Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
Born & Bred
I was at a party on Saturday and found myself, as I often do, talking to someone about my work. We were discussing how to store children’s keepsakes, and I said, “I like there to be boundaries: one box, one art portfolio, once it overflows you have to weed.” “Or move it to the attic,” she said. “Right.” I said, but inside I was thinking, No, no, no!
Here is the thing: I’m a New Yorker, born and bred. I’ve lived in apartments all my life. Space is a luxury here. I knew girls who grew up on Park Avenue in bedrooms barely big enough for the bed. If you live in a house, it’s easy to stash stuff stuff in the attic or the basement, but when you live in New York, renting a storage space, even if it is in your own building, it’s a hassle, an expense and a commitment. It makes you really think about whether you need whatever it is you are storing.
New York keeps us honest: We are constantly running into space issues that force us to purge and let go on a regular basis. Occasionally I’ve worked with clients with houses and garages outside of the city and thought, This could take a year. They let stuff pile up— after all, they had the space, so why not?
So next time you are about to schlep stuff to the attic or drag it to the garage, take a moment. Ask yourself: Would I pay to store this? Would I drive it to New Jersey? And if the answer is no, make like a New Yorker and kick that stuff to the curb. After all, that junk will slow you down, and if your thinking like a New Yorker- you know you don’t want that!