Welcome to the Year of the Rabbit! While 2022, Year of the Tiger, was about energy and getting things done, 2023 on the Chinese Zodiac calendar is meant to be one of reflection and relaxation. Well, I’m all for that. But allow me to add another “R” word: Recycling.
Every Chinese New Year, I get the urge to clean out things I
no longer need. This is likely a leftover tradition from when I lived in Asia, where
people were encouraged to clean out the old and bring in the new, both at work
and at home.
As the inhabitants of a rather large farmhouse with many
closets and empty rooms, we are the recipients of the castoff furniture and
clothing of many of our family members. I am feeling the urge to get rid of
some of these things, as they still have use but not for us. My plan is to ask
on our family chat if anyone wants these things and then I will put them up for
grabs on Marketplace or some other local Facebook page.
This year I will be saying goodbye to: books I did not enjoy
(but someone else might); a baby stroller that isn’t great on my dirt road
(more for town dwellers); a bassinet; several baby chairs; an assortment of
baby toys; and clothes that no longer fit me. Getting unwanted clothes away
from my husband is something I gave up on a while ago. He likes to keep things,
even if there is little to no chance of ever fitting into them again.
I also need to say goodbye to multiple serving platters, dishes,
teacups and oddly shaped plates that I will never use. They came here when my father-in-law
moved out of his home and we inherited about 60 years worth of stuff. It can
go, along with the Christmas-themed decorations and tchotchkes that came from
who knows where. They haven’t made it out of the basement for over 5 years, so
they need to vanish.
I know it will take at least a whole weekend to sort these
things into a pile in my basement, take photos of each item and post online –
but I will be so relieved to see them go. If no one wants them, they are headed
to the Score or the Salvation Army – where they will no doubt find a good home.
While I’m there I will likely find a few bags of new things to put in my
basement – where they will sit for a few years until it is their turn to leave.
That seems to be my version of recycling. Works for me.
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