Yesterday we had a bit of a clear-out at Moonbase. We'd taken in a display cabinet from our Daughter's house for safe keeping as they need more room for a growing family.
The new cabinet is now housed in my room, which required some sorting before it could come in.
One of my aims during the sort-out was to ditch a few things.
I always find this really really hard as I sort of like everything I have.
When I'd done I was surprised just how big the ditching pile had got. Books, LP's, toys, games and models.
When I say ditching I mean some of the following: giving to Moonbase Junior, listing on Ebay, selling on social media and taking to a charity shop.
I refuse to take my old stuff to the tip. I don't mind taking old timber, duff electrics and worn furniture but draw the line with old games like Frustration and Ker-Plunk. Never mind anything else, it took effort and cash to get them in the first place after I trudged around car boots all year round every year in all weathers in the 90's. I'm not chucking them in a skip and that's final!
A stack of LP records is going to a charity shop. Its is a classic pile of unwanted opera, jazz, schmaltz and early stereo pop. Notables include Des O'Connor, Demis Roussos, Nana Mouskouri, K-tel 24 Greatest Hits, Harry Secombe and Pinky and Perky.
There's also a big bulging bag of paperbacks, which are all Gothic Romances, a niche type of novel I began to collect years ago. The sub-genre had its finest hour with Dark Shadows in the 60's in my opinion with a series of novels by Marilyn Ross, a fascinating author I've blogged about before.
My love affair with Gothic Romance has faded enough now for me to pass the pile on, although I'll always be interested in the book style.
I'll be sad to see all of this assorted flotsam go to pastures new and leave Moonbase.
Finding this stuff is much more fun than letting it go but I have to admit I'm a bit of a hoarder! If we ever decide to downsize in our dotage then I'd better get some practice now!
Do you find it hard having a clear-out readers?
Yup, I'm with you. The number of people I've recently come across that are "downsizing" their collections is beginning to make me think that someone is trying real hard to tell me something! But no... I can't honestly think that I'll be following. It's a bit like Lynas and his security blanket from the Peanuts strip, is it not? Lol
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean Anonymous. Its so hard letting go. I like peanuts too!
DeleteDo I find it hard? No, I find it impossible.
ReplyDeleteYep, Kid, it is damn hard I must admit. I haven't even looked in the attic yet! Alas, I will have to thin out the contents as one day we'll be moving. Dreading it.
DeleteWe have a minimalist home, every space has its purpose, my collection is reduced to the classics, Mego, Kenner, mostly Batman and I feel good about it. My work place has more collectibles but I now employ the one in one out method, I collected vintage Levis too and gave my pals stuff that just didn't fit anymore which was hard but not as depressing as going to the wardrobe and nothing fits cos you've gotten fat!! The lesson here is keep the things that give you joy, pass the pre-loved things to give joy to your friends!- Mark J Southcoast Base
ReplyDeleteA nice idea Mark, passing thing on. I've started recently giving away old coins to a young collector. I did struggle parting with a Portuguese coin from 1829 but when I realised it would be the oldest coin by far in the young collectors collection I handed it over as well. It was a good feeling I agree.
Delete