Real Kato Blog: Pack Ratting

No, I couldn't possibly get rid of those cassette tapes that I never listen to.

Today we were SUPPOSED to get severe thunderstorms and ice falling from the sky, so I decided I would stay in all day. But we didn't actually get any severe weather, unless you count the one big gust of wind that came at 3:35 in the afternoon. So I've been cooped up for nothing.

I tried to do some cleaning, and I made some progress organizing the contents of my junk room. My junk room is what would ordinarily be called bedroom #3, except that it is full of books, old school papers, tools, gardening equipment, a home gym, old computers, stuffed animals, halloween costumes, and craft supplies. Oh, and let's not forget the miniature basketball hoop that I got from Pizza Hut for $30 through a special promotion.

See, I don't throw things away. Hello, my name is Ken, and I am a pack rat. My parents were pack rats too. And not only that, we weren't exactly rich growing up, so I learned to keep things like old boxes and pieces of foam, so I could make my own toys. I have a distinct memory from when I was about nine years old... I wanted a set of walkie-talkies really badly, but my parents said we couldn't afford them. So, I made some fake ones from little boxes, with knobs and buttons made from pieces of my Erector set, and antennas taken from old broken radios. Then I would just pretend to talk to someone through it. Isn't that heartbreaking? But the lesson for me was, it's a good thing I kept the boxes and the broken radios around.

Incidentally, when I volunteered in Big Brothers/Big Sisters in college, I bought a pair of walkie-talkies as a birthday present for my "little brother", even though they say you're not really supposed to give the kids presents. It just seemed like something I had to do.

Anyway, to this day, I tend keep everything, because I say to myself, "I could use that somehow." Or, "It would be a shame to just throw that away." That, I think, is the official Pack Rat Mantra.

It's also another manifestation of my OCD. I recognize it, and I try to force myself to throw things away, as a form of therapy. Today it was good-bye to the old ice bucket with the broken handle, the frying pan with the non-stick surface flaking off, and rechargeable NiCad batteries that haven't functioned in ten years.

I tried to part with two boxes of papers from high school and college. But I fear that someday they will be my only proof that I was, at one time in my life, smart. I mean, today, I think I'm more observant than I used to be when I was younger, and perhaps more literary, but I certainly can't do inductive math and differential calculus the way I used to. Is that weird, to be in awe of one's younger self? Anyway, it's only two little boxes of stuff. It used to be six boxes, but I culled it down about five years ago, partly by getting rid of the papers from elementary school. I wasn't quite as impressed with that stuff.

In the end, I made a little bit of progress, enough that I can actually use my home gym without having to climb over a wall of boxes. So what did I do after that? I sat on my ass watching basketball (yay Pistons), and the NFL draft. But at least I know that home gym is available now. Because, you know, it'd be a shame to throw it away.

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Posted by Ken in: life

Comments

Comment #1 from Nicholas (Guest)
2005 Apr 24 - 2:12 pm : #

We were on a greenway in Raleigh. It got really windy so we hurried back to the car to avoid the supposed hail. It never even rained in our part of Raleigh.

My brother is a pack rat like that. It is hard to get rid of things that might be useful someday. But you have to consider the odds of ever needing it, and being able to find it when you need it. There is a lot of stuff not work keeping. Our house is still full of junk. I say, every time you move, you should lose 1/3 of your stuff.

You did properly dispose of those Nickel Cadmium batteries, right? Raleigh has hazardous waste drop off day the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month.

http://www.wakegov.com/county/recycling/households/houshazwaste.htm

Comment #2 from Ken (realkato)
2005 Apr 24 - 2:48 pm : #

I put them down the garbage disposal in the kitchen sink. Is that bad? ;)

Seriously, though: a lot of area retailers are drop-off sites for battery recycling, which might be a better option than just using hazardous waste disposal.

Comment #3 from Cori (Guest)
2005 May 2 - 5:01 pm : #

I also remember being smart, with a wistful longing. And I also keep my old papers, for that reason.

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