It's March, and the Christmas decorations are finally stored in the attic.
I don't "bounce" as well as I used to, so I recruited my daughter-in-law to help put things away, and to dial 9-1-1 if necessary. (Honestly, it was more to help open and close the attic stairs, but more on that later).
The DIL commented on how large my attic space is, and daydreamed of having a
big game room up there (not happening). Anyway, that got me to thinking, what are the typical items stored in folks' attics?
1. Leading the list at number 1 is Christmas and holiday decor, Halloween, Easter and fall items. I downsized a couple of boxes this year, but still have ornaments, Santa's, Christmas gnomes, garland, and all size trees. Some boxes decided to reside on shelving in the garage for convenience sake.
2. Next, old clothing - seasonal, vintage clothing, or keepsakes. As I surveyed the items in MY attic, this is not currently true but it has been in years past.
3. Furniture - I just don't see myself hauling furniture into the attic, but this would be more practical for those living in a home with a second floor walk-in attic, instead of the pull-down stairs most Mississippians are accustomed to.
4. Family heirlooms. Most of you have seen movies with people reminiscing, and going through possessions in the attic. You'll remember seeing framed prints, old blankets, stuffed animals, etc. I wouldn't recommend putting anything in the attic that can't take the Mississippi heat as summers are brutal and most attics don't have enough ventilation to keep things cool.
5. Boxes of memorabilia, like old school reports, toys, books, or collections. I'm convinced I left a small box of childhood mementos in my last house as I have not come across them in the last eight years in my current home.
If you are moving, it's a good idea to cull your belongings so you don't have to move everything into your next home. You can find lots of tips on downsizing, but if you ARE moving, don't forget what's in the attic!
Now, back to the safety issue, I can't tell you the number of times sellers or homeowners have missed a step and fallen through the attic. If you need someone to hold a ladder, don't be afraid to admit it. Be sure you have proper lighting and watch your step! Broken bones or worse is not worth going solo. If you have to wait until March to put things away, so be it.
Now, what's in YOUR attic?
Image by Matthew Greger from Pixabay
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