January 19, 2016
This is an update on the status of our first “HUGH” organization project of 2016, in the new house. The project is our large, packed 2-3/4 garage.
The last week of December 2015 I posted in my office a list of the organization projects I was wanting to get done at our new house in 2016. Here are some hints, tips and more about how to go about organizing everything from a kitchens junk drawer to a three car garage. Prior to starting the project we agreed that we were going to be honest about what we did and didn’t really need and if we would use an item in the near future or not. We also had a very good idea of how we wanted the organization of the garage to look like when we were done.
We moved from our two story home of almost eighteen years to a single story with a bit more square footage for medical reasons. The garage at the old home was only a 2 car and when we left it was jam packed. Once we moved the majority of the furnishings that didn’t have a home inside and all of the holiday decorations that were in a 10′ square shed and the yard tools from my 3’d x 6’w shed, it all ended up in the new garage. Needless to say, the new 2-3/4 garage was just as packed if not more. Here are photos of the garage after we’ve been in the home six months.
Garage 2 of 2-2/3
Prior to starting any organization project it’s best to have at least four (4) “empty” boxes, mark them (or use a post it) “KEEP,” “DONATE,” “TRASH” and “FAMILY/FRIENDS.” If your really energetic and have the time you can have a fifth box tagged, “YARD SALE.” I would only suggest going this route if you have time, space and quality furnishings to sell to make it worth your time. Our next step was to pull out the 18 gallon storage containers we had, which we purchased when they were on sell for just $0.20 more then a regular cardboard box from Home Depot or the UPS store. After moving we ended up with 14 empty containers which we are going to use to get rid of the cardboard boxes since we are “technically in a, flood zone”, and I really do not want to be cleaning up wet, soggy, falling apart cardboard to see whats been damaged. After only two long weekends working on the garage we have done I guess about 75% of the clean up / clean out. Most of the boxes that you see in the photos below that are in the middle of the garage hold one of the following, still need to go through, items to donate, waiting for bulk trash pick up.
2 car area 75% done.
The boxes in top left in the photo above are all of Roberts overstocked briefs, bed pads, etc. Below that is all of our family photos, photo frames and videos. To the left of the photo area (still needs organizing) is all of our extra holiday tables and chairs. The pile of white boards in the middle right are closet organizers we used at the old house and do not need (yet) here, so to save a lot of space I broke them down, put each units hardware in a zip-lock bag then tapped it to one of the boards and then tapped each unit together and stacked them, nine in total.
In photo two, we have what will soon be the tool area (the shelving on the left), we also took some cabinets we had and re-purposed them into a crafts cabinet on the left and a car supplies and home/yard equipment cabinet on the right. The plastic tubs on the far right have our kids old games, Lego’s (their mine now), some various school years paperwork or crafts, etc. and some shelving that still needs to be set up. As you can see I am a creature of a spot for everything and everything in it’s spot, well within reason. As long as the tools are back in their area, or Roberts supplies as they arrive get placed with the others, it all saves us time and energy not having to run around searching for something we need last minute, especially if Roberts in the middle of a seizure or if some other event happens. Organization is key when your a caregiver and you have someone, a human being depending on you to be there and to be ready.
Stay tuned to PickYourPain.org for my next organization related blog in two weeks when I go through your computer and some of the ways I have found to stay organized and still be able to find what I need when I need it. “Your Computer and Caregiving.”
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my blogs.
Richard K.
pickyourpain@att.net
iCareTalk.net 