Rules of Engagement

After a discussion with one of my loved ones, it became fairly clear to me that I needed to give some kind of assurance that my project did not involve relieving those who share and shared the house of all their worldly possessions. It also made me realize that I need to make clear the guidelines and goals for the project. OK, the goals are fairly straightforward. Sell stuff and get the house all nice looking. It's the guidelines I have set that might be raising eyebrows, so here they are:

• List at least 7 items per week, which averages out to one per day.
• Initiate all aspects of the project.
• Once an item is declared a sale item, it remains a sale item. (No hiding it in the attic or basement...again).
• Follow through on all sides of the selling process, whether it be organizing and labeling for yard sales or getting things shipped out during promised time frame.
• Do not sell anything that does not "belong" to me unless it has been given to me to sell.
• Do not get frustrated and lose interest in the project if things do not sell.
• Follow through on the cleaning/remodeling/redecorating sides.

I only want to add a couple of more things, and they are for those family and friends who might find something they gave me listed on eBay™ or set out at a yard sale:

• Don't take it personal. A gift is a gift, but I LOVE you with or without it.
• Spread the word.

Floorplan

The humble abode the Mrs. and I share has an attic, a main floor, and a basement. All told, there are twelve areas, rooms as you will, that hold treasures awaiting a new home. That doesn't even include the garage, porches, and storage areas. I would love to post a big panoramic photo, but the paranoia (and you thought depression was the only issue I am blessed with?) is a healthy one at this point, so you will have to use your imagination as to how things look at the moment. Suffice to say, clutter and chaos may well be the first thing to come to mind in some of the rooms. Others, to my credit, have been worked on lately to the point they are almost... normal looking. Shoot, we are nearly ready to entertain.

Anyhoots, this is my project design for how I choose what will be listed, at least for now. I walk into a room, look around, find something. Chaos, being a concept that rules my brain, obviously rules my decisions, as well. Things for sale will be listed on eBay™ or put out on a yard sale until they have a new owner. It is my hope to evolve the process to the point where I select ONE room, sort and organize as I clean it out, remodel and redecorate as needed, and bring joy into my life for having accomplished a positive goal. Might even get a hug from the Mrs. in the process. Truth be told, I have one room/area that is the model for what CAN be done when I apply my efforts (and get some help), but given my entryway is hardly bigger than a closet, believe me when I say I have far to go before this project ends.

Why Blother?

Or is it why blogther? Or, for those who prefer correct spelling, why bother? In any case, it is a good question. Why should I invest considerable amounts of time and energy engaged in a project of this nature, let alone keep a public record of it? The reasons are numerous, but we all agree that doing so is a good sign for me. We, of course, being Me, Myself, I and a miscellany of mental health types. Heck, even the Mrs. supports the project, as long as it doesn't keep me up at the keyboard all night long or when she wants to check her email. Sure, the money generated is a nice feature, given my ongoing lack of employment (and bigger lack of prospects). But it is not really about the money. It is more about the purpose.

Without going into a great amount of detail, we (see list above) have come to the conclusion that I have been depressed for the greater share of my life, some of that time severely so. I was given the benefit of a dysfunctional, near pathological, childhood to build a foundation for my adulthood, and managed to create enough of a mess during my early adult years, and been given my share of challenges, to depress a small town's worth of people. More than one professional has told me that it is amazing that I have functioned, and survived, this long. Nature versus nurture versus divine intervention, I say. Nor am I complaining, to be honest. I mean, I am following through on a plan, I am doing something positive, I am disclosing...

OMG, I've become an emo!

OK, condensed version: 1RAT is a decent therapy for me. Might even make enough via eBay™ to pay the co-pay for my other therapy.

Prologue-ish

Not long, long ago, in a cybergalaxy not far, far away, an event of individually epic proportions was begun. Granted, it did not change the course of human history per se, or at least not from what I know, but it did spark the smallest of flames in my brain. OK, I was mostly jealous at first, given that I did not think of doing it, but I did find myself involved. Even published. Yes, I am in there somewhere.

"All My Life For Sale" was a project, an event as it were, conceived by John D. Freyer in late 2000 as a means to reduce his personal belongings to the barest of minimums. The website still exists (www.allmylifeforsale.com), and there is a book published that describes and chronicles his project. John, if you are listening, bless you. Following the weekly course of the project, actually buying something (which I still own!), and meeting John personally is something I still cherish to this day. In fact, it was during this time that I began to formulate the concept for the project in which I now find myself entrenched.

Selling off all one's worldly possessions is nothing new. Motivations for such actions are myriad. Accomplishing such an act is easier now, more than ever, with the contact that can be obtained via the glorious global garage sales as can be found on that thing we call the internet. I have been selling (and buying) on eBay™ for some time, with mixed success, but like John before me, have decided that this is the best sales vehicle for my project. Oh, by the way, if you have not determined it by now, the project name is "One Room At a Time" or 1RAT. Explanation will follow. I do hold yard sales, useful for gaining a buck or two and feeling that special feeling I get when some child goes through the 'Free Stuff' basket and finds something to claim for their very own, but not everything is yard sale worthy. There are just some things that a person doesn't want pawed by dozens of strangers. 1RAT is my global yard sale, but with a special purpose. Even more explanation will follow.

Until such time as I get things just so, I invite you, special blog visitor, to go to eBay™ and check out the progress of 1RAT. I think all you have to do is search for my screen name...let me check...yes, it is easy enough. Hmmm, maybe this will work. Fuzzybear61

I'll end this for now, just so I can check things out. Look for more in coming hours and days.

A pause in the action

Boring. Totally and completely boring. That is the sad state of affairs for this blog, but soon I shall change that. Yeah...as soon as I figure out how all this stuff works.

The way things work

In an attempt to be tech-savvy, I have decided to create a blog to archive the efforts of this latest project. I do so hope I can make things easy for folks to follow as I track the progress of the project, and I also hope that I can create just the smallest amount of enthusiasm for my efforts. We shall see...