If you wear your walking shoes you can build up quite a wind-building activity this way. Over time the duration of feeling able to do it increases, and the thought of firing up a CD to keep you company spontaneously occurs.

The only warning I would add to this strategy is that in some of our homes, especially with books piled on the floors, Watch Out for the Tripping Hazards! Kick a clear path first. ;-)

This whole decluttering process itself is interesting, but worthwhile only if I continue to make actual progress. Otherwise I'm the hamster in the wheel, still in thrall to STUFF. I have things I want to be doing, but I'm still (and will be for a while) tinkering with this clutter.

I've identified a couple of bigger things in the garage that I planned to eventually put in the house, but I don't think it is ever going to happen. And truth be told, they don't match anything in the house, so I'm going to cut them loose. The main one is a futon frame that holds a double mattress. We got rid of the mattress before bringing the frame down because I was told "people sat on it so much it will be lumpy to sleep on" (I should have kept it, all I was going to do mostly was sit on it). But that kind of mattress (it folds in thirds, not half, and is custom made) doesn't seem to be easily found here. I think the frame will go. The dogs chewed on one end of it which won't be visible if there is a mattress on it but makes it harder to sell at a garage sale. Donation to Goodwill. It still works and it is very nicely designed. The damaged planks can easily be replaced. Someone will get a bargain.

Maybe I can get that in the truck this afternoon. After my run to the recycle center. And I think I'll donate the backboard for the basketball hoop. Now to get that post out of the ground. . . I'm inspired to work outside more now. My first two irises bloomed today, a blue one and a dusky yellow. Beautiful!

SRS