I too continue with the empty-ing of the space. One of the gals I work with just separated from her husband and will be getting a divorce. She has a dining room set to start with. Some things I was tossing that the exx roomie used are now in her new apartment....a 2 door cabinet that she will use as a dresser(i used it as a pantry at my old house), a 9 cube organizer with some cloth baskets(used as a bookshelf in my old office) will be repurposed as a toy holder for her 4 and 6 year old girls, the 2 old end tables will now become a tv stand. I have a couple other things that I told her she could have including my 4 ft christmas tree with all the decorations that hasn't sold at the yard sales, perfect size for a small apartment. She will let me know.

I am happy that they are gone and that someone can put them to good use and that it will help her get on her feet.

cyd, too cool about the used rv....that is something I would love to do, but at this point it is not an option. Have some extra fun with it for me!

I've been enjoying this discussion ladies.

Cyd, glad to hear you are enjoying the rv. It is interesting to live on wheels for 4 weeks but entirely do-able. Just gotta think minimal....

BL, it's so nice that your co-worker was able to use some of your items. It's great to know that it is so needed.

Chefsam-I'm like you it would seem. I definitely like having empty spaces. I don't like every closet or shelf to be full and I like having clear tables and surfaces. If I open a closet and it's crammed full I definitely feel like it needs to be cleaned out. When my husband and I first bought the house we're in we didn't have any kids and we had more room than we knew what to do with. We had empty spaces all over the place and rooms that we didn't even use. Now with two kids it seems like every space is being overrun with their things and every nook and cranny is full and it's driving me crazy!

We're building a new house and will hopefully be moving in the next few months and that will give us a little more space to move around and store things but I'm working really hard at downsizing the items that we have even before we move. I'm looking at items with the thought in the back of my mind, is it worth moving this item? If not, it's going out.

Unfortunately, I've been buying a lot of new items for the new house that are currently stored in our basement, so I'm really anxious to get that stuff out of here and it's hard being patient. But I know that when we do move that there is a lot of stuff from this house that isn't going and I just have to wait until that time comes. Everything is just so up in the air right now with the new construction and I hate that feeling. I just want to be settled.

Mom of two: Moving into a larger, more spacious home is exciting. Although we're currently in downsizing mode, I vividly recall how thrilling it was to move into a bigger house with DH and two small, active boys. I wish I'd understood then, it's not about space to store stuff, it's about having what you need, when you need it, where you need it. Through time I've figured out that the best dishes need to be used for family meals, not reserved for visitors, silver gets it's patina from use and looking after stuff can be exhausting.

As you pack up to move, ask yourself if you love and use each item at least once a year. For things you don't use, consider selling, re-gifting, or donating to bless someone who will enjoy it.

Mom of two: I understand the restless feeling you have, since when we moved into a larger house 20 years ago, we were looking forward to the extra space, but at the same time always in mental transition. You try to keep the current home functioning, while planning the new one and there is always a level of pleasureable worrying going on.

It is certainly unsettling, but you'll get there eventually! I used to find myself mentally walking through the floor plans of the new place, trying to visualize how it would work, for example, getting up in the morning, going to the kitchen, starting breakfast and so on.

I agree with Cyd about using stuff, rather than keeping it for best, although I must admit my china teaset doesn't come out when little ones are visiting with their moms!

Good luck with your downsizing. We didn't do nearly enough before our move!

Mom of two, I agree with the ladies...use the good stuff for every day as those are the most important ..... and memorable times. When I was married I bought the porcelain china as both nice and everyday dishes. To distinguish for the fancy meals, I had fancy glasses, but even those ended up taking a side step.

Every day is important and celebrate it

Pick a china/plate pattern you love and use it all the time, why waste the space with a second set of dishes you rarely use. My plates are basic, so are my glasses and silverware....I figure I can add special bouquets of flowers and other things to increase the festivities.

Downsizing is an eye opener for sure. When I separated I had one week to pack up; while working 40 hours outside the home. I was very happy the GONer experience kicked in and made it a smooth transition. I have everything I need and had, only in a smaller portion.

So I don't have plates for 12, I have 8; I don't have 4 bins of wrapping paper, I have 1. I don't have 300 books, I have maybe 75. I don't have crafts for a classroom I have enough for DD and me.

Cyd, you summed up my GONer way of thinking when you said: "it's about having what you need, when you need it, where you need it."

These last few months BF left and I had to re-evaluate my life. I'm finding it easier to let go of a lot of stuff, decluttering is becoming more and more pleasurable as I am doing just that, using the stuff I have instead of just storing it for later; when does that even come around anyway?!

I'm tall so can use all the storage areas, even up high fortunately for me, I can also bend so use up under bed and closet floor too I'm finding new ways to not have stuff in front or on top of other or else I don't use it. Countless times I've put off projects because the items I needed where stored in awkward places or packed in a closet.

I tend to be a perfectionist and having less is so much freeing. I can do the 1 sewing project instead of putting it off until I have time for the 5 waiting on a shelf. I can do the touch up painting job beneath the window because I don't have to take 10 boxes out of the storage to get to the painting stuff.

Having less means I can do more. Weird isn't it?

Yahoo Bubblegum, you've got it right! It's so much easier to touch up the paint when you can easily access the supplies needed. Experience has taught me when you let things go that no longer serve you, you make room for new things to come into your life.
Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration

This sounds right on. If I ever move - which might not be for years, but if I do - I will either look for a house with a basement, or with another room that I can use to make more things accessible. I know what you mean about putting things off because it is so hard to get to what you need. This is something I deal with fairly often. It's not even always about having too much, though I can continue to winnow. It's that there is simply no other place to put things, for example, than high shelf in corner of utility room (behind the awful plumbing pipes that cannot be moved) or the attic.

simplicity, I'm not challenging your viewpoint but wonder if it's financially prudent to buy a house with a basement or another room to store stuff.

A combination of GON suggestions and experience is showing me that it's important to make it easier to put things away that it was to get it initially. I'm inching towards solutions and easily see where I miss the mark. If it isn't easy enough to put away, it might stay at-point-of-use until I either ask it be put away or go do it myself. I'm finding the more I exam what is used and not used...what is used regularly and what is only occasionally used, the better decisions I can make.
While we 'paid good money' for items not used much or not to expectation, it's sunk money. It won't come back. I've re-gifted, sold and donated BUT I've never missed anything released.

ok, pushing myself off the soapbox