Decluttering creates clutter

So I'm on this major kick of ... if I don't need it, I need to get rid of it.

I'm creating rules:

• If I have something that will do the same job, I need to get rid of it.
• If it's not of any sentimental value, I need to get rid of it.
• If it serves no purpose whatsoever, I need to get rid of it.

I even went through the built in shelf in the family room and got rid of old books that were "decor" because I thought it was stupid to just have them up there just to have something filling the space. Do I have some subconscious aversion to empty space? If I have a cabinet, must it be filled? If I have a box, must something be contained therein?

However, in the midst of all this downsizing, I'm discovering that I'm creating quite the large pile of... well... crap in my foyer. So, I think to my self, "Self... we need to have a garage sale."

Apparently, I'm not sure if this is the right answer or not. I need to be validated.

I ask Andy, "Do you think we should have a garage sale?" He laughs at me. He laughs?! He says, "For the work involved to only make a couple hundred dollars and have cars full of people at your house at 7 in the morning -- I'd take the tax write-off."

The write-off. Why didn't I think of that? So, now I'm going to be creating itemized lists of stuff and taking them to Goodwill so that we can take the tax write-off and I don't have to try to find the time to even HAVE a garage sale. That's why I love this man. He was thinking of how valuable my time was and how to best spend it.

That... and he probably knew he'd be doing one or all of the following:

a) helping me set up;

b) watching all 3 boys before, during and after

c) helping me price and organize

d) help me break it down afterwards

e) loading what didn't sell up in the car and taking it to Goodwill.

I'd say he's a smart man.