Summer Closets and Novels

Summer is here. For me that means a lot of time that I can plan to do as I wish. I don't have to officially report back to work for about eight more weeks, and I have a long list of things I want to do before the summer is over and I need to go back to the schedule of being away from home about 10 hours a day, five days a week. At the top of my list, before even reading a novel or sitting lake or poolside, is the desire to get my closets cleaned out.

I have been a bit surprised with how much had been stowed away into closets over the past year. I have given each closet basic clean-up time a few times over the year, but there have been far too many items that really need to go live somewhere else. They are still inhabitants of my home, hiding out in my closets waiting for someone to call out a request, or more likely, to head to a local charity.

Over the past two weeks I have cleaned out two large closets, resulting in two large trash bags full of trash that has met with my curb. It has also resulted in many items that need to take a trip; clothes that I no longer wear, books I no longer read, games we no longer play, toys and furniture the boys have outgrown, and decorative items I no longer love. There is more. I know, it really sounds like a sad story, but you get the picture. Lots of stuff ready to leave. So while sorting through my closets, I have created a few new tasks and errands. Loading up the surplus and getting it to where it can benefit someone. Since I live in the boonies and don't go to town that often, I will have to plan the trip as I go to do other errands.

My next big goal is to tame the paper monster that is looming in my desk area. It was created with a couple of desk sweeps. You know, sweeping everything off the desk and putting it into the action later box. Well now is the time for action. I have sorted through it a couple of times in search of bills, etc. It has come in handy. But now I need to decide what needs to be filed, what needs to be acted on and what needs to be trashed/shredded (FAT). I also have drawers, closets and cabinets left to sort through. And my kitchen is an elephant all its own.

The big question is, why do I put off for summer things that just eat up my lake and novel reading time? I really need to live the "Do it Now, Girl" (DING) motto. I am setting a pace to get some productive decluttering/organizing done, but I also need to make sure there is time for reading, movie watching and playing with the kids. We still haven't planned our summer trip. Or should I say, I haven't planned it yet.

Now, I'm off to watch the boys play in the pool. Where did my novel go? Oh, there it is, next to the sunscreen. I think I may actually get to finish a book or two this summer.