441: Your Unique Situation Affects Your Clutter Threshold

Summary

Podcast Title: A Slob Comes Clean
Episode: 441: Your Unique Situation Affects Your Clutter Threshold
Host: Dana K. White
Release Date: January 16, 2025

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Introduction

In episode 441 of "A Slob Comes Clean," host Dana K. White explores the concept of the "clutter threshold" and how individual circumstances influence one's ability to maintain an organized living space. This episode features a heartfelt conversation with Bryce, a nomadic traveler living in a fifth-wheel camper, who shares her personal challenges and triumphs in decluttering while constantly on the move.

Understanding Clutter Threshold

Dani K. White begins by defining the "clutter threshold" as the point where an individual's possessions exceed their capacity to keep things under control. This threshold varies uniquely for each person based on their living situations, habits, and personal management skills.

Dani K. White [01:07]: "Your clutter threshold is the point at which you have more stuff than you can personally keep under control."

Guest Introduction: Bryce's Lifestyle

Bryce introduces herself as a full-time camper living in a fifth-wheel trailer with her husband and their dog. Her husband's welding job requires them to travel across the country, staying in their camper for extended periods—ranging from two weeks to six weeks—depending on the project.

Bryce [05:35]: "We live in our fifth wheel camper and travel across the country for my husband's welding jobs. It's been a blast, but it comes with its own set of clutter challenges."

Decluttering Strategies and Challenges

As Bryce transitioned from living in a two-bedroom duplex to a compact camper, she faced the daunting task of downsizing her possessions. Removing large furniture and reducing her belongings were crucial steps to make the small space manageable. Despite these efforts, Bryce admits that maintaining organization in a confined area has been an ongoing struggle.

Bryce [13:11]: "I wish I had found you before I moved into the RV because I felt like I had to keep everything. Downsizing was essential to make the camper livable."

Insights on Decluttering While Traveling

Living in a small, mobile space amplifies the clutter threshold challenges. Bryce discusses how the limited storage in her camper often leads to items being crammed into cabinets, making it difficult to keep everything in its place. This environment makes it easy for clutter to accumulate, especially when unexpected moves occur.

Bryce [23:30]: "I've realized that taking it there now, instead of all at once, has been a huge help in preventing overwhelm in such a small space."

Overcoming Clutter Threshold Challenges

Dani and Bryce delve into practical strategies to overcome clutter threshold issues. One significant approach Bryce adopted is the "take it there now" method, which involves dealing with items immediately rather than postponing the task. This technique has been instrumental in preventing clutter from spiraling out of control, especially in the cramped quarters of her camper.

Bryce [32:03]: "We haven't considered weight before, but with solar panels coming up, we realize how much extra gear we can handle, making decluttering even more crucial."

Motivation and Progress

Bryce shares moments of realization that her efforts are paying off. Listening to Dana's podcasts and reading her books multiple times reinforced her belief that she could effectively manage her clutter. This sustained motivation has led to noticeable progress, though she continues to face challenges with sentimental items and specialized equipment like musical instruments.

Bryce [41:32]: "Hearing your podcasts and reading your books repeatedly has really helped me believe that I can manage my clutter."

Conclusion

Episode 441 highlights that the clutter threshold is not a one-size-fits-all concept but is deeply influenced by one's lifestyle and living conditions. Bryce's journey underscores the importance of personalized decluttering strategies and continuous motivation, especially for those living in unconventional or mobile settings. By understanding and adjusting her clutter threshold, Bryce has made significant strides in maintaining an organized and manageable living space despite the challenges of a nomadic lifestyle.

Notable Quotes

• Dani K. White [01:07]: "Your clutter threshold is the point at which you have more stuff than you can personally keep under control."

• Bryce [05:35]: "We live in our fifth wheel camper and travel across the country for my husband's welding jobs. It's been a blast, but it comes with its own set of clutter challenges."

• Bryce [13:11]: "I wish I had found you before I moved into the RV because I felt like I had to keep everything. Downsizing was essential to make the camper livable."

• Bryce [23:30]: "I've realized that taking it there now, instead of all at once, has been a huge help in preventing overwhelm in such a small space."

• Bryce [32:03]: "We haven't considered weight before, but with solar panels coming up, we realize how much extra gear we can handle, making decluttering even more crucial."

• Bryce [41:32]: "Hearing your podcasts and reading your books repeatedly has really helped me believe that I can manage my clutter."

