It's 9:22 a.m. and Jen and Wayne just dropped off Sammy to spend the night while they go to Ellensburg (not Wenatchee that I keep saying). Wayne's truck is loaded with Maddie's bed and dresser as they relocate her in preparation for her 2nd year of college (and her new job). It's a fasting day for me so I intend to keep busy with my downsizing project. Definitely need to slow down a bit. My OCD kicks in and I end up doing way too much. Got to remember that this is a process and it's not a race!
Yesterday afternoon when I returned from Port Townsend (and was dead on my feet) I still got it in my head that I wanted to move "just one or two things." The hardest was a table in my bedroom that I wanted in the sewing room. Luckily, it folds down but that sucker has gained weight over the years.Whew!
I've decided I'm making this sewing room an office for now. I've got some picture scanning to do for Mary Gaboury and I needed my old computer set up as my scanner won't work with my new laptop. I'm going to box up all my material (after I give some away) and concentrate on just going through everything I own to see what I can give away as I prepare for moving to a smaller place. This whole process as been on my mind for well over a year so I'm kind of excited that I'm finally moving on it.
Have to start collecting boxes (hate that part) but it's necessary so I'll do what I gotta do.
This morning I pulled all the clothes bins out of my walk-in closet and have them set up in the bedroom so I can sit down and examine everything. Most of it is going to disappear.
this room is where I'm hauling things to have a central spot to sit down and wrap and box things up that I want or don't need anymore. Books and knickknacks are kind of hard for me to part with but I'm determined to get my collections down to a more respectable level.
I think I'm going to invite folks over for a "private showing" as it is once I've managed to get everything displayed that I don't plan on putting in the storage unit. Susan is coming by with her truck on Thursday so pick up the pots on the deck and a couple bird baths and whatever else I can encourage her to take of the outside collection.
One area that I know is going to need a lot of downsizing is pans, bowls, small appliances, kitchen tools, tupperware, junk boxes, and oh dear, the list grows. I'm even going through my jewelry and getting rid of one jewelry box. It is really an eye opener when you dig in and remember just how much stuff you're hanging on to that isn't necessary.
Trip to Port Townsend yesterday was (as usual) tiring. Traffic was heavy both ways and that's just the way it is now. Mary Gaboury and I went to North Beach so I could scatter my mom's ashes. I have a old black and white photo somewhere (have to hunt for it) of one my mother took of us kids at North Beach in the 50's. Must have been in the winter as we were dressed warmly and she made a sign with beach sticks saying "Merry Xmas." Hmmmm....I wonder where that went. Gotta go look for it now. OCD again. Well, there's an hour I won't get back. A reminder that I need to do more sorting with my picture collections. Way too many places to go through. At any rate, here's the photo my mother took in I'm guessing 1950 and below is me spreading her ashes. I don't suppose I should have been smiling for the camera.
Here's another that we got a beachcomber passing by to take. Mary recalled that she was with me bac in 1960 when I first got a hold of my mother's phone number and called her from a phone booth in front of the Roma Inn. We walked there as I needed a private conversation and was very nervous as I hadn't seen or talked to her since probably 1951.
My main reason for coming to town was to have an interview upstairs at Aldrich's with this college girl from Reed College who was working on a project about linguists. I took Mary along and she participated too.
Cecilia Bahls asked us various questions about our life in Port Townsend and then had us read a paragraph and a list of words. Then she gifted us with some Belgian chocolate bars. Yum! It was interesting to see the upstairs of Aldrich's. There's a lunch deli up there and lots of tables and chairs. Plus an elevator which I took when we left and wished I had used on the way up as there were three flights of stairs. The view from the elevator (a very nice elevator I might add) was fun to see.
On the way to Aldrich's my bladder decided she had waited just long enough for me and I made a pit stop at Rose Johnson's. Thank goodness she was home.
I took a picture of the tree in her front yard while there as it's always been a favorite of mine.
After the interview, Mary and I stopped at Roadhouse 20 for a burger. Then I took her back to her RV and left for home with the folder of pictures she needs scanned. Even though I was hot and tired, I did decide to stop at two assisted living places just to check out prices. Man! Way more than I want to mess with! One place was $4300 (a one bedroom) and the other was $3425 or $2900 for a studio. The first place let you stay on as a medicaid resident once you ran out of money but the second place (in my neighborhood and that I've driven by for years) kicks you out as soon as your money is gone. I figure my money would only last two or three years at those prices.
Meanwhile, I intend to research other senior housing apartments in the area. Suspect it's gonna be thin pickins' but we'll see what develops as I continue this adventure. And now I'd best get to those clothes.
If I'm going to fast today, I'd best quit working so hard. Here's my closet before and after and two piles of clothes I'm getting rid of. So proud of myself.
And that bin is full! Now to another closet that I just remembered has a few clothes in it too. Here's the bags I ended up filling. Will dispose of tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment