Garage Organization

I have not posted lately, because we have been in the middle of one of our 'to do' tasks - clean and organize the garage. This is our first garage in a house that we own - we had a garage at a place we rented, but the place was so large that we loaned the garage to a friend who was moving from out of state. So, we have proved the old saying that you expand to the space you have, meaning the garage was very full, or at least appeared that way. Is a garage really meant to park a car inside? Really?

The expedition started with a thought out plan of where everything can go. Right! We pondered (mulled) this for a couple of weeks and made every excuse as to why we should not do it each day - it was too hot, it was too cold, too rainy, too nice to be cooped up inside, etc., etc. But finally, after going in the garage to look for something that I know we had and now could not find, we knew it had to be done now. My husband was between jobs, so we had no money and no place we had to be. No excuses....

First is sorting. That is followed by "What is this?" Followed by "What does this go to?" And then "Why do we have this?" After spending an inordinate amount of time figuring out what things were, we spend even more time getting it out of there. Really, have we only lived here four years? I knew moving in on April Fools Day would come back to bite us!

Next comes the arguing. "Why is this here?" "Do we really need this?" "Have we ever used this?" "How does this work?" "Why did we buy this?" We didn't get as angry as we could have, as we knew this would be a very trying experience for both of us. Nice thing about getting older; we have had the big arguments and we realize that we will probably get the same answers, so we just walk away, cool down and get back to work.

This all took about a week of sorting, organizing, hanging, and tossing. Then comes that proud moment when we can see the floor and there are work surfaces again. When we go to get a tool and it is where it belongs and only takes a minute to retrieve, as opposed to an hour of cursing trying to find it ("I know I put it here - Who moved it?")

So I took some pictures so we can record this great moment in history (the ones below show a little work still to be done). And, so far, we are taking great pains to put stuff where it belongs. If this works, cars will be in the garage - what a concept!

Serendipity

In my previous persona as a NJ State employee, I was responsible for project planning, among other responsibilities. The state had me trained as a "Certified Project Manager" and I knew how to develop projects, illustrate them on graphs, lay out timelines, contingencies, variables, etc. I guess my bosses saw a very organized individual in me and wanted to utilize that talent - or nobody else wanted to do it! In any case, I knew the most valuable resource - and the most unstable resource - were people. I could plot and plan tasks down to days and prepare for every contingency but my human resources would always throw me a curve. So I got good at begging, cajoling, pleading, bargaining, and anything to get the job done. I also got good at generating paper - everything looks more impressive on a long graph with critical points, etc. I discovered most people cannot really read these graphs, or they looked so complicated that they did not want to. So I would get compliments on the graph and it would be placed, carefully folded, into the back of the supervisor's notepad or briefcase - never to be seen again.


I have known many people in my life in bureaucracy who depended on plans and were sure life was better with a plan. I had one friend/supervisor who laid out her life up to when to sell her house and retire and move to Florida - and it worked out for her! She had minor setbacks, but she somehow did not let anything prevent her from her goals. She sold her house within one week (full price and a 250% profit), found a condo the next week, practically planned her retirement party and I believe is very happy with achieving the plan. I do not think she is the type to allow herself to truly relax and is probably planning her cruises, parties and possibly her funeral! I just hope she has not planned when she will 'check out.'
My life here seems to be without a plan and I tend to allow serendipity to determine what gets done each day. I still make lists of what needs to be done - I just do not put time limits on completion. Things will get done when our resources and time allow. If the day is sunny (not many of those lately), work outside. If it is too hot/rainy/buggy, work inside painting rooms, sewing, fixing whatever (something always needs fixing). Tired, not feeling well - nap. Tired of being in the house - go somewhere. The only time I need to plan ahead is when something involves another person, such as a doctor's appointment or visiting a friend. After all, just because I let serendipity rule in my life, I am sure that other people need to plan. I understand both ways.

I am still organized, just not as much with my time. And it seems things get done better now since I do not worry about completion mandates as much. At least not like I used to.