By Mary Lynne Murray
Reprinted from Contra Costa Times, November 8, 2003
FALL OF 1979 found me
a little out of step with what I'd known all my life. This was
the first September I had not gone "back to school."
While being in my first professional job was an exciting new beginning,
I missed the fresh start that came along each fall with new school
supplies, books and classes.
Like students, middle-aged homeowners
can find a different fresh start amid the crisp mornings and warm
afternoons of fall. As we prepare to spend more time indoors this
winter, the dreaded garage screams "It's fall -- clean me."
Over the carefree days of summer, the family tossed things into
the garage willy-nilly, and the result was dangerous: wobbly stacks
that looked like they could topple at any moment. Never meant
to be the final resting spot, the garage has become a source of
frustration as we stumble over "stuff" trying to get
to the cars, storage or to do the laundry.
We accumulate according to the varied seasons of our lives, and
at our house, these accumulations tend to gather in the garage.
Things get parked there while someone in the family ponders its
fate. Yes, clutter is the result of postponed decisions. While
that "truly amazing vegematic" is gathering dust in
the garage, it attracts cousins, and they aren't cars.
What is the psychological impact of a cluttered space? Here's
one scenario: As you pull the car into the garage -- it's a squeeze
to open the car door, and you have to go around the back of the
car to get into the house. All this stuff is in the way! You feel
burdened and even a little scared about what lurks in those boxes.
Who lives here anyway? Can one exercise control over her space?
Time to divide and conquer the garage. Thankfully, twice a year,
the local garbage company schedules free refuse/cleanup days.
Nothing like a deadline to get us moving. The Murrays are not
by nature early risers; however, we have a better attitude and
energy in the morning -- hint: be aware of your energy peaks and
valleys. So we figured a jump start on the garage before my daughter's
soccer game would be a good thing. We wouldn't start the project
tired at the end of the day, or working on a weeknight to get
ready for the pickup --on a date we could not choose.
It need not be an all-consuming project. We worked for two hours
before leaving for the game, and returned later and worked for
another hour. Sunday arrived, and we spent another couple of hours,
leaving plenty of weekend hours to relax and do something else.
Hint: Tackle the project in pieces. Organize one section
at a time, perhaps the sports equipment. When you find some garden
tools stuck in with balls, simply set it in the "goes somewhere
else" pile; keep working on the sports area until it's in
order. Sorting is a vital task to bringing order to your space.
Was the tower of stacking bins containing my children's baby
things still a keeper? Yes, they are stored well and have value
to me. But were we going to use dated business supplies and equipment?
No, it took lots of room and found its way to the curbside pick
up. We said bye to a chair that was unsafe, and wall hangings
no longer to our taste. A bike rack was installed, freeing up
aisle space and keeping the bikes more secure. Water toys the
girls hadn't played with in several summers were given away. The
car was fully loaded with donations for a charitable organization.
Be careful about what you store in the garage. It's disappointing
to store an item in the garage, only to find it damaged by bugs,
moisture, dust, or smashed because of improper storage. Plastic
bins are the best option for a garage. We noticed my husband's
travel golf bag was covered in dust and decided a zipped plastic
cover was right on par.
Now there's room for things that you'd like to protect from the
winter rains and colder temperatures. And you've got your fresh
start.
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