I was watching the Three Stooges a few days ago. (With the kids . . . it’s not exactly my show of choice for “me” time.)
This episode began with them living in a shack. In the shack, Curly was making some soup, I believe it was tire soup or something equally Stoogish. He was cooking it over a fire in a pot that was under an iron bed frame. You know the kind from before box springs, where there is just this sheet of springs that the mattress sits on.
Picture it. The fire underneath the bed frame . . . and the soup pot on top of the springs. Very sturdy. Very logical. Really, it was genius.
See, I’m impressed by creative problem solving. I’m constantly saying to my kids, “There’s ALWAYS a solution.”
And now for what seems like a tangent but will hopefully be pulled together and make sense in the end.
I’m not generally a dooms-dayer. I try not to live in a worst-case-scenario frame of mind. But I do like to look in my pantry and see a good stockpile. I often think about whether or not we would have enough to last a week or so if “something” were to happen. We wouldn’t eat incredibly balanced meals, but we wouldn’t starve. Basically I try to achieve a balance that’s closer to the smart-and-prepared side than the crazy-and-paranoid side.
BUT, as a lover-of-great-ideas/collector-of-junk/slob, I’ll share the thought that went through my head while watching The Three Stooges.
Here goes.
“What a great idea! Oh, I have an antique bed frame just like that that’s shoved in a corner of the garage. But I’ve been planning to put it in the garage sale, should I not . . . you know . . . just in case?”
I mean, boy wouldn’t I regret it if the entire U.S.A. lost access to electricity and I couldn’t save the neighborhood by cooking up a smorgasbord on my antique bed frame?!?!?!
Really?
Yes, I know I’m crazy.
Thankfully, I recognize crazy, and I’m trying to do something about it.
love it! I have this train of thought sometimes as well. Ok, I have this train of thought OFTEN. That train of thought can quickly become a train wreck! My family has become very good at distracting me (or bringing me back from my wondering thoughts) when I start saying things like "y'know, if . . ." or "this would really be great whenever . . ." or "I KNOW I could use this for . . . or for . . ."
OK, I'm so excited to finally have a comment on this post!
I've been reading this backwards from the first post, and this made me laugh! I'm the same way; I can never find anything in my purse because it's so full of things I might need in an emergency. If there's ever an emergency that requires safety pins, a book of matches, tape, Post-it notes, a paper clip, and Band-aids, everyone's going to be so grateful that I'm there.
I was also a great one for saving things “just in case”. I’m now in a downsizing mode, and have been getting rid of things whenever I can (retirement in a few years, hopefully). It was really HARD to toss/donate things, thinking about “just in case”. I finally decided that if “just in case” came up, I’d buy or borrow a new one.
This does remind of an episode of one of those hoarders shows. The woman had dozens of glass jars with measurement markings on the side. Someone had given her homemade soup mix in a jar like that, and she thought this would be terrific to do for gifts, when she makes soup mix next. Which she never did; I mean never-in-her-entire-life did she make soup from scratch. And yet, she still had trouble getting rid of those jars.
I think of that when I want to hold on to things. It really helps me.
lol. i try to approach the “what-if” doomsday scenerios with a “i want to be knowledgeable abiut HOW to provide food, or other necessities… in the event of some catastrophe…” .. so i am trying to learn about gardening more effectively than we have in the past…..
I am definitely on that same frame of mind these days, but I am in very primitive stages. I mean, I still have a looooong way to go.
Yes, I think that way, too.
I just moved into a house with a pantry and now I’m not sure what the balance should be. I try to stock up on the easy things that the kids run through like peanut butter, jelly, juice boxes, etc. But I’m not sure where the balance is between – one or two on hand so we don’t have to run to the store every night and whatever expression is currently on my husbands face looking at the ten boxes of spaghetti. 😉
I really understand this thinking. I served in a church camp ministry for many years and when it was time to stop I packed up all my fun stuff (costumes, props, resources etc.) and it was five years before I could let any of it go. It took up all the storage space we had but it was just too treasured to part with and you never know when you might need to show up somewhere dressed as a pirate. Or cowboy. Or an elf. Or Moses. Right? I still have my program material because it’s all my original stuff but unless I dig in and turn it into something to be used by others, it is just taking up space, too. I am not there yet. Maybe next year. 🙁
Just listened to your creativity breeds creativity (or was it clutter) podcast. You mentioned this post and your grudge that no one responded to it for a long time. So here I am.
Yup your crazy, good thing there are a million of us just like you. My hubby is actually more of the keep creative clutter person than me, but we do have our fair share of just in case items.
I love your message of just do it-whether it is persuing the thing that we want to save the clutter for, or just get up and do the dishes, it’s simple and so true. The lack of checklists, lack of the normal stuff, but your advice is down to earth especially for those of us who aren’t normal.
Thanks!
Ugh! It’s you’re crazy not your crazy.
My English skills sometimes goes awry when I am commenting and not proofreading.
Hahahaha I love it when you show the workings of our slob-brain😂 This is so recognizable!! And it helps me both laugh at myself, catch myself and give myself a (short) break. So thank you😘