My Musings & Lists

Saturday, November 29, 2025

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

1. Started cleaning out garage

2. Packed

3. Packed some more

4. Threw away many things

5. Gave 3 bags of toiletries to a friend who’ll pass them on to a local immigrant support group

6. Read Anne of Green Gables

7. Ate turkey leftovers in soup form

8. Saw the Sandy Christmas tree downtown — it’s a Christmas

tree… made of sand. As one does in Florida.

9. Read more Anne of Green Gables

Holiday In Paradise:

Small Joys — deep clean

Day 299

# 381

Weed out, organize, review lotions and makeup in bathroom

Well, I picked this for today: cleaning out completely under all three sinks. Loads of stuff donated to an immigrant group. Tons tossed out — many outdated toiletries and meds.

Packing musing

Last spring, to list the house, we packed stuff we wanted to keep but wouldnt miss for a few months. Lots of books and games and kitchen gadgets and some furniture. We also threw away/donated a lot.

Now we’re digging deeper, and really throwing out, and a bit more donating, and packing things we can live without for a month.

Hoo whee. New house is nearly the size of this one, so we could just move it all. But ugh… let’s get rid of the crap buried in back of closets we haven’t seen/needed/missed for 10+ years!

Hopefully we can be more intentional with filling the new space. Or even just live with more space!

I still worry about long-term power/internet outages or economic collapse if i am really paranoid. So im not willing to part with too much physical media: CDs, books, games, puzzles. But decorative items, i am letting go of easily. New house, new look…

And anything electronic that doesn't go with an item we currently own — straight to trash.

EDITED TO ADD:

Found a $50 bill, and gift cards totalling $105 when clearing out Peter’s room. Found $50 in movie gift cards while clearing stuff out of garage.

Donated 3 bags of toiletries for an immigrant group with the help of a friend.

Threw out many bags of trash.

Luna likes all the new-found space.

Today was good! Only 17 more days to go!

ADDED LATER

When living in a space, you do a big declutter now and then: say, when painting a room or a kid moves out, or just a big spring cleaning.

But never do you go as deep — obviously — than when moving out. So much deep, deep in closets and attic just looked over for years.

This will be such a refresh.