When I watch the hoarding shows, it is interesting that some of the reasons people hoard is what I identify with a couple of my members of my family. One kept things because in childhood and the Depression there was so much scarcity and I think it was a comfort to have the old clothes, boxes of zippers, stacks of magazines, jars of buttons, mostly things related to sewing that she could not let go of. The other was more connected to the past and not being able to let go of anything sentimental that reminded of those who are gone - now he is so buried in stuff there are barely paths to walk through rooms. It's sad. I've never hoarded like that, but it does make me aware of the emotional connections I have to vintage items, family keepsakes. There is a limit, though, and some people just don't have any brakes. I have to have clear floors, things I can find, clean kitchen, no old food, etc. I do have one room that is a store room, but it would drive me crazy to have stuff left in my car or a full garage or fire hazards. I think people who get that buried must be very depressed.

Last night one of the new hoarder shows on A&E was of a man born in Ireland and found abandoned as a baby, put into an orphanage, and had no family. He surrounded himself with dolls, "collectibles" and was in financial straights because of how much he spent on his collections in his house. My heart really went out to this guy.
Sir Patrick and his collections (ad is first)

Alice