swanduchess is so very right. We have so much clutter because there are four or five of us in our house, not two! Someday, I'll live someplace where Caitlin can have her own closet: that would help a lot.
I've been saying that for years- I have a lot of stuff to move because it's not just me that moves, it's Aurelia too, and that girl has a LOT of stuff.
By that logic, there are twelve people living in my house (or even fourteen, if you count the two sparkly princesses who keep showing up for tea). It's no wonder I can never keep up with the laundry.
I couldn't tell you why exactly, but my interests drifted about ten or so years ago. I felt pretty rotten when I got my Daystar as I was essentially walking out the door. Apparently, they'd been trying to give it to me for a while, but I kept not attending the events with baronial courts.
Yeah, I know. It didn't make me feel any better. And, of course, that was the one time I was invited to eat at the high table, but I'd only bought a day membership, and had plans for that evening already, so I had to decline. In fact, I'd only attended the event to run the gate. And because the Daystars gave up on trying to surprise me and told me to go to the event.
I would be more likely to say that the SCA tends to attract people who are clutter-ful, regardless. As an example:
I've not been involved in the SCA in any meaningful way for at least 10 years. My SCA stuff (and that of my wife) is packed in two or three (large) boxes in the attic. Maybe, some day, they'll come out. And yet we're still over-cluttered. Why?
Because we are diverse people. We have many interests. I like woodworking, and brewing, and technology, and music, and cooking, and reading. My wife likes jewelery, and music, and cooking, and other things I can't quite think of now (hanging head in shame). But each of these things demands its own space, each has its own set of equipment. If you didn't do SCA, you'd fill that time and space with other things, because that is just who you are. The SCA isn't the cause, really; it's more of a symptom. An active and cross-disciplinary mind will have this happen. There were cluttered houses long before that original party.
It's easy to think it's the SCA, because those folks who do a lot of SCA do those diverse pursuits in the SCA. We brew period drinks, we make period inspired woodwork, we make medieval music, etc. So it all looks like SCA Clutter. After the SCA part fades (for those for whom it fades) there's still all that other interest.
That Duchess makes a good point, but I think dlevey makes it better. Some people just attract material culture stuff.
Consider my home - it is not all that much an SCA home any more. Robin has lots of clothing, I have woodworking, we have tons of cooking and Robin has a positive drug-addiction to china (which I encourage). Nevermind the cabinet full of "media", and the as-yet-not-unpacked 40 or so cartons of books that go with the 10 or so we did unpack. :-)
I'll say this - while we still have unpacking to do (garage and basement at this point, the house itself is empty and organized), we will maintain good organization and reasonable contents.
But compare this home (and it is large) with the amount of stuff that went into our temporary apartment. We currently have half of what we used to. Literally half, if not less. And we are still embarassingly full-up with material goods that relate to interests from cooking, reading, movies, sewing, quilting, embroidery, woodworking, and so forth.
I suspect the real problem is that we don't throw stuff away.
(And poor dlevey is my victim in this. All the home-brewing stuff I used to have, he now has. I gave/lent it all to him... I'm kinda evil that way.)
"(And poor dlevey is my victim in this. All the home-brewing stuff I used to have, he now has. I gave/lent it all to him... I'm kinda evil that way.)"
Yeah, but I'm hoping you'll be able to get the benefit of it soon. The schedule is laid out, and I've started on this season's brews. The barleywine is fermenting nicely, and I hope to do the imperial stout before Passover.
We've actually managed to free up one closet for the SCAdians, but they also wanted a wardrobe upstairs, and at least three trunks... I think they need their own room...
no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 03:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 03:59 pm (UTC)By that logic, there are twelve people living in my house (or even fourteen, if you count the two sparkly princesses who keep showing up for tea). It's no wonder I can never keep up with the laundry.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:09 pm (UTC)We have cookies.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:21 pm (UTC)I couldn't tell you why exactly, but my interests drifted about ten or so years ago. I felt pretty rotten when I got my Daystar as I was essentially walking out the door. Apparently, they'd been trying to give it to me for a while, but I kept not attending the events with baronial courts.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:10 pm (UTC)I've not been involved in the SCA in any meaningful way for at least 10 years. My SCA stuff (and that of my wife) is packed in two or three (large) boxes in the attic. Maybe, some day, they'll come out. And yet we're still over-cluttered. Why?
Because we are diverse people. We have many interests. I like woodworking, and brewing, and technology, and music, and cooking, and reading. My wife likes jewelery, and music, and cooking, and other things I can't quite think of now (hanging head in shame). But each of these things demands its own space, each has its own set of equipment. If you didn't do SCA, you'd fill that time and space with other things, because that is just who you are. The SCA isn't the cause, really; it's more of a symptom. An active and cross-disciplinary mind will have this happen. There were cluttered houses long before that original party.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:18 pm (UTC)It's easy to think it's the SCA, because those folks who do a lot of SCA do those diverse pursuits in the SCA. We brew period drinks, we make period inspired woodwork, we make medieval music, etc. So it all looks like SCA Clutter. After the SCA part fades (for those for whom it fades) there's still all that other interest.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:23 pm (UTC)Consider my home - it is not all that much an SCA home any more. Robin has lots of clothing, I have woodworking, we have tons of cooking and Robin has a positive drug-addiction to china (which I encourage). Nevermind the cabinet full of "media", and the as-yet-not-unpacked 40 or so cartons of books that go with the 10 or so we did unpack. :-)
I'll say this - while we still have unpacking to do (garage and basement at this point, the house itself is empty and organized), we will maintain good organization and reasonable contents.
But compare this home (and it is large) with the amount of stuff that went into our temporary apartment. We currently have half of what we used to. Literally half, if not less. And we are still embarassingly full-up with material goods that relate to interests from cooking, reading, movies, sewing, quilting, embroidery, woodworking, and so forth.
I suspect the real problem is that we don't throw stuff away.
(And poor
no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:26 pm (UTC)Yeah, but I'm hoping you'll be able to get the benefit of it soon. The schedule is laid out, and I've started on this season's brews. The barleywine is fermenting nicely, and I hope to do the imperial stout before Passover.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:59 pm (UTC)I hope to see you guys soon.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 05:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 04:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-14 08:54 pm (UTC)