HOARDING

I admit it. I am fascinated by the shows about Hoarders.  Maybe it is because I am a founding member of the Dumpster Dollies - and spent many an hour in Coronado, Ca  driving up and down the alleys looking for special castoffs. Coronado, being a wealthy little town, and having an alley for each street, was a bottomless pit of goodies. People would throw away the most amazing things.  After separating from my husband I rented a HUGE 7 bedroom home. I then leased two rooms to make enough money to almost cover my rent.  In order to furnish a family room, sunporch, TV room etc. I cruised the alleys with the top down on my Pontiac. I was able to carry home a nice sofa, several chests of drawers, two nice wooden trunks, and other things that I can't remember. Soon that huge place was cozy and nice.
I only had one bad experience and that was when I tried to heave a tetherball set into the back of the car. Someone had made it using a bucket filled with cement. I spent many days at the chiropractors after that haul!  Katie and Ryan used to moan and groan if, on the way home from somewhere, I would say "let's just head home through the alleys." It was embarrassing to think that their Mom, in the heart of ritzy Coronado, would be scavenging!! I loved it!  (My son Jason in LA has inherited some of those genes and has himself found some Real Treasures dumpster diving!)  During those years I also was introduced to thrift store shopping. I couldn't afford Nordstroms and then even TJ Maxx seemed to be too much - so I landed at Amvets.  I could have spent the whole day in there it was so much fun.  Thrift store shopping is still my favorite way to spend a few hours. 
But I digress.  When I watch the Hoarding shows I wonder if could ever get into such a sorry state.  The answer - nope. I HATE clutter. As long as my stuff can be contained in a closet or drawers I am fine. If it starts overflowing I won't be able to stand it.  There is one place that right now is the depository of many bed linens purchased during my three year stint volunteering at a local thrift store...our garage.  This isn't your average garage but is more like a barn.  If I should think I can fill that building up THEN I will be in BIG TROUBLE and you might see ME on Hoarders....firemen on top of the roof cutting holes so they can lower themselves down to rescue me or retrieve my body!
If it's the latter, know that I died a happy hoarder!