I feel so overwhelmed with "things" that I sometimes start to have an anxiety attack. We live in a big house filled with years and years of "stuff". Hubby is going on 80 and has ongoing macular degeneration. I want to get us out of here before he loses his sight. He won't get rid of anything. He spends half the day rearranging and putting things in order when half of it should go OUT! Boxes of old cameras, dozens of fishing reels, piles of wood, car parts, etc. I am feeling a panic attack just thinking about it. No one wants old "in good condition" stuff any more so most of it needs to go to Goodwill or a dumpster. I am so scared that in a few years we will have to move and I won't have the strength to face this stuff.
It seems to be true that people "hoard" more as they become elderly. I don't think it's restricted to one gender, but I do find that there are more men than women who are hopeless pack-rats. (I am married to one, so I know.)
It's a losing battle to try to change the behavior of a life-long pack rat. We all become set in our ways with the aging process, and I sense that our worst qualities often become "enhanced" while our body gradually declines. I also believe that having "stuff" gives some people a sense of security; everything else in their life may be falling apart but, by golly, they still have their possessions.
I've just accepted the fact that if my husband dies first, I will need to hire somebody to help me clean out the house. I've told my husband that he has the "Midas touch" - where everything he touches turns to crap, rather than gold!
Patooski, I know just what you mean. When my mother's husband died, she was in her 80's and left things as they were. When we moved her to IL, my sister and I both had panic attacks getting rid of stuff. After a while, we just started chucking it all in the dumpster because if she didn't need it, if we didn't want it - what were we to do with it? Put it in our cellars? No way. I guess that's why I'm on a campaign to get rid of stuff - because I realize you can't take it with you. That means if you are not using it and you don't need it, there is no sense to have it!
It was easier to let the boxes of paperwork mount up than it was to sort through it and shred. It was easier to just keep buying food than it was to figure out what was needed. I don't blame the Depression when lack of will explains things nicely. Of course, I grew up here so I got to experience lazy as I was growing up. Our parents are just humans, though we like to think of them as above the common human faults. Even lazy people have kids.
When Dad passed I did have panic attacks over it - a first for me. I was executor and I was absolutely overwhelmed. Also I was grieving and emotional - family home, stuff of several generations. It felt like such a burden.
I was immobilized until my wonderful sister came and said - "OK we're doing this with that... etc..." got things moving.
I think the Depression was a big factor. Plus the pride of providing for the family and being self sufficient. And as someone said, the rewards for their hard work.
Also my Dad was creative and always had a project going. He actually used a lot of his "stuff". And then there is the "man cave" thing - a place to get away with all the things they use and like in it. His was the garage and the cellar. Both chock full.
God bless 'em.
LOL!! Ah, at least we can fantasize, right? ;)
Honestly, I think it's the WW2 generation. They remember a time when you had to save and re-use EVERYTHING - whether it be a piece of metal, an old shirt, or wrapping paper. My own father has a 4 car garage with no cars in it - and it's FULL!! Floor to ceiling. I told him that when he passes away, I'm not dealing with it, I'll just put a sign out front that says, "Make an Offer."
And yes, old things he wanted to fix or to use as parts for other items. Oh also his pay stubs and income taxes going back decades, hey you never know when you want to see what payroll taxes were taken out of that 1952 paycheck !!
My Mom saved old sneakers. A couple of sets were for indoor use... couple of sets for yard work..... and brand new ones for doctor appointments.
Now my sig other, who is a senior like I am, doesn't save anything, not even bill invoices. Thus if he needs to call an utility company or whatever, he has nothing to reference.... [sigh]... so saving and not saving has its issues.
He also saved all the bills and records going back to the 1980s. It took me weeks to get everything shredded. He bought a lot of stuff in his last few years that were really silly. Most of it was worthless, much not even worth donating -- trinkets and fake medals and fake coins. Oy. He had a job where he had to order things, so I think ordering stuff was a holdover from his early days. He had just lost the organization and reasoning that keeps it meaningful. Men! What can you say?