I moved in with my partner and his adult children (hoarders) last autumn. Combining 25+ years of each of our adult lives continues to be trying. As the deadline to vacate my flat loomed, I panicked and just lobbed perfectly usable household items/tech in the bin, extra guilt! I filled an embarrassing number of my building's dumpsters, even more guilt. Then got sentimental over an almost finished roll of Regina Blitz kitchen paper because it was my nan's from when we cleared her house in 2016 (I kept it – no guilt!).
Now we have a double garage (our version of Big Yellow) half-filled with things that should have been exiled ages ago.
I have boxes of books unopened because they are all already horrified at the amount I've already crammed into the house, and continue to buy. No one will stop me, I won't be shamed!!!
I do agree, I/we/all of us should stop holding onto things we haven't used in years though, and probably won't ever (I see you, Aunty Marg's Pony glasses).
I wish you luck on your continued decluttering – think how many more books you'll be able to buy when you're no longer in thrall to Big Yellow!
As always, your drawings and observations are perfect and hilarious!! Thanks Tor ☺️
I totally get all of that too - the difference between opening a box I can see I packed at the beginning, which is all ordered with carefully wrapped objects vs ones I can tell I packed further into the process - random bits of shit, one shoe, a cushion etc all lobbed together. And then yes, binning things that shouldn't be binned...
Yes I'm excited at the thought of not having it weighing me down at some point in the future!! Good luck with smuggling your books in!
Don’t let big yellow storage know about big yellow feelings or they might branch out into offering therapy sessions as an add-ons to the monthly price 🙈
My parents helped me pack up my room once and my dad wrote descriptions like which shelf the books had been on, on the bookcase! I thought it excessive but unpacking them ages later it was surprisingly useful.
Sending you fortitude and handcream!
(I feel cardboard boxes have an unsettled vengeance with hands)
We had furniture and boxes in storage for 10 years 🤯, waiting for better times when we would have a bigger flat! Needless to say, that never happened 🙄. Next week, we will finally take whatever we can fit into our flat and stop paying. It's true that our house will become a never-ending box&furniture depot... 🥸 For example, we'll have so many chairs that we could organise a Musical Chairs Olympics before giving them away!
I totally get this - some of my furniture is stuff I kept because one day I might have room for it... But when?! Let's all go round yours for the Musical Chairs Olympics!!
Oh Tor, I feel your pain. Our garage is filled to the brim with boxes that we haven’t opened since they were deposited there by the moving men 8 years ago. On the plus side we don’t have to pay for this storage, but every time I open said garage I am reminded that as I haven’t missed any of this stuff, I should get rid! Good luck!
Thanks Peggy!! Yes, it seems mad to hold onto anything I haven't missed for two years, but somehow when confronted with it all again, doubt sets in! Thank you, and good luck with yours!
Oh I so sympathise... too many hours (days) (years) wasted in storage wilderness. If you have a smart watch, do wear it. I had a fall in my last storage place, tripping over ancient detritus, and was gratified that my watch sprang into concern ("Have you had a fall? Do you need SOS?") as there was NO ONE to hear me scream... very best of luck dealing with your BYS affliction
Oh Vivien, that hadn't even occurred to me and can be another thing for me to worry about! I hadn't even considered dying in there, but of course given it's a direct debit, that could entirely happen and they wouldn't find me till my bank account had emptied... ;-)
This is so brilliant Tor. Do you ever fantasise about Big Yellow burning to the ground with all your chattels inside? We are about to gain a LOT of storage which I think can only be a BAD thing.
Thanks Ruby! I TOTALLY have thought about that - just razing it all and starting again... urgh I send courage and strength, I agree, it's only a bad bad thing!!
Debi OF COURSE there's a pile of vinyl in there! Well, currently it's in the house, where I bring boxes to open, before sending some of them back to BYS. I don't have a record player, but will that make me get rid of those records, of course not!! Hail to you fellow storage struggler! xx
Confusingly, you've made me want to put things in Big Yellow Storage.
😂😂😂
😂😂😂
Let's all go rescue Tor!
Yes Tom, come over here stat!!
This cut deep! 🤣
I moved in with my partner and his adult children (hoarders) last autumn. Combining 25+ years of each of our adult lives continues to be trying. As the deadline to vacate my flat loomed, I panicked and just lobbed perfectly usable household items/tech in the bin, extra guilt! I filled an embarrassing number of my building's dumpsters, even more guilt. Then got sentimental over an almost finished roll of Regina Blitz kitchen paper because it was my nan's from when we cleared her house in 2016 (I kept it – no guilt!).
Now we have a double garage (our version of Big Yellow) half-filled with things that should have been exiled ages ago.
I have boxes of books unopened because they are all already horrified at the amount I've already crammed into the house, and continue to buy. No one will stop me, I won't be shamed!!!
