Controlled Chaos...

While channel surfing last night, I happened upon a show about "hoarding".  Webster's defines hoarding as "a supply stored up and hidden", or as a verb "to accumulate and store away money, goods, etc". Right away, I'm thinking of people preparing for the coming revolution or something.  Or of people who can't seem to throw anything away and they leave it for their kids to clean up when they're gone. In any case, you have to admit that the word does have a negative ring to it, but I was not prepared for TLC's version of hoarding. A couple lived in a 1500 square foot home that was literally (I am not exaggerating) piled 3 or 4 feet deep on the floors in every room, with GARBAGE.  Bags of it, piles of it, in every corner, and on every surface.  Mold and filth everywhere. It was the most disturbing, disgusting thing I have ever seen. I had to flip the channel.

I don't get how that can be construed as hoarding? Was it because they never let anyone in their home to see it? Watching what must be an emotional, deeply disturbed behavior (my opinion only, to you hoarders out there) brought to mind how some of my stashes and excesses might be a bit over the top for those who like to surround themselves with a highly organized, ultra sleek and simple environment. So passing judgement on this couple's lifestyle was perhaps like the pot calling the kettle black...or at least somewhat gray.

A case in point, my quilting stash is not particularly neat...

Nor is my cache of beads...or the workspace where I create

I do seem to have too many dishes (I used to have big dinner parties when I was "corporate"...) They are all shoved in one of too many cabinets around the kitchen...

And I guess my yarn drawer is a tad disorganized...

And don't even think about clearing out my collection of magazines (I need those for inspiration!)...

 

But despite my rather messy, right brain style, it only goes so far. It's very hard for me to sit in a room with dishes, magazines, and other clutter. I may not get it picked up in the next five minutes (or today at all), but it won't stay messy very long. I am an artist at heart, so I like "pretty".  I need "serene". 


We've been in our hacienda for almost 7 years, and I love that I can still walk around it thinking "I LOVE my house". I love that it reflects my hubby's and my style. And I especially love it right after it's been cleaned.  Everything in it's place.


In the end, I find that the older we get, the less we focus on what other people think of our decor or our recliner lifestyle. I imagine that those who only read scintillating novels or follow the more intellectual pursuits would poo-poo our 50" Plasma TV with 200 channels. Oh well!

"Isn't it time to put on our jammies?"

 Laurel