Not the same person.

I cleared out what seemed like a lot of stuff a few years ago, but it was all stuff that I could donate or toss. I have, however, tons of stuff that is actually worth something. What I don't have is energy. This last year, it's been all I could do to get to the constant doctor appointments and have clean clothes and food. It's quite amazing how much stuff (and dog hair) can pile up in a year.

I start a stack of stuff to donate at the beginning of the year, then the last week of December I pack it all in the trunk of my car and take it to Goodwill. Come tax time, I claim it all and profit. Takes up space on my bedroom floor between January and December, but I tell myself it's for a worthy cause--me--and walk around it for the entire year.

My neighborhood does an event called Up For Grabs Day every January (it's next weekend, actually), in the gym of a church. It's like a swap meet, I guess, where they have tables set up for every category you can think of, like housewares, toys, books, sports equipment, and clothes by gender/age (adult and kids). There's also a bulletin board set up so people can post pictures of large items like furniture. As long as you bring 3 things, there's no admission fee, and you can take home as much as you can carry. At the end of the event, everything left over goes to Goodwill.

It's smart to have it soon after Christmas, because people have stuff that they might have upgraded (DVD players, stereos), or got new clothes so they cleaned out their closets to make room, etc.

We've gotten rid of a functional-but-too-large stereo system, among other things, and have come home with a perfectly functional LCD monitor and other stuff (I wanted a couple of highball glasses for my occasional glasses of bourbon).

Oooh! I really like that idea. I wonder if I can set one up at our church?

The logistics don't seem too bad, if you plan for every category of stuff (including a catch-all "miscellaneous" category for things that just don't fit in elsewhere) and get enough volunteers to help (including helping get all the leftover stuff to Goodwill at the end).

It's a great community event. Tons of people come. People who don't have any items to donate pay $5, I think.

that's a cool idea. But I will say - stuff that is taking up your space , is not valuable-at least not to you.

I did vacation planning today. Am I the only snarky, snarky bitch who somehow completely drinks the Disney Kool-Aid? Because I was told to "Have a magical day!" on the phone today, and I just said "Thank you!". What is wrong with me? Is this a snark blind spot?

Well, but Disney World *is* the Magic Kingdom, Lilty. Have faith. A dream is a wish your heart makes.

Or to answer directly, no.