Packing Up the Kitchen

I've spent the past several weekends packing up the kitchen. You'd think it would be an easy task - just get some boxes and begin loading them. Well, that is if you aren't a frustrated perfectionist who has to do every task she undertakes, with perfection!

I decided to pack it right. You know, only keep those things you think will come back into the kitchen after the remodel?

For over eight years now, Larry and I have been working toward our retirement. Scaling down, saving up. The Kidney Foundation loves us. We get a call from them once a month to donate unused or slightly used household appliances, clothing and furniture. Every month we donate faithfully a box or a bag of that "thing" we are no longer using. We lived in our house for 32 years now. That's a lot of accumulated "things".

Less I digress...so, I decided to use the Clean Sweep method - Save, Toss, Sell. The things I think will go back into the kitchen, I wrap in newspaper and place in the first box; the things that are broken or unusable, I trash; and the things that I don't want any more, but still hold value, I sell.

Most of you can see where I'm going with this. It's a taxing job to fill boxes and carry them to the basement for future use; fill the 30 gallon trash bin before pick up day; and list your good stuff on Craig's list.

We're now down to the minimum. We cook with less utensils; eat with far fewer, and still the kitchen looks full. I'm convinced that the papers on the table and the food and dishes on the counter multiply while we are sleeping.

I fear by now that I've lost your attention as you read my "Dear Diary" so I'll stop my ramblings long enough to tell you that the "Save, Toss, Sell" method really does work - it just takes time. Word to the wise: don't think that a major remodel like this will be done in your time frame, it will probably take you longer than you anticipated. Be patient with your self: do what you can do with the strength and energy that you have. Be realistic about your future: what do you really NEED to get the job done? And, lastly: don't beat up on yourself if you fail to meet your own self-imposed deadlines.

Next time: Setting up the make-shift kitchen.