Done but sad

[susandennis]

I have this really overly weird thing about bags. All bags really. Pocketbooks are my heroin. Back when every store handed out bags for free when you shopped, I could never ever throw any of them away. Conventions and trade shows used to kill me. I'd come home with bags full of bags. Even wallets are a bit treacherous. And I don't even use one anymore!! It's a problem.

Not so very long ago, all three of these drawers were stuffed to the gills with bags.



I went through all three drawers sometime last year and culled out all those I could stand to part with. And at least emptied one drawer.

But, today, I was ruthless. I saved 5 pocketbooks and 5 bags that fold into pouches. I did save way too many little zippered pouches but they don't take up much room.



This is a partial pile of the ones in today's cull. I put some in the Goodwill bag but I am not going to Goodwill today and I didn't want to take the chance of unculling them this afternoon. So I dragged all of the rejects down to the free shelf in the garage. Even as I was putting them on the shelf, there were more than a couple that I wanted back.

And I know I will never ever use them again. I know it. And, what's even worse, is that if I saw them today in a store, I'd be tempted to buy them anyway!! It's bad. Really bad.

Plus usually when I get rid of a bunch of stuff like this, it makes me feel organized and efficient. This cull, more necessary than most, just makes me feel sad. :(

AND as if to underline the down side, they just hooked up the front door camera to the cable system but it is analog so I need a splitter to keep from having to switch back and forth. I had a truckload of coax and splitters and and switchers that I purged completely a year or so ago.

So... today... it's off to Home Depot.

Comments

[slinkslowdown.livejournal.com]

omg, and I thought I had too many tote bags with, like, five.

[sweetwilla.livejournal.com]

You are such a colorful person! I even like the color in your drawers. :o)

[susandennis]

:)

[susandennis]

Piker

[slinkslowdown.livejournal.com]

Okay, I had to Google that one. :P

[susandennis]

it's your lesson for today :)

[ladythmpr.livejournal.com]

Never purge everything of one type. :)

[susandennis]

Nice rule but doesn't work for me.

Also found a stash of splitters and coax as soon as I got home from Home Depot.

[colestainedpage.livejournal.com]

I had a truckload of coax and splitters and and switchers that I purged completely a year or so ago

THIS is why we hold onto things. For that one time in the future that we might happen to need it. I also love bags. And jackets. Even though I wear approximately two jackets during the colder months. And hardware knickknacks. My tiny tool box overfloweth with about 8 allen wrenches, piles and piles of extra screws, and parts and pieces to things that I don't even remember where they came from or why I thought I needed to save it. BUT I might find a use for it so there it stays.

[susandennis]

You must be way more organized that I am. I can never find stuff so I buy more and then I can never find stuff so I buy more...

Case in point, when I got home from home depot, I found the small stash of splitters and coaxes that I did not purge before.

I think I have a genetic defect.

[colestainedpage.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you need a master inventory list? An excel spreadsheet of what you kept from the purges and where you left them?

[susandennis]

Yeah, great idea. Not going to happen. I know up front that is a plan for fail. Just not me.

I think I just need to get rid of more stuff so that finding what I do have will be easier.

[colestainedpage.livejournal.com]

Hahaha! I wouldn't do it either, but I love coming up with those kinds of ideas.

[xina-g.livejournal.com]

little zipper bags are my downfall lately. I have soo many of those things. I love them. They mostly sit empty. But I love them damn it. *lol*
I blame ipsy. I joined them a while back, and part of their makeup subscription is that everything comes in a cute zipper bag. Since then it's become a bit of an obsession.
I'm getting better though. I give gifts in the solid ones once in awhile, so that has been helping. And any zipper bags that are a clear vinyl I now have begun to store crafty stuff like crochet hooks or markers in so I can see where I've put them. =)

[susandennis]

Ok, using them for gifts is GENIUS!!!

And yes on clear ones. I also have a bunch of mesh ones. Even a couple of very close mesh that you can put little things in and still see them.

And... yet... I don't use most of them.

Nice to know I'm not the only one and I cannot wait to give a gift!

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

Not only can you use them as gifts, you can fill them with gifts! It would be better than a paper bag or a box. Could the lady you make the bears for use them? Those bags look too nice to toss.

[susandennis]

I meant using them as wrappers for gifts was so smart. But, turns out, most of my zipper bags are not in good enough shape to give away. I really do need to throw most out.

The bags will go to a good home, no worries. They won't get tossed.

[ellettra.livejournal.com]

Wow! That's quite a culling, and it will undoubtedly make a difference, but I'm sorry you're sad to be doing it. I wonder what it is about bags that draws you.

[susandennis]

I know one thing is that they don't have to fit! Clothes are always such an issue and even shoes are a bother... but bags... bags don't care if I'm tall or short of fat or thin...

But, that can't be the only thing. And, on the up side, I love the one I made so maybe that will cure me of having to have so many!

[badrobot68.livejournal.com]

I tend to collect tote bags but then I generally just use one until it falls apart.

[zimon66]

Next on A&E's Intervention... XD

[susandennis]

Just trying to stay ahead of that!!

[dendren.livejournal.com]

OMG... will you come over to my Mom's and be ruthless with a bunch of her stuff? ;)

good for you for letting them go. Sometimes we just need to let a bunch of stuff we don't really need go. makes more room for more!!!

[ayebydan]

I'm good at recognising I need to get rid of crap. That then leaves empty spaces that slowy but surely...get filled with more crap.

I don't understand how people live in minimalist ikea catalogue type homes. I just need....stuff.

[roasted-beets.livejournal.com]

I have a dear friend who says you can never have enough tote bags or khaki shorts. I went to help her set up for an antique show once and watched in amazement as she took the LL Bean boat & tote we had just emptied and filled it with a bag of ice to use it as a cooler for our beverages.

My own obsession is for coats and jackets. But I live in Maine!!!

[zestfive.livejournal.com]

Wow, good for you! That's amazing how many you collected and how much you're willing to let go!