I've stayed off the thread for a while, letting other folks contribute--I think I could camp out here, but I need to spend more time decluttering and less time reporting it!

http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC26/Boulding.htm Here's that link from Thompson.

Chapter 5, "The Economy of Clutter," in Clutter's Last Stand begins:

The well-known 80/20 rule of business says: If all of a given category of items
are sorted in order of value, 80 percent of the value will come from only 20 percent
of the items. Think about that in terms of clutter. Eighty percent of the space
on our shelves (and in our mind) is occupied by stuff we never need. Eighty percent
of our beauty and hygiene routine makes use of only 20 percent of the cosmetics
and potions we have stacked around. (How much of the remaining 80 percent is
junk?) Eighty percent of our family fun comes from 20 percent of the games and
equipment and puzzles we've got jammed into our closets. (How much of the
remaining 80 percent could be junked without it ever being missed?) Eighty percent
of our reading enjoyment and information comes from 20 percent of the material
in our bookcases and magazine racks. (How much of the unopened 80 percent
would we ever miss?) Eighty percent of our home maintenance and upkeep is
done with 20 percent of the accumulated paraphernalia in our cellars and garages.
(How much of the remaining 80 percent is unnecessary clutter?) Eighty percent
of the outfits we wear come from 20 percent of the clothes cramming our closets
and drawers. (How much of the remaining 80 percent could Goodwill get more
use from than we do?) Is this all just fancy business theory? Not on your life! If you
got rid of the 80 percent that's clutter you'd be more than 20 percent more efficient.

I pulled a basket of socks off of a closet shelf yesterday, and with the exception of a few pairs I've been looking for, the rest went in a rag bag (the elastic won't last long in old socks). I pulled a pretty dress that I love the color but never wear because I don't like to fool with dry cleaning and that went to the Goodwill.

SRS