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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Hoarders: The Crazy Person Edition

Guys, I think I might have a problem.

Today while searching for a lamp base, I found another baby blanket. It's adorable. Thing is, I already have a ton of baby blankets. But there can never be enough. I have two small fleece blankets, seven small cotton blankets, three receiving blankets, and six larger fleece blankets already. In my defense I did not buy most of them. Most were presents from the baby shower or my parents and In Laws buying baby stuff because they are out of their minds with excitement (first grandchild on both sides of the family. No, he's not going to be spoiled or anything).

But that still didn't stop me from buying some when I finished out my registry, or this new blanket today. I can rationalize anything. The blanket today is necessary because it's much larger than the ones I already have, and it's warm but thin so it will be a great middle ground between the super thin blankets and the warm fleece ones. I can throw it over the stroller if I need to, and still use it when the baby gets bigger. 

At least, that's what I tell myself.

It's not just baby blankets though. I hoard other random things. Books are a gimme, because what writer doesn't? But I also have a gigantic stash of office supplies. I have no less that five unopened packs of white index cards, two packs of neon colored index cards, a 24 pack of fine point Sharpies, a 24 pack of highlighters, a 24 pack of markers, a metric crapton of pens, and that's just off the top of my head. Don't even ask how many legal pads and notebooks I have.

I am not sure what exactly drives me to collect these things, other than this never ending need to have them and the ability to lie to myself and justify the necessity of the item in question. I suppose it could be worse. I could be like that cockroach house on Hoarders (Caution: do not click that link if you dislike cockroaches, have a weak stomach, or want to retain the last vestiges of your sanity). I could collect less useful things like bottle caps (no offense to those of you out there who collect bottle caps. I am sure your collection is stunning).

Surely I'm not the only person out there that has a hard time letting go of things? Or an insane need to stockpile very specific stuff? Is there anything you guys collect a ton of?

Now if you'll excuse me, while I was searching for the link to my new baby blanket, I saw some other ones on sale. 

2 comments:

  1. We are three packrats living in one household. Two of us are in our 50's (gah - that sounds so wrong!) So I totally get the packrat syndrome. "I'll neeeeeeeed it the second I throw it out!"

    Paper products are a Linus blanket to me. I have to have paper and notebooks and such. Just have to. And pens. And mechanical pencils with lots of refill lead. (Okay, graphite, really.)

    And beads. And polymer clay. And nifty kitchen knick-knacks. And chocolate. But that is more of a "maintain a supply, because running out would be a National Disaster" rather than hoarding. Hoarding implies having but not using.

    Just mind that you keep Sharpies far from little hands. Or you may have permanent artwork on the walls!

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  2. Linda: that's a good point. I might have a ridiculous supply of things, but I still use it all. I also have craft supplies that I almost never use. But I plan to start to when I have more free time (I can hear you laughing).

    Lucky for me, Chad is NOT a packrat so we balance each other out.

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