Can you come up with one of those switch deals to hook one monitor, keyboard, and mouse to two boxes and get into your cpu boxes a little bit temporarily?

Plan for today: either head over to the storage unit and do more inventory there, or go through the stuff I have here in my room and organize it somehow. I'm not sure which, yet. I think my housemate and I will both be going to a games event this evening.

Hi all,
The variety here is very interesting.

Getting rid of old firewood was a clutter busting project for me earlier this year.We had a substantial mess in that area and I was able to add the old firewood to storm damage tree waste and get it out of the yard.

I hope I can get back to fence repair in the spring and get that eyesore dealt with.

I have been quite free with computer waste advice so I just looked. I will promise to contribute an old motherboard to the waste pile. I can't do it right now because I have some more urgent things to do, but the promise is hanging over my head when I can get to that area.

I spent my warm day yesterday typing on the computer and putting up some drywall. as a result, if my sinuses can take it, I get to go out in the cold today for that storage pod cleanout I haven't started yet. (I may have to plan to take some excess kitty litter to the humane society.)

Hope you all have a nice day.

Tillie you are so delightful, and your birds appreciate all that you do for them, as do we on here.

Good morning 🙂

I am grateful for this messgae board and being able to talk with people who truly understand. 😀

He has today off from work, except he has been called in to fix something necessary to keep the pipes from freezing but should be back soon enough for us to go grocery shopping.
Have my list made up. Plan to get enough to last through all the crazy after holidays shopping frenzies.

Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice. 😀
I am all ready but want to get some pears for all the Threshers (woodpeckers) that have been coming by.
They love pears and this year I have counted up to 10 Threshers at a time in my garden.
Usually I have only had one or two at a time visit.

OK, I will go get cleaned up and dressed.
I am really dreading going into town but need kitty litter.

TTYL 🙂

Karl, sounds like it is time to start to look for a place of your own. 2 hoarders in one small apt, sounds like trouble. so easy to focus on the other, so neither is working on their own stuff, could easily lead to lots of resentments.
Roxie, thanks for the suggestions. I think I shopped and worked non stop so I did not have to feel, since most feelings led to past regrets.
Time to focus on what I am grateful for again. Today I am grateful that pipes are providing water to all faucets and toilets. Grateful I prepared for a brutal winter with lots of firewood. Grateful I have lots of craft stuff to make fun stuff. Grateful I did as much as I did to get rid of clutter so there is access for repairmen to fix stuff. I went under house yesterday and found that the pipe foam needed to be bigger than what he put on, so went to Lowes and got the correct size, grateful I found out and got right size and that I can put it on myself. before next deep freeze. Happy I had enough damage to motivate me to prevent future problems. Grateful at 65yo, I can still take care of most things by myself. Grateful I exercised most of my life so I am so strong. Grateful that I have stayed able, even without any exercise to speak of past few years. Grateful I am typing this so see the need to start exercising again. I already feel better focusing on what I am grateful for. Grateful for all of you and expecially Tillie for ongoing support and learning.

I haven't been looking for work -- I had hoped to get my living situation stable first, so that I'd know what my commute options were, whether I could work from home, etc. I hadn't anticipated that, three weeks after the move, I'd still not have access to my two primary computers!

I washed some dishes and the dirty stovetop. Progress for the household, if not for myself.

Oh, Diane, I have always considered myself "fun challenged," and have not resolved that issue. I remember white water rafting with a group of friends, and that was fun for me. I also went with a bunch of female friends for a weekend to a dude ranch, and that was truly fun. Guess we have to work on figuring things out, huh?

The rule so far has been that any food -- whether it's in the fridge, pantry, kitchen cupboard, or in a package on the couch -- is fair game unless otherwise stated. We're both OK with that rule.

Karl,
Something that just occured to me.
In all of these conversations/situations, even though they are not about hoarding per se, you may be dealing with a hoarder's need to control environment.

Hi Karl 🙂
I will suggest you do what I have done here.
Create a shelf space in the fridge where you store all "YOUR" food.
The rule is that "MY" food is for only me and "HIS food is for only him.
Took a while to get him to quit eating my stuff and I never had any desire to eat any of his science experiments.
If necessary keep your food in a labeled bag that states it is "YOURS".
Many people use this method to stop any squabbles about who ate what.
Good luck (((hugs)))

(Based on what little I can remember of my son's comments about college roommates and sharing a house) I suspect you will need to address the food issue, what is each others and what is shared or you will wind up buying most of the food yourself - given the environment you described. Food magically appearing in the refrigerator is really nice.

