10/12/09

Married To A Rat


Well, a pack rat, or hoarder as the term goes currently. I, on the other hand, enjoy a clutter free environment. It makes for some interesting situations around our house. I just don't understand the desire to keep a box full of bits of things that, should you ever have the need for, you can purchase easily for about $1.29! Little pieces of tubing and whatever.

The man has never thrown away a single piece of clothing in his life! Holey, greasy, shredded, it doesn't matter. I throw away underwear and dress shirts as I do laundry that way he is unaware of losing a piece. Last week he noticed one of his dress shirts in the trash and had a mild coronary! I had to dig it out and show him the shredded, stained collar and the small tear in the middle of the back!

My husband once went with "the guys" on a weekend rafting trip. For the trip he went to Costco and purchased a wetsuit, a short one, not full length, for about $25. This trip was great fun and it was also, mmm, 16 years ago. About 5 years ago I sold that wetsuit at a yard sale. I will never hear the end of it! It was only ever used 1 weekend, ever.

I can walk upstairs right now and pull out a valentine item that he bought for one of the kids a good 8 years ago. It's CANDY, EDIBLE!

One year for Christmas I put lint brushes in all the adult kids stockings because we had a huge stash of them in the closet!

The picture here is of a small corner in our garage. What we have here on the right is a large commercial iced tea maker (from a previous life) that does not work. An item to be returned to the store (2 years old), a large wad of plastic sheeting covering God knows what, 2 boxes of reference books purchased in 1965 and some hideous curtains that he couldn't bear to part with.

Are you feeling my pain?

15 comments:

Tracey(Shy) said...

**looks innocent** got no idea what you mean! ok ok I do, I use to be a pack rat now I use all my clutter for crafts, see it all works out in the end!

Jude said...

Bill and I are both pack rats, but I'm trying my best to declutter and I refuse to stop at any more yard sales.

Chris said...

this sounds like my parents! We dread the day when they're no longer around and we have to sift through everything.

Daisy said...

Have you seen the TV show called "Hoarders"? If that TV show doesn't scare everybuddy into throwing out everything, nothing will!

Anonymous said...

Thankfully both my husband and I are in total agreement about no clutter; if you don't use it, lose it. And even at that every year or so we have a bunch of stuff to donate.

Lin said...

Whew! We are not "savers" thank goodness! I think in all of my years, there was only one thing I have regretted not saving--only one! And it was a hard-sided trumpet case which was easily borrowed. Ugh. I feel your pain, pally.

Ann said...

I can't really say much because I'm like that with my craft stuff. However, I do on occasion go through and throw away things away.
My sister in law does the same thing with my brothers ratty looking clothes that he won't get rid of.

Jen said...

I know a guy who built an addition on his house and added another garage to house the things he would not let his wife give away, and things she would not be able to discard without him noticing. My heart goes out to you. And the theme song to The Odd Couple is playing in my head right now.

Harlem's A Hatin said...

I am a complete pack rat when it comes to electronics boxes. Any electronic item I have ever bought I have the box for. Even if I get rid of the item I will forget to get rid of the box!

Unknown said...

sounds just like my ex-husband. One thing I certainly don't miss is the clutter.

The Peach Tart said...

He certainly is a pack rat but I'm married to one and know it's damn hard to change them.

VanillaSeven said...

Oh dear Buggy... I do feel your pain. I am the kind who likes to throw away things once they almost expired or broken.

Junk Drawer Kathy said...

I'm sorry this is your life. I wouldn't be able to take it. I'm still suffering for that time I sold my husband's Super Fantastic Christmas lights at a yard sale. Every year he goes to the basement and asks "Where are the good lights? Oh, yeah. You sold them." I will regret that til the day I die.

I love that you throw out clothes without telling your husband. That's so awesome and the way it should be done.

Hey, my word verification is "unhot." Am too!

Lynne said...

With the exception of the clothing, my husband is exactly the same way! When we buy something new, the old one goes in the attic or garage, never to the trash. He won't even donate things! Even if something is broken, he keeps it in case he needs parts (he doesn't ever repair anything, so not sure why or when he thinks he would need parts!)

Ruth said...

Sounds like someone should introduce him to Flylady. ;-) www.flylady.net