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This episode serves as an insightful guide for anyone grappling with clutter, especially those in unique living situations. Bryce's honest reflections and Dani's expert advice provide a roadmap for overcoming clutter threshold challenges, emphasizing that with the right mindset and strategies, maintaining an organized space is attainable regardless of one’s lifestyle.

Transcript

[Dana K. White]

Did y'all know that I train and certify decluttering coaches? I'm excited to announce that 11 of my coaches are teaching 6 week live decluttering workshops starting in February. The curriculum is based on the strategies in my book Decluttering at the Speed of Life. And these classes are a fantastic opportunity to learn in a live situation with class discussions and an instructor who can answer your questions. Go to declutteringcoaches.com/class to find a $50 workshop that works for you. That's decluttering coaches.com class. Welcome to a Slob Comes Clean the podcast.

[Dani K. White]

I am Dani K. White.

[Dana K. White]

I share my personal DES lobbification process.

[Dani K. White]

As I figure out ways to keep.

[Dana K. White]

My own home under control. I share the truth about cleaning and.

[Dani K. White]

Organizing strategies that actually work in real life.

[Dana K. White]

Verbal people. People who don't love cleaning, cleaning and organizing. Thanks for joining me today.

[Dani K. White]

This is podcast number 441 I believe.

[Dana K. White]

And I am going to call it. Your unique situation affects your clutter threshold.

[Dani K. White]

So your clutter threshold is the point at which you have more stuff than you can personally keep under control. It's the tipping point, right? Like it's the point where if you can be under your clutter threshold, you.

[Dana K. White]

Can handle your house.

[Dani K. White]

If you have more stuff over your clutter threshold, then your house is hard for you to handle. It's hard for you to keep under control. So it's different for every person.

[Dana K. White]

Meaning my mother has a high clutter threshold. She can handle having a lot of stuff.

[Dani K. White]

She can handle keeping it in the right place and knowing where it is.

[Dana K. White]

And putting it back and blah blah.

[Dani K. White]

Blah, and you know, having a tightly.

[Dana K. White]

Packed cabinet, get out the one thing and then repack it tightly.

[Dani K. White]

Where I grew up thinking I needed to have all this stuff, but I don't have that ability, right? Like I'm not able to handle that much stuff. So it's not about what I prefer aesthetically. A lot of people like, oh, that's evermind clutter threshold. Meaning, like, I don't like it. No, no. I'm saying, what can you handle? And it was hard for me to go, oh, I would like to have these things.

[Dana K. White]

I like them.

[Dani K. White]

The truth is I can't handle that much stuff. I need to have less stuff so that I'm able to keep my house under control. Okay, so your clutter threshold, the only way to find it is to declutter.

[Dana K. White]

Keep decluttering until you get to the.

[Dani K. White]

Point where you can handle your house.

[Dana K. White]

Right?

[Dani K. White]

Like you, you or your home, whatever you live in, which is kind of what we're talking about today. But you. You can't predict it. You can't say, oh, okay, this is what.

[Dana K. White]

This is how much I need to declutter. And then my house will be under control.

[Dani K. White]

No, just start decluttering. Just start in the visible spaces, start with the trash, go through the process, and then you will hit a point where you realize, oh, I can actually do this. It will probably actually be you saying it out loud like that. If you're anything like me, like, oh.

[Dana K. White]

Wait, my house is not out of control anymore.

[Dani K. White]

I can actually do this. Right? So that is your clutter threshold. That's what you're going toward. That's what you're working for.

[Dana K. White]

Remember that.

[Dani K. White]

I always say to declutter to the container first. Like, declutter to the reality of the space first. But if it still feels like it's.

[Dana K. White]

Out of control, even though technically everything.

[Dani K. White]

Does have a place to go, then.

[Dana K. White]

It'S over your clutter threshold.

[Dani K. White]

Then you go with your clutter threshold because the container is finite and definite.

[Dana K. White]

And outside of you.

[Dani K. White]

Okay, so you're just kind of doing that. But the clutter threshold is, oh, it's.

[Dana K. White]

Still getting out of control, even though.

[Dani K. White]

Technically, yes, there is a place for everything. Maybe my house is bigger than, you know, I actually need or whatever, but the house you have is the house you have, and you go, you know what? I need to get rid of more stuff so that there's less stuff to get out of control. Okay, this is a fun conversation that I have today with one of our kindred spirits. And she lives in a travel trailer that for her husband's job. They travel, they're young and don't have kids. And, I mean, there's plenty of people.

[Dana K. White]

Who are not young and do have kids that do the same thing.