I do agree, I/we/all of us should stop holding onto things we haven't used in years though, and probably won't ever (I see you, Aunty Marg's Pony glasses).
I wish you luck on your continued decluttering – think how many more books you'll be able to buy when you're no longer in thrall to Big Yellow!
As always, your drawings and observations are perfect and hilarious!! Thanks Tor ☺️
Thanks Lisa!
I totally get all of that too - the difference between opening a box I can see I packed at the beginning, which is all ordered with carefully wrapped objects vs ones I can tell I packed further into the process - random bits of shit, one shoe, a cushion etc all lobbed together. And then yes, binning things that shouldn't be binned...
Yes I'm excited at the thought of not having it weighing me down at some point in the future!! Good luck with smuggling your books in!
Don’t let big yellow storage know about big yellow feelings or they might branch out into offering therapy sessions as an add-ons to the monthly price 🙈
My parents helped me pack up my room once and my dad wrote descriptions like which shelf the books had been on, on the bookcase! I thought it excessive but unpacking them ages later it was surprisingly useful.
Sending you fortitude and handcream!
(I feel cardboard boxes have an unsettled vengeance with hands)
Haha can you imagine!! Although I might take them up on them, their service really is top-notch! ;-)
That's so helpful - I can imagine it seemed OTT and can also imagine how useful!! Thank you!
My husband literally bought a storage container to store all his stuff as renting one for so long was too expensive. Go figure 🤦🏼♀️
OMG Caroline this made me laugh!!! Oh nooooo is this what’s coming?!?
You’re doomed 😬
I’m doomed. My unleashed inner pack rat, upon reading this, immediately thought YES! Buy a storage container. To rhyme with no-brainer.
Send blowtorches. Mayday, mayday…..
We had furniture and boxes in storage for 10 years 🤯, waiting for better times when we would have a bigger flat! Needless to say, that never happened 🙄. Next week, we will finally take whatever we can fit into our flat and stop paying. It's true that our house will become a never-ending box&furniture depot... 🥸 For example, we'll have so many chairs that we could organise a Musical Chairs Olympics before giving them away!
I totally get this - some of my furniture is stuff I kept because one day I might have room for it... But when?! Let's all go round yours for the Musical Chairs Olympics!!
You put me in mind of The Traveling Wilburys' "Cool Dry Place", which is about the only song I can think of about storage units.
I don't know that one, I'll look it up! Hmmm do you think "Living in a Box" might sort of count?
It might.
Oh Tor, I feel your pain. Our garage is filled to the brim with boxes that we haven’t opened since they were deposited there by the moving men 8 years ago. On the plus side we don’t have to pay for this storage, but every time I open said garage I am reminded that as I haven’t missed any of this stuff, I should get rid! Good luck!
Thanks Peggy!! Yes, it seems mad to hold onto anything I haven't missed for two years, but somehow when confronted with it all again, doubt sets in! Thank you, and good luck with yours!
In the yellow storage maze, Tor, no way out and doomed. Like Ross/Chandler gym cancellation. You’re on your own…sorry! 📦 📦 📦
Haha I remember that gym cancellation one! I know, there's no help coming!!
Oh I so sympathise... too many hours (days) (years) wasted in storage wilderness. If you have a smart watch, do wear it. I had a fall in my last storage place, tripping over ancient detritus, and was gratified that my watch sprang into concern ("Have you had a fall? Do you need SOS?") as there was NO ONE to hear me scream... very best of luck dealing with your BYS affliction
Oh Vivien, that hadn't even occurred to me and can be another thing for me to worry about! I hadn't even considered dying in there, but of course given it's a direct debit, that could entirely happen and they wouldn't find me till my bank account had emptied... ;-)
And then they hold your phone to your lifeless body, to activate Face Recognition...
😂 😭
This is so brilliant Tor. Do you ever fantasise about Big Yellow burning to the ground with all your chattels inside? We are about to gain a LOT of storage which I think can only be a BAD thing.
Thanks Ruby! I TOTALLY have thought about that - just razing it all and starting again... urgh I send courage and strength, I agree, it's only a bad bad thing!!
Storage on her mind. Hotel California. Do you have a pile of vinyl in your Big Yellow Storage?
Waving, no, drowning in stuff too. Hail fellow-packrat xxx
Debi OF COURSE there's a pile of vinyl in there! Well, currently it's in the house, where I bring boxes to open, before sending some of them back to BYS. I don't have a record player, but will that make me get rid of those records, of course not!! Hail to you fellow storage struggler! xx
Absolutely hilarious. We love you!! X
Haha thanks Ellie! Send help!! xx
I can so identify with your plight. Love your drawings.
Haha thank you!
This is brilliant! Loved and chuckled a lot reading it. 😊
Thanks Amy! X
I love my books too. My house is my storage, for books. Hardly any furniture, but lots of books!!