I hate clutter. I have spent this week, once again, de-cluttering my wardrobe and my pantry and the desk and shelves and cupboards and both barns. As I have said to you a number of times I came to America with two suitcases of books, and journals and cameras and paintings wrapped in my clothes. So anytime my possessions raise themselves above that benchmark I feel a small worry of panic begin to edge itself into my gut.
Of course I don’t touch Johns things – they are not my department. But my clutter has to stay within strict parameters.
Have I written about this before.? I think about it so often as I work that I feel I must have written it or at least said it aloud. In the older of the old days people had very little. A couple of precious pots to cook in, a few changes of work clothes and a good set of clothes with a white shirt for funerals and weddings, probably your own funeral and wedding, hopefully not in that order. A few precious books, maybe a rolled up painting, some writing materials, a picture of your love and a good horse and all his associated harness and tack.
Then there was a period of rampant gathering. Our parents and their parents with the memory of such previous frugality and the surge of mass produced cheaper goods, hauled everything they could into their houses and shone it up and set it on the mantel or into large glass fronted cupboards. Then there was cheap plastic and crockery and massively mass produced books. After a thousand years of only a few treasures to a family now we have treasure amassed around us that some rooms in some homes are packed to the ceilings with such long forgotton possessions.
People hoard material things against fear. Stacked up against loneliness.
Like pigs who find a good feed and so begin gorging, because the evolution in their bodies reminds them that the hard times might be just around the corner, lay in some fat now.
I know people who have inherited all these things. I hear again and again from older people – what do we do with this ?- our children don’t want these things? – they are bewildered. My generation and the one that follows me has slimmed right down, we have not reverted to a trunk and a rocking chair and a saddle bag but we de-clutter, we try not to be held hostage to Things, refusing to believe that the spirits of our ancestors live in the collections of a hundred match boxes, or sea-shells, or cabbage shredders or gilt frames without pictures, or scrap books or old bed-heads, or china, or silver. Or even land and houses. We want to be freer- this is an old need, the need to go walkabout, to move, to be able to count what we have and what we own. To know where it is all sitting. To lighten up. All this ‘stuff’ hangs on us like a weight. It is it’s own fear. We become unhappy stewards. Holding onto it for the next generation who wants no part of it.
And that is good, isn’t it? That is not a rhetorical question so it deserves a question mark.
Of course it is the stories we should be collecting, the history, the names, and begats. And writing them down for the children. There is just too much ‘stuff’ to keep up with. Too many things now, too much. It dilutes the pure magic of an old photograph where you can point to every soul and name them for the children who sit upon your knee. Then turn that photo over and double check you are right because your grandmother wrote it down for you in fading blunt pencil on the back of the frame.
We have so much now. So many decorations. What really is important to you. What is really important for the next generation of children.
Have possessions taken the place of the old stories? Am I right though? Or disconnected. Or is it only me who feels this? Do people put less emphasis on the old things now? Or are they just buying quickly and discarding faster. Throwing things into a rubbish pile that if we were forced to keep in our own backyards would reach higher than our houses. Because nothing lasts now, most of it disposable. Maybe we should be holding on to the old stuff because soon there will be no stuff at all. That is another thought. No stuff. Not even printed photographs. Or cups with matching saucers.
I came to America with two suitcases and should my circumstances change I believe I could leave with two. I would take some books, (one of which would be my current read) my mothers paintings, my heart painting, two silver and crystal perfume bottles that belonged to my grandmother. My father’s Leica, my current camera, four cups, (two new, two old all handmade) the rare photo of all my children and I together in one place, the photo of John and I when we were 17 – the old ceramic mixing bowl that belonged to John’s grandmother, my rings, my bangles and my copper pots, and a contact sheet print that I photographed as a child with my fathers camera and printed myself, that details my entire family at a picnic on a summer day in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand – I must have been ten or thereabouts and I have carried that print from country to country all my life since.
That is all I need. My footprints would not be too deep with that as my load. The rest must remain in the stories.
It has always been this way with me. This need to shed. Often I go travelling with two suitcases and when I come home I have packed one of the suitcases into the other – I have shed that much as I travel. Stuff lightens and floats away.
