@V., that is pretty cool. Sounds like an adventurous yet relaxing trip. Before nature struck.

@James, smart of you. May as well make a teensy profit from accumulated, unused stuff if possible. I bought a french press from Craigslist for a few bucks and LOVE it. The previous owner was moving, however, and thankful to be rid of it!

@Gillian, thank you for stopping by. This year I will minimize our Christmas spending binge to focus instead on home-made gifts and providing enjoyable experiences for loved ones.

@John S., our rate of clutter certainly has accelerated since our baby was born. It all began with a polite acceptance of hand-me-downs from relatives and has just spun out of control. We are being buried alive in our apartment.

@V, hah, ironic you should suggest that. Actually my brother-in-law moved to the mountains of Montana and built his own secluded log cabin, complete with an outhouse!

@Holly, have a great week as well, much appreciated. It is astonishing how quickly those clutter piles form, isn't it?

@Kim, you are brave to tackle the filing cabinet. I stopped staying on top of mine when the baby was born and now it is a horrendous mess. Groovy idea about eBay (and a great way to recycle.) I may try this approach in conjunction with Craigslist.

@Mandy, is the Great North part of the UK? Truly an apt remark, it IS exhausting.

@Femme Frugality, this is my philosophy. I enjoy buying quality items and tend to hang onto beloved items forever. I am 32 now and my favorite pair of jeans was bought in Sweden…when I was 21! (I was over the moon when I snugly could fit into them again post pregnancy.)

@Marvin, thank you for stopping by. I'll have to scrounge up that Wall Street Journal article. Thanks for the heads up. And although I wouldn't completely label myself a minimalist yet, I do feel I need to move toward that direction more.

@Mr. CBB, now that's the spirit! I love how methodical you are about approaching this, and that is a productive solution. Clutter doesn't stand a chance against you and Mrs. CBB.

@Glen, quite the profound remark. And…comforting. Thank you. When I feel discouraged (such as when I posted this), I will envision Ricky romping near the garden and smile.

@Mo', exactly. I feel way too restricted by stuff. Friends were always amazed at my ability to travel overseas with a few light dresses and toiletries stuffed into a teensy shopping bag. But traveling light always made the journey considerably less stressful.

@DC, gasp. A house? And…shelves? You dare come here with these roguish ways?! Charlatan!

@Debtgirl, I immensely am looking forward to your crafty home-made gift ideas this holiday season. (P.S. Your dressed-up glitter-y cards are waayyy cuter than any fancy-schmancy expensive ones. Loved that post!)

For others, I plan on making ornaments!

I feel less stress already.

I hear ya!

Great post!