Oh, and yeah, I used to try to do up the dishes and stuff last thing at night, but I've fallen out of the habit of it. I should go back to doing that. It was very satisfying.

Actually, I do most of the dishes whilst waiting for a kettle to boil. Well, during the winter anyway, when the kettle is inside. During the summer when I put the kettle on the side burner of the grill, I just kinda chill out outside while I'm waiting. During the winter it takes longer because I'm boiling water to deice the birdbath too.

I like waking to a house with no clutter, and that 5 minutes at night clearing stuff up is a really helpful little ritual.

I can only wonder what this must be like.

Liese, does Biscuit wait for you to go to bed? Around 11 or so, when Chile can feel the evening winding down, she'll just sit in the hall doorway impatiently. Like "come on lady, it's time to go to bed!" It's so funny that she cares where I am and that I stay tuned to her clock.

She knows when I start the evening-clutter-round up.

Bartleby is the same. So, lately, I've taken to putting him to bed before I begin the evening ritual. That way, he doesn't have to follow me around and I don't have to step over him. It's more relaxing for us both.

I've also started doing the first part of my morning ritual before letting him out of his crate. That way, he doesn't get bored waiting for me to get my act together and after the morning kisses, his first order of business is "OUTSIDE!" Which, of course, is the awesomest way to start the day.

I can only wonder what this must be like.

Me too. I can manage it for short periods of time when I have guests staying here. Then they go to bed and I take a few minutes making sure the kitchen is clean and setting up coffee for the next morning. But it's a rhythm that doesn't work with just me as well.

a house with no clutter

I would feel like I was living in someone else's house.

Not that that would necessarily be a bad thing.

See, what I want is a book on household/clutter organization (or instructive human) that will simply TELL ME WHERE TO PUT THINGS. Not a single one I've ever seen has done that. They'll tell me how to plan a party or how to let go of clutter or how to understand where my need to collect/keep things comes from, but they don't tell me what to DO with the stuff I am not getting rid of. I'm serious. Thz srs prblm.

I hired a organization person once. She spent two hours at my apartment. We talked about my issues with abandonment and feeling unfulfilled. We cleared off one table. She charged me $150 and left, telling me I could call her again anytime. Needless to say, I didn't. What a ripoff! I don't want therapy, I want an organized living environment!

Me too. I can manage it for short periods of time when I have guests staying here. Then they go to bed and I take a few minutes making sure the kitchen is clean and setting up coffee for the next morning. But it's a rhythm that doesn't work with just me as well.

I can clean and have things in some order when guests arrive but totally clutter free? Never. I'll still have piles of books with no homes, too many teacups, etc.

Liese, does Biscuit wait for you to go to bed?

Totally! He also has a point where he'll give up, and go in and get in the (giant king) bed by himself, as if to say, you guys can stay up too late if you want to, but I, like all reasonable people, am going to bed.

I like waking to a house with no clutter, and that 5 minutes at night clearing stuff up is a really helpful little ritual.

I'm sure this would be lovely, after I spent 5 months reducing the clutter to a 5-minute level.

Mr Peabody tries to get me to come to bed at what would be a rational hour, and when I stay at the computer, he rolls his eyes at me and goes to bed.

A lot of the house is clutter-free right now because we put everything in closets and such to move it out of the way of the tile guys. It's kind of freaky.