In Nineteen days I will pack my suitcases with parcels and gifts and go a’travelling again. This time to Australia and New Zealand. I will take you with me – my favourite travelling companions.
So keep your fingers crossed that the weather stays settled like this for a while longer.
I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
The book I have just finished: Thirteen Moons – Charles Frazier.
Movie I watched last night: Babettes Feast (and not for the first time).
The Kitchen's Garden 
77 responses to “The Clutter Goes”
Ha ha – I bet the pigs would settle for a food bowl and a bale of straw or two 🙂
Babette’s Feast is a movie I could watch any time. Enjoyed reading about your incredibly light load. Inspiring.
Going through all I went through this past year with the cancer has made me get rid of even more and want to simplify my life down to the bare bones. My daughter has recently been given a lot of my keepsakes from my grandparents and great grandparents, some furniture, jewelry, clothes, books, etc. And I will be giving her more as I clean out rooms. Being raised by rat-packing grandparents who lived during the Great Depression, their motto was to save everything just in case you needed it at some point in time. Guess I had the same mindset until recently. Thankfully, my daughter cherishes the important sentimental items and after our yard sale this coming spring, Goodwill will be receiving some donations. I agree, Celi, we need to de-clutter and simplify and remember the only important things……….our loved ones (both the two legged and 4 legged ones!) and friends and helping others.
Did you go thru cancer last year? I did in 2014. It sure changes one’s perspective, doesn’t it? Big hugs my farmy friend. 🙂
Oh yes, cancer definitely does change one’s perspective and it opened my eyes to a lot of changes that needed made. Mine started in Oct 2014 and my last chemo treatment was in June 2015. Thank God, I’m in remission now and I hope and pray you are also. Big hugs right back at you. Have a great weekend.
While I am unrelenting about recycling todays things, I have cupboards and boxes in my garage stuffed with books and things 😦 Both my parents lived through the 1930’s depression and World War II and my mother was a hoarder and seems to have passed the habit onto me. Being able to pick up and leave with only 2 suitcases sounds kind of unsettled to me – something to aspire to, none the less. Laura
I’m with you! I lived overseas for a year and The Rule of the company organizing it all was “You must be able to run a mile carrying all your stuff.” Well that certainly limits it… and it was liberating! When I moved back to the US, I felt heavy laden by all the junk I’d been living without. Today, my only “Absolutely Must Keeps” are Granddad’s books, Grandma’s china, Mom’s framed Renoir, and my photos. Otherwise, I’m more attached to my plants 🙂
I am a hoarder (said like an addict) and I’m in the process of letting go of my “things’. I am weighed down by my possessions and I too remember a time when I left my home with a topper on top of my car with all my stuff in it and I could go any where in the world that I wished to go. So free that felt, to be able to just go and yet now I am tied to my things wanting to move to a simpler place because I cannot care for it anymore but intimidated by having to go through the things I have accumulated in those 30 years. So now I dream of what it will be like to be free again as I go sort through my boxes of stuff.
This is something I struggle with. I wish I knew what do to with so many of the “THINGS” I have. I feel bad about having them, but don’t know where to put them. It seems irresponsible to just toss them. And I sometimes I think “Who would want this junk?” As I get older I try to bring less meaningless STUFF into the house. It is a constant battle.
I’m of two minds, here. On the one hand, the mantra of the housekeeping maven, Peg Bracken, always has appealed: when in doubt, throw it out (or, donate, give, sell — whatever). On the other hand, there are certain objects that I hang on to passionately: the aluminum saucepan mother used for fudge-making, and the candy thermometer that goes with it. The cribbage board my dad and I used every Sunday night. The quilts pieced from my sunsuits, my mother’s dresses, and my dad’s shirts. Objects bear memory: they incarnate them, give them flesh. I spent a youthful decade living only in my head. No more.
I too love de-cluttering. I do it regularly – I think it calms my soul although I must admit I battle in the kitchen – I love all my little bits and bobs, although I do try and use them all frequently – that makes me feel better about having them all.
If I had to permanently leave everything, I’m not sure other than my Pete and cats what I would take. I know there would be lipbalm and wetwipes in there somewhere though.
Have a wonderful weekend C.
