 12 and 16. My mom found FIVE hair dryers. She'd think she lost one in some move and buy another one and so on, and so on. FIVE. And she still wont throw them away. "What if the one I have now breaks? I’ll just use one of these"
K: BUT - she found tons of pointy toed 80s shoes that are totally back in style. Yellow, green, purple.
C: LOL... see???? I feel vindicated. And in another 20 years, she can use them AGAIN
K: Maybe not the hairdryers - but if she takes care of the shoes, absolutely. :) My point is - some things KEEP, other things... you gotta let go.
C: Well, even I admit that the hairdryers is excessive
K: What's D's email - he and I will talk. Get things all sorted out for you.
C: Oooh…you better not!! That’s just mean. I can never leave the two of you alone in my house... you'd just throw all of my stuff out
C: I think that's worse than me being afraid of you sleeping together!!
K: LOL!!
K: Come on! Old computer speakers.... and gadgets... imagine what you could live without!
C: EXACTLY... I would die without them
K: You wouldn't die w/out them. After the initial shock, you wouldn't even remember you HAD them. :) Who needs all those broken mice and speaker wires?
C: I DO... ME
C: Minimalist bitches

posted by Chrysanthemum @ 11:40 AM   5 comments



About Me

Chrysanthemum

I'm completely adventurous, passionate and neurotic...I have been accused of preferring the company of animals to people...I am a newlywed, married to the most wonderful boy in the world who loves me for who I am...I'm adjusting to my new last name...I cannot take a compliment very well...I worry, and I'm good at it...I love the way snow packs down under your feet when you step on it...

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