"Clean House" vs. "Hoarders"

BOOKS............

Decorating/architectural magazines and books. I have tons of them, all neatly
packed in colorful IKEA boxes.

Books, and yarn.

Books ... and I'm slightly paranoid about my bills and other forms of private mail.

Years ago... For a summer job, I read residential gas meters. In newer neighbourhoods, the meters were on the outside. But in many cases, I had to enter the older homes. I was in several houses of hoarders and I've never been more frightened when I had to shimmy through tiny walks ways built of newspapers, boxes and stuff/junk piled to the rafters and make my way to the dungeons(basements). Houses that stunk, with dog or cat excrement and urine. One guy had saved all these massive empty dog food bags. I have no idea where these people sleep, never mind cook or sit down. Madness.
Those experiences keep me from hoarding anything, although I do have a shoe fetish...

Hey - those massive dog food bags are the best - really strong. No telling when you will need one. . . .

I get a kick out of the look on the faces of the hoarders when someone else touches their "stuff" and starts throwing it away. One guy actually got sick to his stomach, another broke out in a sweat.

Thing is, I totally understand it. I don't like someone touching my stuff muchless make a decision on whether or not it's important. But that does not apply to the year old yogurt and rotten pumpkins or the 10 year old magazines. It's all about being in control. . . .

I hope (but highly doubt) that T.C. Boyle is getting royalties for all these shows since he came up with the idea in his 1993 story "Filthy With Things" (can't find it free online). I remember how science fictiony it seemed at the time, now it's plain old regular programming.

Books.

And, kinda, clothes.

sullyfish

Some of us (including Noddy! ) formed an A2K support group, in an effort to overcome our hoarding "issues", not too long ago.
You might be interested.

Hoarders' therapy group:
http://able2know.org/topic/110834-1