Decluttering - YouLookFab Forum

I started to post this on Sisi's thread. I have just finished reading it, some parts more than once. But I thought I should start my own thread and not hi-jack hers. And I did save hers to my favorites. EVERYTHING posted applies to me, except that I am I in my eighties. I am going to ask one question, with the option to ask more if I deem necessary. LOL My travel partner passed 7 years ago. We were together for ten years,and traveling in the USA (where we lived) and Canada was what we enjoyed most.

I have maps, travel routes outlined in yellow, tour books and guides from a well known travel agency.There are a few notations on some of them made by him, a few by me. I also have pamphlets, brochures, sometimes a newspaper clipping or a travel section. Enter sentimentality!

I also have 4 large drawers filled with this stuff in a stackable container cabinet. Not very well organized. I have children that are here for me now, and have helped me clear things in my parents home, and I really don't want them to have to clear this out later!

So, please, any good advice for me. One suggestion that can't work is to have someone help me or at least be company. All other comments, suggestions, advice quite welcome.

Have a Happy Fourth of July, Sunday, weekend or whatever fits! Hugs!

5 years ago

SarahD8

Veteran

My advice is to keep only those things that hold the strongest memories of YOUR trips. So for example the maps with travel routes highlighted. Or a book with a lot of notations in it.

Toss the pamphlets, brochures, and clippings — those are really impersonal things, not reflective of your specific experience with him, if you see what I mean.

You might also think about how much space you want to devote to these items. Maybe reduce the 4 drawers down to 1?

(This is just reflective of the kinds of things that seem meaningful to me after trips are long completed. Others may have other ideas.)

I know it was some years ago but I’m very sorry for your loss.

rachylou

I also vote toss the books, brochures and pamphlets. They date. But I say keep the maps. Maps are really interesting to look at, esp old ones.

Cardiff girl

Could you make a memory album using bits of the maps etc that have the most meaning to you then you can offload the rest.You could make a really beautiful scrapbook with photos,annotations and cuttings to remember your trips and your partner.It would be something to do and take up a lot less room than your current situation.It must be hard when you have lost a loved one so this maybe a good way to go do you think?

Anonymous

If it were me, I'd keep some of the photos of the trips you enjoyed together and recycle the other stuff. (I'm not that sentimental, though.). Sounds like you have some fun memories of the time you spent together!

JAileen

AAA? My dad worked there for nearly 40 years, so we had a lot of maps, tour books and triptiks. My mother kept a box in the trunk of each car with various maps of the area where they lived. I would donate the maps and tour books to a thrift store, and recycle the rest.

bridgie

SarahD8 and rachylou, Thank you first two early responders! I am going to admit I read both replies, and rather than immediately reply to each of you, I started sorting for real. I have tossed junk, and everything except maps, and at this point keeping 1 copy of each tour book. Some tour books I have or had 8 years of them. Same with maps. I really don't need 4 maps of Pittsburgh. Wait, I do have an excuse, ha. He had a home in Pennsylvania near you know where, but was retired and lived in Florida and I had a home in Florida, so I had a collection of this stuff in Pennsylvania and Florida and when I moved to North Carolina 5 years ago I made sure I brought it all along with all my other extra baggage. My plans are to check the tour books for any notes or info and then discard them as you suggested. If I get the urge to read about a certain state I can always go to the agency and get more. Heaven forbid. But looks like I have no need for them with the problems we are having now.

Cardiff girl, I love your idea of a scrapbook, after clearing out some I the clutter. I made a good dent in it this afternoon. Thank you for posting. ,

Xtabay, how did you know about all those photos I still have to deal with. But that is a good idea and I can put them in the above mentioned scrapbook. I know you were suggesting to only keep the photos, I think, but hey, I will meet you half way. You and anyone who is not overly sentimental are blessed. It is a real problem, but my children's not so subtle hints are helpful. One of them is great with scrapbooks, and I think he will help me if I can approach him with stuff worth keeping. And thank you for the comment that I enjoyed those times. I did ,truly some of the best times of my life.

JAileen, yes AAA. I have been a member since 1973, 47 years!! I forgot to mention the triptiks. I bet your mother had a ball! She and I would have gotten along well!

Thanks to all of you.

You're so welcome, bridgie, and I hope you'll enjoy your scrapbooking. Sounds like a wonderful summer project!

Sisi

Bridgie, I am glad that my post inspired you! I am not the best person to give advice about decluttering, as you can imagine ... But there is a lot of wisdom here on YLF.

Laurie

I like the scrap booking idea.

Tear out the tour guide pages with handwritten notes on them, and put in an album with the photos and other memorabilia.

You could also photograph things that are bulky, or with handwritten notes, and get an album made at Snapfish or other. I used to photograph kids' artwork and then toss the big stuff. I am very sentimental and it is so hard to throw travel-related things away, any handwritten note (especially from someone who has passed away). But, I also feel so good organizing and getting rid of things.
Keep us posted! (And, it's very considerate of you to think of your kids and the future).

Sisi, Yes, thanks to you, I was inspired to face the project I had been avoiding for too long, and you are so right, there is a lot of wisdom on this forum and members are so willing to share if we only ask.

Laurie, thanks for chiming in. And just in time. I have started discarding and sorting, and then what I hope will be the fun part begins. I will post my progress from time to time. It will be slow.

Staysfit

I would ask your children or his if he had them, what they want from your/his belongings and make sure to keep those items. What seems sentimental to you may not be for them. Then for yourself I would only keep the most sentimental items and only if they do not have to be tucked away in a box. Keep something you can display and that reminds you of good times. Maybe frame one of the maps, or notes from your favorite trips......with highlighted routes and comments, etc. Make a memory scrapbook, or photo album. The best items are those you can display and see daily as opposed to something hidden and out of sight.

When my stepfather died, my mother eventually had to clear out his belongings. She only kept a few that meant the most to her, she asked his brother, nieces and nephews what they wanted and gave it to them, and then donated the rest. He did not have children but served as a grandparent to my children and was part of my life as well because my mother married him while I was in medical school. She gave me some photos I requested of a trip we took to Joshua Tree when DD26 was a toddler. I framed them and am reminded of my love for him daily.

Scrapbooking sounds like a great idea- combining the maps and photos and things like ticket stubs.

Staysfit and suntiger

Thanks to both of you. Two more votes for the scrapbook and helpful suggestions.

Staysfit, after reading your post I have one great idea. He has a granddaughter in Baltimore, who finished law school during our time together. My partner played golf with a few of his friends weekly in the summer when we were in Pennsylvania. I have to elaborate, for a while there were only men and later a very nice lady asked to join them and was welcomed. Anyway, in looking at the maps of Pittsburg there are a

group of several golf courses and while I knew they selected different golf courses, I didn't realize until a few days ago they were on the map and he had circled where they played! He and the granddaughter enjoyed golfing when she visited in Florida. Bet you have guessed it by now, that map will be sent to Baltimore very soon! I know her well enough she will treasure it, and cry a bit also.

Suntiger, yes to the ticket stubs, thanks for reminding me. I have plenty of those also.

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