Since I moved to the Bay area back in fall of 1993, I have moved a total of 11 times (including this move). 11 moves in 11 1/2 years ... some places I stayed at for a few years, others for only a few months. With one exception every move has been into a bigger and better place. This move, however, has me moving into a smaller space - and with no extra storage. Not only that, there are hardwood floors to consider, which for some reason I feel requires a "cleaner" (aka, no stuff just piled around because they have nowhere else to go) look than carpet.

So this move is all about purging:
All those old calendars that I always thought of as a sort of diary ... I haven't looked at a single one since I took them off the wall.
Those blankets I bought in New Mexico that I keep in case they're needed for a picnic or a concert that haven't seen the light of day in years.
Books I'll never read again; supplies for art project that just aren't going to happen, ever; the bean bag that I have been dragging around with me since I moved out of my parents' place that I never sit in; the ancient computer that I replaced 2 years ago and have yet to clean and recycle, etc.

Each decision to put stuff in that pile causes a little pain, a little loss. But considering that a lot of this stuff lives in places I never look into anyway or is rather something I trip over all time, I am pretty sure I won't miss them when they're gone.

Having made the decision, though, I wish I had someone to take it all away, instead of having to gather them all up and dispose of them myself. Goodwill here I come!