Freecycle

I've heard about Freecycle for years now, but only now did I finally take the plunge and sign up. It was completely worth the effort--in 24 hours, I was able to find a home for the old hardware cabinet left behind by the construction crew.

Next, I'll list all of the items left behind after the yard sale--hopefully I can move out the remaining "half" that I didn't sell. I'm planning another sale, so after it's over, I'll have a "freecycle" hour in which freecyclers can come and take whatever they want! Then it's off to Goodwill or Salvation Army.

I've got the furniture listed on Craigslist--we'll see what that yields. My office and basement still feel terribly cluttered, so I've got a ways to go, but at least I can visibly see a "dent." It's such an ebb and flow--some weeks I'm in a great headspace to move everything out, and other weeks I just can't let go of anything. All the more reason to take advantage of the moment when it strikes. I don't miss a single thing from that yard sale!

Success at last!

The yard sale was a huge success....I'm still in disbelief.

I put everything outside, and was a bit surprised that as cramed full as it looked inside my house, all of my things on the lawn looked amazingly sparse. The flow of people was slow but steady, and I first had a touch of anxiety, watching people pick through my things. It felt strangely violating at first--a woman trying on my sunglasses...... a man picking through the bins.... I wanted to scream at first: "HEY! THOSE ARE MY THINGS! SHOW SOME RESPECT!"

Then it hit me. I have all this emotional attachment to this stuff--it's why it's been crammed in my house all this time--these folks have ZERO attachment to it. To them: it's just a pair of sunglasses. And that's exactly what they are: just a pair of sunglasses. Not a memory. Not a lost childhood. Not a crushed dream. My ex-wife gave me those sunglasses--and they were fun while I wore them. Now they just remind me of my painful divorce. I sold them for a dollar--it was incredibly liberating.

After the first two sales, I was on a roll. I priced the furniture too high, so I'll try again online to sell the big pieces, but I sold HALF of everything that I put outside. Entire BOXES of stuff--gone! I sold things that I swore I'd never get rid of ... and it's okay. In two months, I'll competely forget why it was so important that I keep them.

I sold all of my fire department memorabila--the figurines, the tins, the photo frames, model toys--all the crap that my ex-wife and her mother gave me--all gone. It depressed me to look at all that stuff--I still love the fire department, but I don't need to clutter up my house with fire department crap.

And best of all.... I made $155 off of the day's sales. I'm hoping to put that money towards a nice flat screen, assuming I can sell my TV and entertainment unit next. My new goal is move 100% of the unwanted items out by the end of June so that I can totally redecorate/furnish the living room...but nothing comes in until it all goes out!

It did start to rain....and I quickly packed up and pulled it all back into the house...so the childhood nightmare had a chance for me to play it out, and give it a positive ending. maybe that will stop that nightmare for good.

2 Days to go

The big flea market is Saturday.. just two days away. I'm completely flipping out in ways I never imagined. It fluctuates between wanting EVERYTHING to sell and be gone....horror and shame at all of the stuff I have accumulated.... and fear of not wanting to let it go.

I have so much stuff to sell that my yard is literally not going to be big enough. wow...and damn. wow. damn. that's a lotta stuff.

then the anxiety sets in. as a kid...and even now as an adult...I have these anxiety nightmares where I dream that all of my "stuff" is outside....and it begins to rain and a storm is rapidly approaching....and I have to race to bring everything inside before it gets ruined. there's a chance of thunderstorms on Saturday. So I may have to face that anxiety head on...and that terrifies me even more than letting go of the stuff.

The mound of yard sale items is so large....I can barely move in the living room now....the worst part will be bringing it back into the house. I wish I had another solution but I'm not ready to just give it all away yet. I'm going to make a pact with myself: take ALL offers...no matter how ridiculous. My reward to all of this....aside from a clutter free house....if I make any money....I'm going to put it towards a new minimalist living room.

I'm selling the sofa, leather recliner, entertainment unit and tv. yep. almost the whole damn living room. And it feels good.

here's wishing myself strength and luck..... I'll need both.