5 Months and counting ( Michael )

Yes, 5 months. It seems like a long time, but when we look at all that has to be done it's not that long at all. We started in the back room but quickly found that the garage had to go 1st. We backed up the utility trailer to the door and started loading. Tires, old computer components, out of date sound equipment, furniture and my old roller skates. Dartboards, sporting goods, car parts, back packs. Where did all this stuff come from? We are starting to feel like Toast felt. I stumbled over my Emmett Kelly Jr. collection. He was a very dear and close friend, we miss him. It just felt wrong to have all these precious items of his boxed up. So, deep breath, we are donating most of it to the Sabbar Shrine in Tucson, Az. They, we, I am a Shriner, do so much for the children. We will auction the items and support the Shrine. I know Emmett would have liked that. Then it was off to the Thrift Store to dump a load off. Well, no rest for the righteous and the wicked don't need it. We hit the back room hard. Another trailer load and we're done for the day. So much stuff! I'm glad our house is only 1,400 sft. We only have 1/2 the square footage that Toast had and you would think only 1/2 the stuff. Hmmmmm. Got to start booking shows soon, soon, very soon.

Climbing the STUFF Mountain ( michael )

"You see that mountain up there? One of these days I'm gonna climb that mountain." No, not the Ole Rivers song. I'm talking about the STUFF mountain. The love of my life woke up this a.m. and stated, "We need to go through the back room this afternoon!" I say to myself, "Lord, where did all this come from?" Not only do we have our stuff, we have O.P.S. (other peoples stuff.) How did we become the Keepers of O.P.S.? Don't they live somewhere? Shouldn't they be responsible for there own stuff? How do we get rid of O.P.S.? Do you call them and say, "Hey, how are you? Come get YOUR stuff." And what if they just don't come and get their stuff? Do you take their stuff to them? Do you give it to the local thrift store? Do you put O.P.S. out on the curb??? Is this legal? Sometimes life is tough, and it requires tough love. Yes, we should be nice about it, BUT, we have to get rid of our stuff too. OK, we will start with nice. I gaze upon all of our stuff and think back of how a certain THING came to be here. Do I/WE really need it? I trace back to Toast Floats blogs. "Hale to Toast" With the space and weight limitations of an RV, we must think; how many functions can this THING do? Does this THING hold that much sentimental value? Will LIFE go on without this THING? It is a true blessing to be able to read what other people have gone through preparing to hit the road. Maybe we can avoid some costly mistakes along the way. "Honey, tie off this rope." "Yodalahehoooooo." Where the hell did this come from??? It's gonna be a long afternoon!