Out with the old…

What is it that makes some people hoarders and others not? Is it a genetic trait that some might clear out their wardrobe periodically–turfing out clothing/shoes/accessories that haven’t seen the light of day for 12 months or more? If so, why then have I skipped that gene.

In our area, at least once a month, a contractor puts big pink plastic bags in letterboxes for good used clothing, bric a brac, etc. In my hoarding manner I’ve been collecting them with the intention of bit by bit sorting through some old clothes and getting rid of them (okay, to be honest, when I tidied my office I found three bags. I didn’t really know I’d been hoarding them too, truly!)

Last night (and don’t ask me why, because I really don’t know) I spent a few hours going through my drawers and wardrobe ruthlessly casting out clothing. Okay, I say ruthlessly but seriously there was alot of history (and at least five different clothing sizes) to be gone through. I filled THREE huge pink sacks with clothing that went back–dare I say it–twenty years. And even worse, I still kept some items that went back a tad further (like the dress I wore for my engagement party) because I just couldn’t bear to throw them away.  Oh, and there’s a sack of shoes, as well–not all mine, thank goodness.

The little bag to the right is a neighbour’s. Obviously the kind of person who clears things out on a regular basis as it is teeny tiny next to the bulging bags I put out under cover of dark.

I felt quite virtuous when I went to bed last night but have to admit that when I backed the car out the drive this morning and saw the bags I did feel a distinct pang of loss and wondered if I’d done the right thing. Now I’m listening out for the truck that comes around to collect all the bags. I wish he’d hurry up. I have visions of going out there and bringing it all back inside (only my bags, of course!)

So I have a few questions for you:

Which are you? Hoarder or not? And if not, have you ever thrown out something you wished you’d kept?

UPDATE!!!!!

You know, I wouldn’t have believed it but no more than an hour an a half after my last post someone had stolen my clothing and shoe bags. Stolen, you ask sceptically… oh, yes, stolen. Every other bag in the street is still there, every other bag in every neighbouring street is also still there. What is not there are my bags! Go figure. I suppose, theoretically, since I no longer wanted the stuff I can’t say they’re stolen, however they were put in marked bags for collection by the Child Cancer Charity, so in my book, yes, they were stolen.

And here’s the evidence!

 

Should I be outraged or take this as a compliment?