In a comment on Nick’s post about kissing, I said I was more of a hugger than a kisser, but I knew a lot of people who were neither. The post reminded me of guys I’ve worked with who were scornful whenever the management said anything that sounded “touchy-feely”.
Then I laughed when I read Jenny Ryan’s post, How NOT To Declutter If You Are A Liberal Arts Major And Your Husband Is An Engineer. She and her husband were cleaning out the garage and making good progress, but there were some items that needed thought.
After about 30 minutes of tricky decisions, the next time he held an item up for consideration I said, “Well the question is, ‘Does this spark joy’.”
Apparently that’s not a question you ask an engineer. He snorted, rolled his eyes, and finished the garage by himself.
Do you think her question was a good way of deciding? I do! Do you sympathize with her husband? Well, I can see his point too. And I love Jenny’s sense of humor about their differences.
A Liberal Arts Major and an Engineer is a potent combination at any time anywhere and when it comes to joint decision making, it will be disaster time unless one of them is the yielding type. I have close relatives in such relationships and can see this phenomenon play out repeatedly.
In my opinion, such decisions are best left to the individual responsible for the problem in the first place. In this case, suppose it is an item bought by the wife, she should decide its fate and vice versa.
I’m a Liberal Arts Major & my husband is a Scientist. Need I say more.
and then there is the domain issue – I would leave the room, drawers, closet to the person who uses them the most – although I might question say an item that doesn’t seem to be used much!
If my collection of bling was my passion I might not say to SO “you have too many pairs of shoes, let’s get rid of some” because the next minute SO will be saying “but dear you have too many pairs of earrings…”
I have a friend who has an addiction for gadgets in the kitchen, I’m not talking about larger appliances but little things that usually end up in a small drawer – lemon squeezers, special knives, cheese cutters, cute little cookie cutters etc…used maybe once and then revert back to what she already loved best… when cup cakes came the rage – she ended up with 4 cake stands as she “fell in love” with another style!!!!
Rummuser,
In Jenny’s case I don’t think there was much of a conflict over what items to save, which ones to recycle or toss. It was just the humorous difference in the way they approach life. And her husband is a gem, very supportive of her with her many health problems.
“Does it bring joy?”
When TRYING to clear out Alice L. asked me “Do you love it”. Problem is I LOVE all my old treasures/stuff.
Absolutely love your cartoon!
I’m on another serious “sift/sort” – this time, furniture that missed the last clear out – do I need this and is there something else that could do double duty? I just decided this w/end that this current old computer desk could go. Needs to be cleared and cleaned, as I now don’t have a desktop computer and at times I use my laptop in bed…
Also in sift/sort as mentioned in my blog is paper with notes on; brochures; various other – all will be in next kerb-side collection day…
it is something I can do slowly has my hand/wrist heals and it makes me feel I have achieved something – hoping it makes my art better in the future as much of the paper notes are ideas jotted down for art-making…
Yes, it is great to be doing something constructive while healing. It’s great for the morale and for the immune system. 🙂
https://www.nzte.govt.nz/en/how-nzte-can-help/te-kete-tikanga-maori-cultural-kit/ng%C4%81-mihi-greetings-formal/ – scroll for Hongi
Being more touchy feely myself, I like that! 🙂
you KNOW my school of thought…
“get rid of it!!!”
LOLOL.
if my visits are sketchy…
i’m having some problems with this thing. and now a mouse dying.
new batteries… still problems. we’ll see. not going out to buy a new one until it cools up a bit. temp in the triple digits tomorrow etc.
the canine cancer post was so moving and heart breaking.
my zeke died of cancer.
afterward i read about dog food from china causing cancer in dogs.
and i felt very guilty.
his favorite treat was a chicken wrapped rawhide stick. made in china.
I doubt that you have to “get rid of it!!!” You probably don’t buy it in the first place (Smart), since you live in a small space that you call your “wren house” lol.
tammy,
My heart goes out to you about Zeke. It’s heartbreaking enough to lose a dog without worrying that it might have been caused by something you gave him. It may not have been — way too many dogs who didn’t receive those treats die from cancer.
Good luck on the weather. Triple digit temperatures? Whoa!
I don’t know about sparking joy. I tend to ask myself if something is adding to my life or if it’s just a pointless bit of junk. But what exactly was Jenny’s husband’s criterion? Is it useful? Might it come in handy one day? Might it some day be valuable?
My guess, just based on how I operate, it would be will I need this again? Is it worth the space it takes up? If it’s inexpensive and I might never use it again, then give it to someone who will. (I also keep things that are “useless” except for the fact they bring me joy.)