When Two Become One....

....there's a LOT of 'stuff'. No really. Maybe we're the only couple that has ever experienced moving in together and feeling suffocated by everything we own. Maybe not?

When we got married and moved into our current apartment, we realized how much we own. Were either of us willing to purge any belongings? Of course not! My 'skinny' jeans that I was determined to fit into again (ha!) just had to stay. Hubs' hand-me-down bar lamp was not even an option to go.

Over the past 3 years we have slowly let go of many items in the name of our sanity (and marriage!). My skinny jeans went, as did the dream of ever being the same size that I was freshman year. His bar lamp didn't. I will say that it has started to grow on me, and it might make the trip to our new house.

How did we accomplish this?

We actually clean out closets and our second bedroom about once per season. It sounds excessive, but it helps us to slowly part with loved items that are no longer used. We usually take about 2-3 bags to local charities each time.

It has been tedious to take time so often instead of one overhaul and small maintenance about one time per year. But, it has helped to revisit items and frequently reevaluate their use in our lives.

We're currently getting rid of more than usual before we move. It's better to rid ourselves of it now than when we're trying to unpack, organize, buy furniture, decorate, and everything else that goes into moving into your first house.

Are we still having a difficult time with certain items?

Definitely. Hubs does not want to part with his dull knife set that is complete with worn out handles. He received a new set for his birthday - two months ago. I'm not innocent either. In fact, I am flat-out ridiculous. I have a set of black, plastic yaffa cubes (you know from college that are totally falling apart...errr maybe I was the only one who ever thought these were a good investment). They've been with me since I moved out of my parents house, and can be useful (in a dorm, maybe). I also am insisting on keeping my old 35mm SLR even though I have a dSLR, and have not touched that one in over 3 years. I'm not budging on that one....not an inch.

Now that you know way too much about what we've shamelessly owned over the years, maybe we can organize our lives!