[Dani K. White]

But I'm just saying, like, it's kind of one of those, like, oh, that's really cool. Like, how fun would that be to do what they're doing? And it does sound a lot like.

[Dana K. White]

A lot of fun, but there are.

[Dani K. White]

A lot of clutter considerations. And so we talk about her unique situation and how it affects her clutter threshold, not just where she's living, but.

[Dana K. White]

Also what she needs to be able.

[Dani K. White]

To do in her packing up. Like, okay, well, if I have let. Anyway, we'll get into it in the conversation, but I think you're going to love it. It's a really fun conversation.

[Dana K. White]

Don't forget, if you would like to be A member of our Patreon community.

[Dani K. White]

Why did I say it like that? Of our Patreon community.

[Dana K. White]

Go to patreon.com A slob comes clean.

[Dani K. White]

We've added some perks to being a patron of the show and we now.

[Dana K. White]

Have a level that includes ad free podcasts.

[Dani K. White]

That's right, patreon.com a slob comes clean to find out more about being a patron. All right, I hope you enjoy this conversation. Bryce, thank you so much for coming on the show.

[Bryce]

Oh, thank you so much for having me. This is awesome.

[Dani K. White]

I'm so excited. So tell me about yourself. Like what's your unique life situation currently?

[Bryce]

Yeah, so my husband and I live in our fifth wheel camper for almost four years coming March. So we're in our camper and he's a welder, so he welds on a bunch of different power plants. And so yeah, we travel across the country for that and we have our little dog that we travel with. But yeah, it's been a blast. We absolutely love it. Absolutely love it.

[Dani K. White]

So fun. How long do you stay in a certain place?

[Bryce]

It really depends. We've stayed anywhere from four months for a job. This past job he just finished was about a little over two weeks. Some can be four to six weeks. So it really just depends on the job. But we take the summers off so we can relax and stuff because his hours are crazy when he works.

[Dani K. White]

So what do you do in the summers?

[Bryce]

We just travel, see new places and we did. We went to a bunch of national parks this summer up in Colorado and Wyoming and stuff. So we try to branch out a little bit more in the summertime because we've somehow stuck in certain states for work and stuff. Like right now we're in Louisiana for a job and I don't know where we're going exactly next. It's just always kind of just go with the flow and stuff. Yeah. So it's not. We, we love it. At first it was definitely a little of a learning curve, but I think the more we've just kind of let things play out, it's been a lot more fun and manageable.

[Dani K. White]

What's your favorite place that you've been and stayed for a while?

[Bryce]

We love going to Colorado. We like cooler weather. We both grew up in warmer climates. Like know Texas is very hot and so we both love to escape the heat if possible.

[Dani K. White]

Oh yeah.

[Bryce]

So we, we love Colorado. We love Virginia too. We've worked there a couple times with him. Well, I've worked with him on one job in Virginia. And then at the beginning of the year, we were there for work as well. And it's really pretty. It was kind of surprising how you see new places and you're like, I never thought it would look like that.

[Dani K. White]

Right. I do know Virginia in the summer. Have you been in there in the summer?

[Bryce]

No, just in the spring. Just in the spring.

[Dani K. White]

It was. We went one time. And, I mean, I know every place has their, you know, extreme weather, but people acted like it was normal, but it was so humid. Oh, my goodness. It was crazy humid. And anyway, so that was my. It's beautiful. And I was like, I bet you. Other times of year are amazing. But right.

[Bryce]

Like, right now where we're at, it is extremely humid. Like, we have our dehumidifier running all the time. Time. I had to turn it off because it's pretty. It's really loud.

[Dani K. White]

Yeah.

[Bryce]

And so it. It just. Yeah, it's next level.

[Dani K. White]

So what's your biggest adjustment to living in a. A trailer portable home?

[Bryce]

At first, it was definitely figuring out what we needed and stuff, because for me, my, I guess, jobs or careers have changed over the years and stuff. And so that was definitely a learning curve of, like, what am I going to do and stuff, because I have a hard time just, like, sitting still. I need to be doing, like, a project or something like that. But other than that, it really wasn't that big of an adjustment for us because my husband travels a lot. It was more of I get to see him every day versus only a few times every month. So for us, the camper life has been, you know, phenomenal in that sense. So there's nothing really that's different about it, except obviously it's smaller. But our camper is pretty big. I would say it's 34 foot. And we've taken out a lot of big furniture that's made it, you know, feel really bulky and stuff inside. But I mean, now where we're at now, it's very comfortable and doable. So I definitely had to take a while to get to this point for sure.

