Spring Cleaning

We've been in the house for a year now.  It was time to figure out what has been working and what needs to be fixed.  Dave pressure washed the deck back from its unnatural green to a nice natural wood.  We're going to stain and seal it this weekend.  I oxy-washed the front porch so that at least once a year, the paint looks white. 

I spent most of Sunday reorganizing part of the kitchen.  I realized later that I didn't even touch the really bad parts, but we made a start.  But the real story has to do with Dave's closet.  Yes, we're going to talk about the t-shirts, Dave.  (you didn't say it was non-bloggable!)  :-) 

Being the old farts that we are, when Dave and I merged households we brought various endearing traits to our lives as a couple.  Whereas I had most recently come from the poor as dirt grad student, eliminate the clutter feng shui philosophy, Dave came from the let's keep it, it may be collectible style of life.  Looking back on it, I don't think it really was a good idea for me to pack Dave's house for the move to NC while he was at work---dividing his "collections" into three stacks: a) stuff to clearly keep, b) I think this is junk, do you?, and c) I'm not sure, but I'll be nice and ask: do you want to save this stuff?  Well, although those were my three stacks, there was only one stack for my wonderful (truly!) soon to be husband.  I think we actually only threw out 5 pencils used down to a nub, the odd mismatched and holey socks, a few stray paperclips I could sneak out in a trashcan.

One year and a very crowded closet later, Dave suggested we go through and cull the herd of clothes, keeping only the things we really need.  (OK--maybe I added that last part)  Halfway through closet cleaning day, I look and note that instead of making three stacks:  a) keep, b) save for the memories, and c) yardsale/goodwill, someone in this household was simply refolding all of his t-shirts into the keep stack.  (And yes, I do note that I have a thing for having three options)

Trying not to shrilly repeat the three stack option, I mess up and go a step further:  20 t-shirts!  One adult to another. One half of a mature, cooperative couple to another, I lay down what I think is a very generous offer, but is still an ultimatum. There are protests.  There are grumpy faces.  (There is a sly pride, too, but that's not helping his case)

Ahhhhh.  But here, my friend, is where being a researcher comes into one's advantage. Data.  Yes, data can help make a point.

While my wonderful husband is not looking, I count the t-shirts.  59 (fifty-nine) on the bed and in the closet.  61 counting the two in dryer.  62 counting the one he is wearing.  I assume there is probably one more in the wash or that I have may misseed one in the stacks.  "63" I proclaim to him!  "63 t-shirts!  We don't  have to do the wash for 2 months for you to wear them all!"  Yes, I know I have more shoes than he does, but I distract him with the fact that the dog has recently eaten my two favorite pair and I dodge that argument bullet!  (I had just recently used that point to buy another pair of shoes, so I don't press the t-shirt to shoes comparison)  I even offer that we can just move most of the t-shirts to the garage and if the 20 shirts don't work out, we'll bring some more back in.

I go to store for dinner supplies, come back and the bed is clear of t-shirts.  Dave's not around, so I run into the closet and do a quick count.  25-ish tees neatly arranged in the closet.  The others?  Not in the Goodwill box yet.  They are just being rotated out to the garage for safe keeping.  

Yippee! The closet is much more spacious and airy. Our closet chi is flowing!  We can actually walk into and turn around in the closet.  Unfortunately, now it's my side of the closet which is messy and unorganized and which contains clothes from 2 sizes smaller which I'm not getting into anytime soon.  It's my turn to cull the herd.  But I used to wear those clothes all the time, and they're so cute and small.  If I lose 2 lbs a week for the next 2 months, I can wear them again before the summer is finished......Come on...this is completely different.....

9:05:10 AM