🙂 Mandy xo
My mother-in-law is a hoarder. Her house burned down last year, because either she or her husband left the stove on and left the house. When they came back, almost everything was lost. She was very upset that she had lost all of the needless things she was holding onto. They have a new house, and once again, it is starting to get filled up with “needless” things. I know hoarding is a disease, and unless the person who is hoarding decides to change, the disease will go uncured.
We have so much stuff. You are quite right. I work hard on decluttering but it is difficult. Yesterday I was looking at photos I had scanned years ago of my family and memories from long ago and I loved being able to look at those in such an easy manner. Save them to an small external hard drive and they are there in a simple click. Instead of saving all of the albums and bins of pictures I need to do this with ALL of my photos so that I can purge some of the actual stuff. Sounds good in theory. Thank you for a glimpse into your decluttering!
I hate clutter with a vengeance and could not agree with you more. Memories should be in our hearts.
Are you going on vacation to Australia? Who is going to look after your animals and farm?
I am off to South Africa in 3 weeks so we will both be experiencing summer!
Like you two suitcases are my limit. I moved into this cottage 7 years ago with 2 suitcases, 1 cat, 1 dog and a blow up bed! I have gathered much more since then, but every winter I go through and de-clutter. I would still like to think I could move on with just those 2 cases, but I am afraid the animals have multiplied! And the blow up bed got a bad puncture so I had to throw it out LOL
As for stories, one thing I would have to drag along with me would have to be my computer of the day. It contains all my life stories in one shape or another. I even wrote a lot for my granddaughter in a file all for her, telling her things about me, her Mum and our family. I love books, and have quite a few, but so glad that ereaders have been invented as that would fit in my cases a lot easier. I have always been one that expects to move in a heart beat, having done so at least four times in my life (three divorcees and one major move to America). I always know where my important papers and stuff are, and could be ready to move in under an hour should the need arise, even with the car packed with 2 dogs, 4 cats and 5 chickens!!
That’s what I was going to say: I wonder if Celie could leave behind the Kitchen’s Garden with all the stories and photographs and friendships. No, Celie – the computer would have to go with you!
Funnily enough, today’s theme as Miz Quickly’s blog is “STUFF”, and as I said to her, we sold, gave away and took to the tip vast quantities of “stuff” when we downsized in 2013. Still the house is too full and the garage is encumbered with un-unpacked boxes, I refuse to revisit that life-threatening (literally – I spent the next 6 months flat on my back) situation, and therefore link this poem from a while back: https://vivinfrance.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/overwhelmed/
When I came to Australia 12 years ago, I brought with me one large suitcase. On the ship following me, was one fifth of a container-load with my household in it. This consisted of one antique table, one easy chair, books, pictures, linen etc. Mostly books, if I’m honest. I can’t do without those, but I had left behind at least half of them. This was the edited library. I regarded what I brought as the things that constituted ‘my’ place, my environment. When I got married 3 years ago, I slimmed it all down again – we were uniting the households of two mature adults who already had the necessities. I could do it again if necessary. I would walk away with a backpack full of books (and more on my Kindle), my laptop with all my photos on it under my arm, sewing machine in one hand and my husband’s hand in the other. It’s just stuff. Oh, I’d probably make him carry the huge quilt I stitched entirely by hand, it’s freighted with so many memories. I’m not averse to possessions or addicted to de-cluttering, but neither am I overly attached. For me, I have the balance right.
I am a sentimental hoarder..not masses of stuff but things that my children have bought for me,paintings they did as small children at playschool,christmas cards,birthday cards from my kids. Like you say nobody else would want them but until the day i die they are my precious things. After i have gone they can all be burnt. One of my worst hoarding is bars of soap from hotels around the world..i have loads of them ,some over 50. Years old. Why? I dont really know. Its just a silly something that i do on every visit to a hotel..nick the soap. You are right though we should all declutter our lives and not cling to the past..but its so hard..so i carry on. Loved your post as it made me think about my own life On 29 Jan 2016 13:43, “thekitchensgarden” wrote:
> Cecilia Mary Gunther posted: “I hate clutter. I have spent this week, once > again, de-cluttering my wardrobe and my pantry and the desk and shelves and > cupboards and both barns. As I have said to you a number of times I came to > America with two suitcases of books, and journals and came” >