It is likely that you have some difficult decisions and discussions about boundaries ahead of you. It may be beneficial to work at least some of that out now and have the discussions sooner rather than later-the alternative being that over a period of time you are likely to feel more and more imposed upon and taken advantage of. You will have to decide where the balance of "relief at having a roof" and "reality of sharing a living space" is for you.

I've also been a little concerned about taking on unintended liability by being on the rental agreement. But if the worst threat they can make is to kick me out, that's no worse than what I had before signing it. I hope.

Housemate commented just now that I used up the last of the milk, and one of the two quarts of egg nog, while she hasn't had any of it herself. I'm OK with being the one to replenish the supply, but I have to wonder what's been stopping her from consuming any of it. I'm not going to hold back just because she "might be saving it" -- the previous milk stayed in the fridge, unopened, for weeks past its expiration date.

And with the snow, a temporary reality which you have, at costs known only to yourself, developed the ability to enjoy. Good for you.

Good morning 🙂
While I was trying to sleep the snow was softly falling, making the cats all freak out and they kept me up with their bickering.

Yesterday I ventured out to the road to get the mail. Noticed a sweet little cotton tail bunny has been calling my garden home for a while.
You can tell by all the bunny foot prints and little bunny poops on the snow.
Saw the bunny just sitting still watching me.
Talked to the bunny for a while.
From the window I later saw the bunny jumping high and zig zagging through the yard.
Then I noticed a huge hawk land on the fence.
Opened the door, stepped out on the porch to shoo the hawk away. He flew off and the bunny was safe hiding under an abandoned car.

I have been placing lots of tasty tidbits under the big evergreen in my front yard in preparation for the Winter Solstice.
Many beautiful little birds have started coming here regularly to eat.
Noticed lots of evidence that the Falcon and Owl have been coming by for a snack too. :/
Oh Well, the circle of life...

Need to go to the grocery store.
The only way that I am going to get to have a piece of carrot cake for my birthday is if I make the cake myself.
I have a week to get this cake made.
This birthday is a big milestone and I want to have cake. 😀

Great responses Dave, good sense of humor.
appreciated "fun" thoughts.,, I keep thinking I have to have fun that others would have, which in reality are not fun for me, or take too much work to do. Makes me realize I have to identify what fun is for me.

Roxie,
Suitcase from May graduation trip still admidst the horde of containers before the fireplace.

Karl,
The significant other situation and that you had not yet made some final committments was what I thought was going on.

I don't think of anything else, except, and this because I worry too much, when you formally get yourself on the lease of the new place, what potential liability you assume for your friend's mess.

Diane,
Tell your neighbor you are working on the set for your new musical, Roofing in the Rain.

Fun: Taking pleasure in work accomplished while it was warm, drinking a cup of coffee, while looking at lights-being pleased you are not paying those electric bills, cutting the end off an evergreen branch-putting it in a pot of dirt and wrapping some crepe paper around it, thanking God you are not feeling compelled to run to every thrift store in a three county area buying christmas decorations for next week, thanking God for the peace in your heart and the gift of another holiday season. To be modified as you see fit.

It is cold so had great intentions of doing work in here, and have just sat here. I am tired from all the roof work and woke up way to early. Today would be a good day to buy some food, buy more insulation and look at holiday decorations in yards around here. Have kept dishes done since water is back on, so afraid to have a pile if lose water again. Need to shower and was hair today after it warms up in here. I have worked so many hours lately it would be good to take a day off and have fun. Not sure what fun is anymore, I will let you know when I find some fun.

she had someone else who wanted the room starting in January
Oops, I meant to say at the end of January (which would be consistent with the "two months" that I asserted).

Dave, I don't get angry about unsolicited advice; I know that I sometimes have mental blocks that could be keeping me from seeing something "obvious". Let me recap my situation, and you can let me know how much of your advice still applies.

I moved in at the end of November; originally there was a two-month limit because she had someone else who wanted the room starting in January. (I have to wonder whether he knew what state it was in. Btw, despite having a helper come over, she didn't manage to declutter even the room that she was asking to rent out.) That other deal fell through -- apparently the potential renter found family to stay with, rent-free, instead -- so there's no deadline, but I'll probably want to find something better and move out anyway. If she's still in the same rut when that happens, then that's sad, but not my problem. If my own experience with hoarding issues manages to help her improve her life at negligible cost to me, then that's great.

Checking in. I lay down for a nap around 4pm and just woke up. Gritty eyes, looking longingly back at the fold-out couch.

So I'm feeling virtuous now. 😀

hello--getting cold again. I got a lesson on keeping a hoard. Months ago I did some roof patching with black tar stuff that I had kept out in garage for a few years, not supposed to let it freeze. Well when I was on roof yesterday to "relax", I discovered it was all crumbly so from 2pm-5pm I scraped it off. Since it is raining this afternoon, I got up there, scraped more off and stayed up there patching until it started to rain. I worked 9am-4pm solid today, it was fun, but too long to work without a break, for sure. A neighbor guy asked if I got paid overtime for working so many hours!! I came in and started a fire and decided to see what you are up to today-------where are you????

