UPDATE DECLUTTERING: HELLO 2014 AND ALMOST 2015

After I shouted at the top of my lungs last weekend that I am going to get rid of ALL my stuff you are of course dying to know if I succeeded. I, the biggest collector there is, am going to break free from piles of stuff to which I have developed a deep bond. I am attached to my notebooks from when I was in 6th grade, or my notes from my very first lecture ever, or just from my last lecture. Call me a loser, but I find it hard to let go of that. However, the hardest part turned out not to be paper nonsense, but something completely different.

Because what is the case? Until recently, I always refused to download or stream movies and series, and listening to music via Spotify seemed complicated to me. Partly it was a matter of principle (“it’s just theft!”) but partly it was also ignorance. I don’t understand that kind of stuff and buying a DVD is so much easier. Until a moment came when downloading was explained to me (reading police officers: nooooo I don’t download myself, it’s for a friend. I mean a friend. Well, at least I’m innocent). And now that Netflix is also doing well in the Netherlands, the time when I buy DVDs and series boxes is really over.

But that time did exist. For years, I knew no greater pleasure than walking to the huge Fame on the Dam in Amsterdam (2 times tripping from my house) and then rummaging through the bins for hours looking for a new series. I would spend about 40 or 50 euros, parked myself on the couch and stayed indoors for two days. Free evening with no plans? First to Fame for a new movie. Or two. Especially those “3 for €25,-” deals were favorites. Over the years, I have collected meters and meters of films, and still have a fairly large cabinet full of series boxes. And now I’m stuck with that, because getting rid of them is also something, but in the context of decluttering, I’d rather be rid of them than have them.

“Until recently, I always refused to download or stream movies and series, and listening to music via Spotify seemed complicated to me. Partly it was a matter of principle, but partly it was also ignorance.”

Everything is in my laptop thanks to Netflix, Popcorn Time, and oh those meters of CDs I have all in Spotify. I seriously can’t remember the last time I watched a DVD. By the way, earlier this year I also had a pretty intense attack of decluttering and after much deliberation, I threw away my Bosatlas and dictionaries. French, German, English, Spanish – who still uses that? And that Bosatlas, it is of course hopelessly outdated and thanks to Google Maps, I no longer need a logbook full of maps. But it hurt to throw those things away.

I managed to offload a small selection of DVDs and CDs to my father (especially the Backstreet Boys CD he eagerly put in his bag) but the rest is still piled up at home. If I can make someone happy with it, just give a shout. But I fear with great fear that a lot will really head towards the eternal hunting grounds. Decluttering, no one said it would be fun.