TEN MINUTES

When I began taking my clutter-busting seriously, when I got rid of so much at Jessica's garage sale, when I started reading organizing books (and finishing them!), I started seriously looking around my house and taking a harsh inventory.

I would sit on my couch and look about my living area and ponder what, of my possessions and STUFF, was really important to me? Where did that knick-knack come from? Why did I buy that pillow? Am I ever going to read that book? Do I even still like the person in that picture frame? : )

The questions continued in other rooms: would I ever need 24 plates at the same time, of three different patterns, for our lifestyle? Would I really need 6,000 cleaning rags? Could I possibly use up all those different hair products, when I rarely do more than cram my hair into a giant clip?

I did get obsessed - but in a good way. A clean way. A realistic way. And when I rested physically, I kept going mentally:

I wondered; if I had just TEN minutes to get out of my house 'forever', what things would I take? I decided that ten minutes is long enough for me to get out the most important things, but I erred in thinking these thoughts aloud to my husband. . .

He was confused and appalled. He didn't get the point of such thoughts, at all, and ultimately, he was just disturbed that my list didn't include a single big-ticket appliance. I don't think he was able to sleep that night.

What was on my list?

My recipe collection. My stuffed monkey and bumpy pillow that I sleep with. My purse, with phone. My plastic boxes of kids' keepsakes and handmades and home movies. My expensive tennis shoes. A sweater or jacket. (Who knows?) I might grab my DVDs (now that they would be easy to grab), or some artwork. If I am moving quickly and find myself with three or four extra minutes, I'll start grabbing some books.

You may be wondering why photographs aren't on the list. Well, this is where I can understand my husband, a tiny bit. I have toooooooo many photos and albums to get them all. Toooooo many negatives, slides, etc. I am working to scan and upload and share my pictures so that if the unthinkable happens, I haven't lost them. If I get my collection down to a manageable size, then they'd definitely be leaving the house with me.

The reason the tennis shoes are on the list: I really like them, and I paid too much money for them. I would never replace them, so they would go with me. Ditto why I'd take the DVDs; also replaceable, but unlikely to happen.

My 'list' may change over time, but those are the things I'd grab if I had to do the grabbing right now.

So, if you can allow yourself to conjure up a scenario where you have to be out of your house for good, in ten minutes, and your family and animals are SAFE, what would you take? Comment, or write a post and link here.

See you at the curb!

P.S. You can have imaginary moving men if some pieces of furniture are part of what you wouldn't want to start over without.