I couldn't have said it better myself.  Good luck with everything and keep us updated on your progress! 

cherylbrv wrote:

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Congratulations and may the mojo of the Class of 2014 for a quick sale continue with you!

... snip...good practice to keep the RV clutter free! ... snip... For example, we always kept our appliances on the kitchen counters and dish washing stuff out near the sink, but during staging we weren't allowed to have anything at all anywhere (plus, if we hid things inside drawers and closets, those had to be very neat and organized). I figured if we could live like that for a few weeks, surely we can do it ongoing (of course, my instinct and experience says "yeah, right!" That'll last 1 day if that long!!!)

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 Talking about  CLUTTER-Free.

We just spent 3 hrs cleaning (Yet AGAIN) out our garage.

• In case you missed it, while getting ready to stage the house this past winter, we actually FILLED two 40 foot dumpsters with trash, not to mention all the old and used electronics we had someone pick up to recycle.
• The bottom line is that we had the ability to actually have space in the garage for the first time in 20+ years in this house. 

Today, we just concentrated on getting rid of one side of the things we postponed till now.  Especially a lot of my tools. (I do outside computer related engineering stuff (Field Engineer)...

Wow, this is VERY hard.  de-cluttering is difficult, but CAN be done. Good luck!

cherylbrv wrote:

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Congratulations and may the mojo of the Class of 2014 for a quick sale continue with you!

I've just been there myself so I know the feeling all too well. I had to keep reminding myself it was all for a good cause and keep picturing life in the RV. Also kept telling myself how living like that was good practice to keep the RV clutter free! For example, we always kept our appliances on the kitchen counters and dish washing stuff out near the sink, but during staging we weren't allowed to have anything at all anywhere (plus, if we hid things inside drawers and closets, those had to be very neat and organized). I figured if we could live like that for a few weeks, surely we can do it ongoing (of course, my instinct and experience says "yeah, right!" That'll last 1 day if that long!!!)

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 I love a clean, decluttered look, so most of our "cool stuff to donate" and "not-so-cool stuff to pitch" was in the lower level; and fortunately, we have a dedicated room just for storage.  Just didn't realize how MUCH stuff was packed in how MANY crates -- which we've been carting around with us from city to city over the years.  And while the closets, cabinets, and drawers were already tidy, it felt smart to take a hard look at what we were keeping for that elusive "just in case," and weed out old or never-used items.  Like many on rv-dreams, we've had decades of living to store and haul around, feeling that disposing of our accumulation was somehow an insult to the previous generation of waste-not, want-not folks.  But I too kept going, thinking of how lovely my rv will be!        

alternativeview wrote:

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Many thanks for the wishes.  Actually, I feel better reading your post, as we definitely did not need dumpsters!  Of course, we also haven't touched those items with the most sentimental value, nor our Christmas crates.  Our (grown) children also have some storage here, but live too far away to just "come and get it."  The kitchen will be tough for me; it's pared down, but not enough for an rv.  I wonder what I'll do with my heavy pans, casseroles, and plethora of knives?  

Congrats on your decluttering thus far.  It must be truly difficult to part with your tools.  They are like a creative extension of your mind and hands.  Sometimes we find ourselves mulling over an item, debating...  What makes it easier to let it go, at least for me, is giving it to a friend or family member, rather than a donation site, especially knowing that person will think of me when using it.  :)  Keep up the good work and we will, too!    

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 As far as cookware and knives, how many big meals will you be preparing, and how many hands do you have to handle knives at one time?

I went through all the tools in my garage and looked at many and decided that I hadn't used some of those in years and maybe even decades.  That made it easier to get rid of them.  Also, the "specialty" tools that were needed for the house wouldn't be needed in the RV, so those were easy to get give away or sell.  At the last minute, the buyers of our home got what was left with the instructions to keep them or sell them and keep the money.

Terry

Jo and Ben wrote:

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Congrats on getting the house listed! Sending along some Class of '14 mojo :)

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 Thanks, Jo and Ben!  Showing #2 was this morning.  Feedback so far is respectable, but noncommittal.  

Terry and Jo wrote:

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 As far as cookware and knives, how many big meals will you be preparing, and how many hands do you have to handle knives at one time?

I went through all the tools in my garage and looked at many and decided that I hadn't used some of those in years and maybe even decades.  That made it easier to get rid of them.  Also, the "specialty" tools that were needed for the house wouldn't be needed in the RV, so those were easy to get give away or sell.  At the last minute, the buyers of our home got what was left with the instructions to keep them or sell them and keep the money.

Terry

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 Terry, you're right, of course.  When thinking logically, I know that 2 pots, 1 skillet, and 3 knives will work beautifully.  It's the emotional aspect of letting go of some things for which we've worked hard, paid good money, used and enjoyed, and planned to keep many more years, maybe our lifetime.  The emotional conclusion is that it was all for naught, even though the realistic conclusion is that we've simply entered a new phase in which "stuff" matters so much less than the people in our lives and the opportunity for unencumbered travel and adventure.  Now, if only logic and emotion could coexist more peaceably!

Joe_Camper wrote:

 

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 That's the part I have trouble with..."paid good money!" I guess being somewhat of a tightwad, I hate to get rid of stuff I did pay a lot for. I always believed in buying the best, so it's painful at garage sales to see how little people will pay for your "best" stuff. That's why it is actually easier for me to donate it than sell it.

_________

Our feelings exactly.  In addition, being raised by Depression-era parents and the "waste not, want not" ethic, let's throw some guilt on top of the emotion/logic flux!  There is, though, some comfort in reading of others who have experienced the same pangs.  Based on those insights, I know we'll get over ourselves (!), give treasured or important or valuable items to friends/family who will appreciate and use them, and emerge just fine and ready for the road!

 

Congrats!

Now can mojo PLEASE come to PA? We've been listed 57 days and I think it skipped us!



Kelly

p.s.  after I'm done with it,  I will send it on to Trace and Lee in NH

Joe_Camper wrote:

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Congrats! Hope all goes smoothly with the sale and transition. Our S&B should be on the market within 2 weeks!

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 We wish you quick success!  Apparently our area is a seller's market right now; we were amazed with the number of showings, interest, and offer in such a short time span.

DebbieM wrote:

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Congrats!  So excited for you!!

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 Hope to be heading out fulltime this summer as well!