Baseball comes to New York

I was going through some stuff the other night, ya know, packing for my move and getting rid of stuff. I was in the middle of combining several boxes of baseball cards when I sorta "spaced off." I loved collecting cards as a kid and even still I find myself buying a pack on occasion. Anyway, I soon found myself flipping through stacks of cards - my memory taking me back to days of trading cards with my younger brothers. I came across some of my favorite players ... Roger Clemens, Ozzie Smith, Andre Dawson ... the list goes on.

For a second I contemplate getting rid of the cards. Perhaps now is the right time. I might make some extra money to take to New York, plus I would have 2 less boxes of stuff.

But no - I can't bring myself to do it. The reasoning doesn't matter - I have to keep these cards. There isn't a kid out there who collected cards that can easily make the decision. These are things that you just hold on to. Who knows if they will ever be worth something, most of them are common cards and half-assembled sets. The thing is, they connect me with the boy I use to be and baseball will always have the ability to transcend the years and take me back.

The only other time that I can remember feeling as excited about an oncoming baseball season was when I attended Opening Day 2005 at Yankee Stadium. Which leads to my next post ...

A few of my favorite things

OK, so maybe it's lame, but when you are trying to go through your stuff and decide what to keep decisions can be tough. I knew that I would find items that were hard to know what to do with. My collection of license plates is one such item. Granted it is not a large collection, but it is mine. I have collected most of these plates from states I have lived in and it might be hard to go back and find them all again.They each hold some sort of significance and it is hard to just throw them away. For right now they are safe, but it doesn't seem worth packing up and storing them in a box until I can get them to NYC.

Call it a Trade!

Here's a suggestion for getting rid of stuff: Find a friend that's moving at the same time you are. The other day while talking to a friend about his upcoming move we realized that he was going to need nearly everything I am getting rid of. A desk, a microwave, a toaster, even pots and pans. I need to get rid of em and my friend needs em.

Now all I need to do is come up with a bottom dollar amount of everything I want to get rid of and then let him choose what he wants. Now I can sell a large portion of stuff at once and move it all to one location. Seems like a win, win for everyone.

Getting Rid of Stuff Continued

Thanks to everyone who checked in with a comment about this post. It is indeed an interesting process to try and decide which things you REALLY need to keep and which things are simply junk that you have accumulated. I have to agree with Adrian that each time you move it seems like you get rid of more crap. I think this is just natural because I am finding that things I once considered "keepers" gradually make their way into the trash or give away pile.

Some of the absolute junk that I am happy to be disposing of:

• An extensive collection of lanyards and name badges from various conferences and university-related activities.
• A basket full of crappy Hollister and Abercrombie necklaces & arm bands from my days as a store manager. (I just don't need to wear sea shells around my neck. I am in Nebraska, the ocean is a long way from here.)
• A flamingo-shaped "yard glass" purchased in Las Vegas at the Flamingo Hotel's pool. ( Comes complete with two handfuls of beads.)

Some of my things that might actually be valuable:

• A box full of matchbox cars.
• Several boxes full of baseball and basketball cards and memorabilia.

Cross your fingers that I stumble across a Michael Jordan rookie card.

Getting Rid of Stuff

One piece of advice that I keep coming across : get rid of your stuff! Moving half way across the country is no easy task. The more stuff you take, the harder and perhaps, more expensive it is. Plus, once you get to New York, space is at a premium. I have heard stories of people that have moved with absolutely nothing and started an apartment with cardboard drawer sets and an air matress. If you haven't heard of him yet, Check out this guy that built his furniture from Fed-Ex boxes.

The point is you really have to think about what you want/need to take with you and what you need to simply get rid of. I like to think that this will not be that difficult for me since I have moved several times in the last few years. However, I have been living in the same place for 3 years now, a lifetime by my standards, and have accumulated a lot of "stuff." I began the ugly process of sorting and packing some of my stuff last night by cleaning my desk. I decided while cleaning files and drawers that it might be easiest if I begin placing things in 3 categories.

1. Stuff going to New York

2. Stuff going to storage ( hopefully the smallest category!) ( I promise I will do my best Mom.)

3. Stuff to get rid of. (Throw it away, give it away, whatever, just get rid of it!)

Guess it might be time to pass on my extensive collection of coozys. If I come across any items that I have difficutly parting with I will write a little about it. Until later I march forward with trash can and moving boxes by my side.