[Dani K. White]

Yeah. Yeah. That's really cool. That's one of those things that I think a lot of people say, oh, I would love to do that. And you're actually doing it.

[Bryce]

So that's really fun.

[Dani K. White]

Yeah, that's so fun.

[Dana K. White]

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[Dani K. White]

So tell me something that's working well for you right now.

[Bryce]

Well, definitely Take it there now has been a huge I didn't realize how much I don't take it there now. Like a couple nights ago I was cleaning out the pantry and I was listening to one of your podcasts and you were saying it was one of your older ones and you were saying don't pull everything out and, you know, do it that way. And I was doing that as you were saying that and I was like, like, I know better than to do that. And so when I started taking it there now because we're in such a small space when everything comes out, it's just a bomb like went off in the camper. It's just stuff is just everywhere. And that's how I would organize was you had to take everything out and then put it back in. But in such a small space, I would just get so overwhelmed all the time because there was just so much stuff to do. I mean, just stuff everywhere. So taking it there now has definitely helped. Even in a small space. If I was here and I need to put something in the bedroom, I would just put it on the kitchen counter and not take it. And it's like, it's not even a big space. So you would think like, oh, just take it a few more. But I would just not do it. And so they're taking it there now has been like huge for me. And even my husband, I tell him, like, you gotta like finish it, take It. And he's like, okay, so then we. On one of our travel days, you're listening to one of your podcasts. And he was like, oh, I understand.

[Dani K. White]

I love it. Tell him I'm sorry that you make him listen to my podcast. I always feel sorry for the people who are like, I didn't choose to listen to this lady. No, no, I. I think so. What I hear, when I hear that is I'm like, I can totally see myself being like that. Like, oh, it's not that far. So it won't be that far for me to do it later. Right, right. Like, you know, it. This surely can't apply because it's. It's not that big of a deal for me to go. But it's like, it's. That's so what. It's not about, like, it's about completing that task so you don't have to think about it. There's nothing hanging over your head to do that. Do you feel like you have to declutter a lot in your.

[Bryce]

Yeah, I guess that's one of my questions too, is I've definitely decluttered a lot. I mean, I wish I had found you before I moved into the rv, because it was just. I felt like I had to keep everything. I mean, I had gotten rid of a lot of stuff. We were in a two bed, one bath duplex before we moved into the camper. I wouldn't say we had a ton of stuff, but we did have quite a bit of stuff. And we got rid of, you know, all the big furniture and, you know, a bunch of different things. I mean, we. We downsized quite a bit, but it felt like I had to keep everything else. And it was just like it was playing Tetris all the time in the camper. You had to open the cabinet to move five things to grab one thing, and then I didn't want to put it back and stuff. So I have decluttered quite a bit to where it is a little bit more manageable. But still I find myself, like, opening a cabinet and I'm still, like, overwhelmed because I'm just like, I don't know what's going on.

[Dani K. White]

Yeah. Okay, we'll get to that in just a second and you can ask me what you want me to. Was there anything else that you wanted to share that is working well for you?

[Bryce]

Oh, definitely doing the dishes. Because we are very. In a very small space. And so doing the dishes has been huge because I found myself that if I don't stay on top of It. It gets overwhelming pretty easily, and it's only the two of us, but, I mean, I do make. Sometimes I will make meals for other guys on the job. And so dishes accumulate just a tad bit more. And I've realized that if I don't stay on top of it, then it does, you know, accumulate and stuff. And I don't remember which book it was, but when we were talking about dishes math and getting rid of some of the dishes and stuff, I got rid of so many cups and plates, and that helped tremendously, getting rid of the extra cups and plates and everything, because I didn't realize I was like, oh, my gosh, I don't need this much. And it's easier to stay on top because there's fewer. Fewer dishes.

[Dani K. White]

Yeah, for sure. And I'm assuming you don't have a dishwasher.

[Bryce]

No.

[Dani K. White]

Yeah. And so there's, you know, there's that, too. It's a smaller space, but so it's. It means that even fewer dishes are going to take up more of that space and that countertop and all that. So that's great. That's great. Okay, let's go back to talking about what you were talking about before. Okay, so I do have a question. Like, out of the things that you've been decluttering, have you experienced decluttering regret, or have you experienced. Okay, I'm. I'm good with less stuff.

