Sorting out the "stuff"

Yep- I'm going to write about stuff again. Can't help it---I'm waiting for Jay as he picks through the storage unit finding some items that will be useful.

It's quite the deal figuring out what you really need and what you don't think you'll need...but really do need. These past few weeks have been spent sifting through things. For instance---I didn't bring my griddle, thought it would be too bulky. But- we have pancakes a time or two during the week. (And boy can THAT be a disastrous mess cooked in a cast iron skillet over a gas stove.) Ditto for quesadillas.

Other things---like a big bottle of skin cleanser that, while I like it, it takes up precious space in our tiny bathroom. I tossed it. I tossed a small tube of something else. For a frugal gal, this was more difficult than it sounds.

I decided that I needed to classify things into two camps: Replaceable and Irreplaceable. Does it pass the WalMart test---Can this be purchased at WalMart?

WalMart gets a lot of guff in this day and age but the bottom line is this. WalMart allows one to purchase many things for rock bottom prices. Which means there's a lot of stuff that's pretty darn replaceable. The other side is it's easy to fill your life with stuff.

Do I really need an extra soap dish? Or the box of things that I might need one day?

Stuff can crowds out the irreplaceable. Instead of spending time with the kids I'm busy organizing stuff...and cleaning stuff...and shopping for more....

Instead of enjoying the Tutfted Titmouse who visits us each morning, and brings a smile to our face and a reminder of our Creator's care we could be off at Lowe's looking for outdoor landscaping.

As I was walking past a fellow in the campground, I complimented him on his rig. He sighed, said "Thanks" and told me that tomorrow he'd have to go back to work.

I sure hope he didn't finance that fancy rig but my guess....he probably did. And it made me sad because most people continue plodding away at jobs they hate to pay for STUFF.

PS Nope---I didn't take picture of the bird. Stock photo from the net.