Oh can I relate to this! We are not moving, at least not yet, but we both 'accumulate' things and some of it has got to go! We've spent the last couple years working through the things my mom no longer needs now that she is in memory care, and I'm slowly uncovering all of the stuff of ours that was here all along. I've become an expert on where to repurpose things like clothes, useable household items, knick-knacks, furniture--there are good consignment stores and many charitable places here. I'm working on finding archives for some of my paper--so much paper!!! And family things are being redistributed to cousins and nieces and nephews, although are only willing to take a few bits. SO then, what about the clothes I've always thought I might mend (we can only use so many rags....), the torn jeans, the hundred empty jars, the wood and fabric that would make such good art material.......I know you know!!! I am trying out someplace called Trashie that will sell you bags to fill with things they say they will recycle--I'll let you know how that turns out. Bless us all for trying to do our best for the planet.
Oh, Denise. Moving is the answer to reorganization! I need to do that, but not Willard. He wants to stay in our old, 2 story, inconvenient house forever. Good for you and Larry for facing the music. ❤️
This is a delightful and relatable story. Admiration to you for your recycling efforts!
When I hear people my age say, Oh, I will just let my kids worry about getting rid of all my stuff after I’m gone, I scowl under my breath. That is about the most selfish last action one can take IMO.
In our household, I am the saver and my wife the thrower. Every once in a while, I will come across something my dad hung on a nail in the shed a long time ago and it’s exactly what I need. See! It’s good I saved it!
When you mentioned nail, it triggered a memory of being out in the pasture with my father in law building fence. He pulled nails from the post and used the top of the post to hammer the nail straight so he could use it again. My lesson for the day was resourcefulness.
We do the same with our trash ever since moving here 15 years ago, Denise, but you're right. It's an illusion. We certainly generate less trash than anyone in a city or suburb because boy, once you have to deal with it yourself you become very conscious of it! We downsized by half when we moved back to Iowa, but like George Carlin used to say, "Houses are places to put your STUFF!" And we're finding every nook and cranny to put stuff in. I know it's hard, but it truly is a gift to your kids. Good luck!
It simply is being a good neighbor, and if there were more who looked out for the rest of their "neighbors", maybe things would not be so God awful! Focus on the positive! Turn off the God damned news! Talk to your neighbors and do something positive, it doesn't matter what! make things better even in some ridiculously silly way, and spread it around! Thanks for reading my Note Denise! I wouldn't have expected any less from you!!!! Steve
Soon to be 75, I have tried my best to deal with the crap that often is forced on us! Holding things down to a recyclable level is nearly impossible as you noted with your discussion of plastic! We are as dutiful as can be in attempting to recycle and at my age with no need for a job any longer, I have taken to this with action that gives me something to do and a bit of exercise! While doing this I have discovered what we are loosing needlessly! Our Fire Station and Boy Scouts share a recycling drop off for cans that generates $30,000 for the fire department and enough cash to cover Summer Camp, and other expenses for the Scouts! So, to contribute to this effort I have taken as my task to find ways to improve on this personally! I now have two dumpsters and a few households who contribute to my cause recycling cans and bottles, and I have begun taking things to a mission operation in Hopkinton, Iowa that sells used everything and turns that money into donations and help for the community. Open two days a week with volunteers they sell on average $800 of free stuff a day! Last year they donated $50,000 to worthy causes in their community! They pay their rent, heat and lights and still do this! The money I make doing the very same thing is my "Mad Money" I donate it to worthy causes and ideas that would not get past go for lack of money, give them a chance and see how they do, contribute more as needed to see if it will fly! Alone, I make over $1,000 a year, and each year I make a little more! So get out there and help yourself and your community! You don't have to commit to days of druggery to do it, but you will be amazed at what you can do in an hour or two by just trying to improve the situation. In four years I estimate I've recycled over 200,000 cans and bottles!
“I was planning on using it for something.” he said as I rolled my eyes.
Oh can I relate to this! We are not moving, at least not yet, but we both 'accumulate' things and some of it has got to go! We've spent the last couple years working through the things my mom no longer needs now that she is in memory care, and I'm slowly uncovering all of the stuff of ours that was here all along. I've become an expert on where to repurpose things like clothes, useable household items, knick-knacks, furniture--there are good consignment stores and many charitable places here. I'm working on finding archives for some of my paper--so much paper!!! And family things are being redistributed to cousins and nieces and nephews, although are only willing to take a few bits. SO then, what about the clothes I've always thought I might mend (we can only use so many rags....), the torn jeans, the hundred empty jars, the wood and fabric that would make such good art material.......I know you know!!! I am trying out someplace called Trashie that will sell you bags to fill with things they say they will recycle--I'll let you know how that turns out. Bless us all for trying to do our best for the planet.
Oh Sue, yes I can totally relate! Good luck with your journey through the “garbage”.
Oh, Denise. Moving is the answer to reorganization! I need to do that, but not Willard. He wants to stay in our old, 2 story, inconvenient house forever. Good for you and Larry for facing the music. ❤️
Susie, we are only moving across the yard and unfortunately still have the barn as a back up.
Aaarrrgggh, I groan, while looking in the repurposed mirror!
This is a delightful and relatable story. Admiration to you for your recycling efforts!
When I hear people my age say, Oh, I will just let my kids worry about getting rid of all my stuff after I’m gone, I scowl under my breath. That is about the most selfish last action one can take IMO.
In our household, I am the saver and my wife the thrower. Every once in a while, I will come across something my dad hung on a nail in the shed a long time ago and it’s exactly what I need. See! It’s good I saved it!
When you mentioned nail, it triggered a memory of being out in the pasture with my father in law building fence. He pulled nails from the post and used the top of the post to hammer the nail straight so he could use it again. My lesson for the day was resourcefulness.
Reading this had me howling — my old man's truck is basically a traveling parts museum that would make Fred Sanford proud.
Nearly disowned me once when I suggested cleaning out his “collection.”
But joke's on me.
My pop’s packrat ways saved our butts at -20° more than once with a spare alternator he'd probably been hauling around since I was in diapers.
Younger folks today might not get it, but there's a certain genius to that old-school farmer's “might need it someday” mentality.
You nailed it, though. Even pack rats eventually need to face the music.
Just don't tell my dad I said that. 😉
There is an old school mentality and I hope our children have learned from us as we learned from our parents.
When my father in law was living, he would come out to the farm he would go around the house and empty my trash cans to take to the burn barrel.
Once in a while I would go out to the barrel and would find things he set aside that he thought had more life. One item was a broken toilet seat.
It was a gift to learn from him, toilet seat and all.
We do the same with our trash ever since moving here 15 years ago, Denise, but you're right. It's an illusion. We certainly generate less trash than anyone in a city or suburb because boy, once you have to deal with it yourself you become very conscious of it! We downsized by half when we moved back to Iowa, but like George Carlin used to say, "Houses are places to put your STUFF!" And we're finding every nook and cranny to put stuff in. I know it's hard, but it truly is a gift to your kids. Good luck!
It simply is being a good neighbor, and if there were more who looked out for the rest of their "neighbors", maybe things would not be so God awful! Focus on the positive! Turn off the God damned news! Talk to your neighbors and do something positive, it doesn't matter what! make things better even in some ridiculously silly way, and spread it around! Thanks for reading my Note Denise! I wouldn't have expected any less from you!!!! Steve
Soon to be 75, I have tried my best to deal with the crap that often is forced on us! Holding things down to a recyclable level is nearly impossible as you noted with your discussion of plastic! We are as dutiful as can be in attempting to recycle and at my age with no need for a job any longer, I have taken to this with action that gives me something to do and a bit of exercise! While doing this I have discovered what we are loosing needlessly! Our Fire Station and Boy Scouts share a recycling drop off for cans that generates $30,000 for the fire department and enough cash to cover Summer Camp, and other expenses for the Scouts! So, to contribute to this effort I have taken as my task to find ways to improve on this personally! I now have two dumpsters and a few households who contribute to my cause recycling cans and bottles, and I have begun taking things to a mission operation in Hopkinton, Iowa that sells used everything and turns that money into donations and help for the community. Open two days a week with volunteers they sell on average $800 of free stuff a day! Last year they donated $50,000 to worthy causes in their community! They pay their rent, heat and lights and still do this! The money I make doing the very same thing is my "Mad Money" I donate it to worthy causes and ideas that would not get past go for lack of money, give them a chance and see how they do, contribute more as needed to see if it will fly! Alone, I make over $1,000 a year, and each year I make a little more! So get out there and help yourself and your community! You don't have to commit to days of druggery to do it, but you will be amazed at what you can do in an hour or two by just trying to improve the situation. In four years I estimate I've recycled over 200,000 cans and bottles!
Yes Steve, you are so right! Thank you for helping our environment while helping those in need. Good advice.