On vacation?

Where is everybody? 🙁

Good morning 🙂

Hi Karl 🙂
Would your source of income be considered as an "independent contractor" ?
How long of a lease do you have to sign?
Six months would be better than anything longer at this point.
Sorry you are still having to deal with the old LLs along with discovering how your new room mate operates. (((hugs)))

Hi Southmess 🙂

Hi Dave 🙂
Karl's roommate is a temporary situation until he gets himself settled after having been evicted from his home.
Karl is almost an expert now in decluttering and organizing and he knows a lot about a hoarder's way of thinking.

Hi Roxie 🙂
I found it very hard to wake up this morning because I had a warm snuggling purring kitty right up against me.
😀

Yesterday I boiled a pot of water, brewed some herbal tea, added the juice from four lemons to the tea and sweetened it with honey. Poured it into a container and added enough water to make one gallon.
My witches brew has been doing it's job of soothing my throat and keeping me hydrated. 😀
Feeling much better.
Spent two hours yesterday cleaning & tidying the house then rested the rest of the day.
My plan for today is to find some pleasant little pasttime to amuse myself with.
Have a load of laundry out on the line drying and the cats are all taken care of and have gone back to napping. They are all in hibernation mode. LOL 😀
Need to brew some more magical tea today.

You should all make plans right now today to get into the Tuesday night chat!!!

Diane 🙂 (((hugs)))

Since I first met you I have been in awe of all you have accomplished all by yourself.
All those hard, heavy, dirty jobs. All the repairs you took care of with no outside help.
Remember that you are doing 20 years worth of put off tasks all by yourself.
This is not easy and it is not fast but you have accomplished many many miracles of decluttering, repairing and organizing in such a short amount of time.

Everything that you have decluttered and continue to declutter is something you have every right to be proud of. 😀

After such a hard few weeks dealing with the super cold temperatures and then having no water are BIG time stressers.
Then adding having expenses of plumbing repair and having workmen in your home just stresses you even more.

Take care of the things that can't wait right now but give yourself a break.
You need to destress.
Lots & lots of "ME" time.
Pamper & baby yourself.
Eat tasty nutritious foods.
Stay warm and decompress.

You have been through too much.
After you are all rested up then you can get back into decluttering & organizing with a fresh and positive outlook.

(((HUGS))) 😀

Diane,
If you have any small plastic buckets or containers "in stock" they might be helpful with that "under sink" issue. I have a stash of plastic ice cream buckets and I keep the rubber gloves and trash bags, stuff like that in them so that when I spring a leak less things get ruined. The round shapes in the square storage spot also force me to store less stuff there.

Thanks for the kindness Dave and Roxie,made me feel warm and fuzzy reading your posts.
Started cleaning under kitchen sink this morning and found a tiny leak in pipe trap (it froze last week).. I was under there to check for leaks on new faucet, no problem but glad I checked, there was quite a pool of water from pipe trap. I just cleaned up water and wrapped a towel around it, then got on computer to avoid it. Now that I got to this site, I got my motivation back and will patch it. will finish cleaning under there and see what I can throw away or put in more appropriate place, still too much stored under there. I have to accept my first time through I did the best I could and now can go through and get rid of more stuff, each time will be better at getting rid of stuff, and stop from criticizing myself for not gettting rid of enough stuff.

Unless someone else posted while I was typing, That post right below this was directed at Karl, not Diane.

Karl, this is what my wife calls unsolicited advice and you have every right to be angry about my giving it.

I have not tried to go back and follow your story, but your name is one that I have seen on the boards from time to time. I know that the "regular posters" in this thread are concerned about you and want to see you succeed in either recovering from or staying away from hoarding, whichever is appropriate.

The little vignette you posted below ought to be in a textbook somewhere as a classic example of hoarder defense and redirection (by finding a guilt trip to lay on another party). This is not a person you are going to change.

I hope that you are able to recognize this and include it in your decision process before you make your final relationship and legal decisions.

(Who am I to say this to you? I am a person, who, over the next few days, is literally going to be standing in a storage locker weighing the value of the size, shape, and printing of empty cardboard boxes, one at at time, against the value of another person's life and sanity. The person of whom you were speaking sounds to me like a hoarder like me. There is a level of misery you will experience in attempting a relationship with a person like that that I am not sure you fully appreciate. I think you also strongly risk loosing any gains you may have made in dealing with your own problems.)

you have an avoidance issue going on there. Be sure you want to pay the price.