[Bryce]

I haven't experienced regret on decluttering anything. Like, I don't regret anything that I've gotten rid of. There have been some points, like, right now, I would say that I feel like I've kind of hit a brick wall of there's things I know I need to get rid of, but I'm having a hard time letting go of them. Some of them is just because I've changed. I guess you can kind of say careers that I still have stuff from each thing and stuff that I haven't touched in. I mean, there's stuff that I haven't touched since we moved into this camper. Do I have space for it? Yes. It's kind of, like, crammed up, you know, put away, out of sight, out of mind type thing. I know it's there because you're in such a small space, you kind of feel it in a weird way, and I know that it needs to go, but I'm having a hard time letting go of it.

[Dani K. White]

Is there other stuff that you do do need that you feel like you don't have the space for?

[Bryce]

Yes and no. I mean, so There's a cabinet. This massive cabinet here.

[Dani K. White]

Okay.

[Bryce]

Houses like six instruments.

[Dani K. White]

Okay.

[Bryce]

I had a music degree and everything, and I have not. I think that cabinet's been open maybe like twice. And I'm having a hard time letting go of it. Like, I know it's one of those things that like, I. We don't have a storage unit. So what we have is what we have space wise. And I understand that, but I don't want to donate it. I don't know why. Just because they are very unique pieces and I can't throw them away either. And some of them, they do need to be repaired in order to play them because there's a lot of them are strings. So like they need to be restrung and stuff. And with traveling all the time, it's hard to do that.

[Dani K. White]

Well, you just made it a lot harder when you said it was musical instruments.

[Bryce]

Yeah.

[Dani K. White]

I was like, oh, if she says, you know, some of my textbooks from whatever that. But I'm like, oh, no, I've gotten rid of those musical instruments.

[Dana K. White]

Okay.

[Dani K. White]

That's like a. I mean those are high value items. So it's not just about a former identity. Because I'm assuming you could still play them. Right.

[Bryce]

Well, that's that When I bought these instruments, the intention was to learn how to play them and stuff. And then life happened, careers changed and stuff. To where part of me is like, oh, I'll get to them one day.

[Dani K. White]

Bet down.

[Bryce]

Like, I know that one day is probably never gonna like come to do that just because of where we're at now. And same thing with like baking stuff. I have so much baking stuff. I have things to like, take pictures for all that. And I'm still holding on to it now. I don't do any of that. I do a little things here and there, but it's just holding on to those higher items that I know I need to get rid of. That makes sense.

[Dani K. White]

Out of those two things, baking and musical instruments, which one would feel easier to let go?

[Bryce]

Probably some of the baking stuff.

[Dani K. White]

Okay. Do you bake at all in your trailer?

[Bryce]

Oh, yeah.

[Dani K. White]

Okay. But you just have extra things?

[Bryce]

Oh, yeah. So I had a baking business prior and moving into the camper, and so I have all the molds, all the, you know, different fun pans and stuff like that. And they're kind of up out of sight, out of mind type thing as well, like in the top cabinet. And I know some of this space can be used for other things to spread out stuff to where I'm not opening a cabinet and I'm just, you know, trying to brace myself for things falling, but it's just kind of yeah.

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[Dana K. White]

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[Dani K. White]

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[Dani K. White]

Let me know how you like it. Okay? So since you do bake, what are the things that you do use in baking?

[Bryce]

Definitely my kitchenaid a few small pans and a few molds.

[Dani K. White]

So you do use a few of the molds. I mean, it sounds like you could get rid of a lot of baking stuff and it wouldn't be quite as jarring of a thing. Right?

[Bryce]

Right.

[Dani K. White]

Because you do have some that you use and you could continue doing that.

[Bryce]

Right.

[Dani K. White]

Even getting rid of a lot of that if you freed up that space. So the musical instruments thing is hard.

[Dana K. White]

Right.

[Dani K. White]

There are people probably listening right now who are free, freaking out that we're even going to talk about this. Right?

[Bryce]

Right. Well, because I know you did a video a long time ago that you had one of those dragon heads that you were debating about and I was like, that is me. Like I don't know what to do with because they're very unique pieces. They're not like, oh, I can just, you know.

[Dani K. White]

So they're not replaceable is what you're saying.

[Bryce]

Right? They're not replaceable. I'm okay with letting them go. I just don't know what to do with them.

[Dani K. White]

Okay, well, if you're okay with letting them go, is there a reason why you feel like donating them is not an option? I know you kind of said that, but what. What's your reason there?

[Bryce]

I don't know if it's just because I want them to go to good homes, and I think that's what's kind of hindering it is because they are somewhat expensive pieces that I just don't want to donate and they just be trashed in a way.

