My house is our home, but although I like it clean and neat it does get cluttered more now than ever before. Why is that? My children are grown and live far away, so how is it I seem to keep it in such a mess? Hubby is no help except he will bring his laundry to the pantry to be washed. The living room and kitchen are kept clean and neat, even the visitors bath. That is because company can see these rooms. But the dining room and bedrooms are messy, newspapers, mags. books, everywhere. The dining room has clutter all over the table but I close the french doors (they have lace curtains) so folks won't see. I don't know If I have become lazy or just too tired to worry with it. We just live here, the house takes care of us now. Poppy
HappyCamper2008-09-02T16:53:37Z
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Sounds like you enjoy life more than being a "neat freak" LOL. I keep my bdrm. door closed due to the same reason. No one goes in there except me or the family and I don't care if they see it a mess..It's not filthy or have things growing in it or bugs crawling around, but it's lived in.When I get my very weak spells from the sarcoidosis I do well to make it to the kitchen. I've learned NOT to push myself so much and I feel much better for it.
I'm not to the point of excessive compulsion, but I get close. My hubby is the clutterer. Is that a word? Anyway, I am a cleaner. It's been in my blood for years to clean, clean, clean. Since I've been under the weather the last three years, it takes me a lot longer, but I get it done, or have my husband help what I can't do. I do admit I go overboard at times. I just like things in the place where they belong. That way when you go to find something, you know where it is. If I do get clutter at times, I'll get on a frenzy and just start pitching things. ---(then I regret it later. I swear, if I have something for years, then pitch it, it won't be a week or so that I find that I needed it.!)
There is a good reason for this. Sit for a minute in your cluttered house and look around. Now, mentally remove all of the pictures, gifts, mementos. All of the love and memories tied up with those things. Now, add to that the things you like to collect. Your style. Remove this day's papers and mail. What is left? Looks nice doesn't it? But it is no longer a home. It has simply become an ordinary house. So--keep your clutter. It is life, and love, and all good things.
I like my house clean-ish, but not sterile. It does tend to get cluttered, but since I work 10-12 hours a day at my teaching job it doesn't usually get straightened up until the weekend. I really don't care as long as there are no "science experiments" growing anywhere.
I have a Little "Monk" in me and can't stand a messy house even our dog has to check things out if something is out of place. My advice to you is throw things out or give them away. You can donate items to the salvation army or other charity and you can even use donations as a tax exemption if you need it. You'll feel much better just getting rid of the clutter. I have an ex son in law who won't throw anything out and his house is a dump. We think it has become a sickness with him. The more you have the more you have to take care of.