[Dani K. White]

Right.

[Bryce]

I know I don't have any control over what happens to them if I give them to a good home.

[Dani K. White]

Right.

[Bryce]

But, yeah.

[Dani K. White]

Is it something that you would be driven enough to find a music program somewhere or something that you could donate it to?

[Bryce]

Yeah, I could do that.

[Dani K. White]

Yeah. I hesitate in ever saying that just because a lot of times those are great ideas that we don't follow through on.

[Dana K. White]

Right.

[Dani K. White]

You know, like that. But I do feel like sometimes there's, you know, like, if, you know, you're going to be in Louisiana for the next however long, you know, to just say, you know, I'm going to take 10 minutes right now to look up and email the local music teachers. You know, I don't know, because I can see, like, when I was a theater arts teacher, I might take some of those unusual things and use it as decor in my room even, you know, just for exposure and things, you know, so. So there.

[Dana K. White]

You don't know.

[Dani K. White]

Some people are going to say no. Some people will be all excited about it, but sometimes I'm like, okay, what is the actual thing I could do right now in my moment? I could take 10 minutes, look up some music teachers, send emails, say, I'm going to be here until X date, and I would love to bring them to you if you're willing to do that.

[Dana K. White]

Right.

[Bryce]

Yeah, I can definitely do that.

[Dani K. White]

You know, and then the other thing too is sometimes once you do that, you get more of an understanding of things like, oh, none of these teachers wanted it, or, you know, whatever. And so then it might free you to. To donate it. Which I. I get what you're saying, because if they are something that's fragile and you've seen piles of things in thrift stores and you think, I don't want this thing to be in that pile. I get it. Right. But also there is the reality that.

[Dana K. White]

A lot of times, the best way.

[Dani K. White]

To get it to the person who really, really wants it is through donating. You know what I mean? Like, you know, putting it in that situation where someone can find it. But I would say whatever it is, that's the thing that would let you do that would be, you know, the main thing. And then with the baking stuff to go, it doesn't have to be all or nothing. It's okay. What's the actual cabinet that I can go? I feel really good about, about designating this cabinet for baking stuff. And I'm gonna put the things in there first. You know, my KitchenAid mixer, the molds that I use, the things. And then if there's extra space in there, well, then I can take some of those other ones, my favorite of those, and put it in two. But I'm gonna not keep more than will fit in this one specific cabinet.

[Bryce]

Yeah.

[Dani K. White]

I honestly was expecting you to say you couldn't possibly get rid of the musical stuff. I mean, I really was. You know, I was like, okay, so if. I'm glad that you are able. So I don't want to change, you know, but my answer then would have been, okay, can you clear out the baking stuff, keep what you actually use, and then have that for storage there, you know, just to kind of really consolidate and make.

[Bryce]

Yeah, because we. We want to get. We don't have any solar or anything like that for our camper, and that's something that we're going to add to it. And weight plays a lot of factor because, I mean, we've never gotten our camper weighed. I know we should. We're bad RVers, but I know we're underweight, but the solar and all the stuff that comes with it weighs a ton. So I know that a lot of stuff needs to go because I still want to stay under what we are and so forth. Like, realize that. All right, some of this stuff needs to go. Then if that's the case.

[Dani K. White]

Okay, how do you get it weighed?

[Bryce]

There's cat scales. If you go. Some of the gas stations will have a cat scale, like truck stops and stuff. I've seen some on the sides of the freeway, like on interstate, you can pull off and you can get weighed and stuff there. Like, 18 wheelers will do that. But we've never done it. I know a lot of RVers are. You have to get weighed and stuff. We've just never. Because we've taken a lot of stuff out of this camper that weighed a ton. So, I mean, we had recliners and balances, and everything's all gone. Well.

[Dani K. White]

I mean, honestly, the next place that you go to saying, we're. We're gonna stop and weigh. I mean, like, even just that is like a container concept moment. Right, Right. Like, of a. Oh, this is how much we weigh. This is how much the solar stuff is going to weigh. This is the weight that I need to get rid of. And, like, that's the container concept in what's more important to me, I really want these solar panels because they will make life easier. So comparing solar panels to instruments that I don't actually play, you know, might. Yeah, might be the thing that makes it, like, easy to get rid of that. Because that's the goal of the container concept, right. Is that it takes the emotion and all the what ifs out, and you're just like, oh, here's the facts. This space is this size, and it just changes things and changes how I view things.

[Bryce]

I think the solar panels really put a lot of things into perspective of willing to get rid of stuff. Because at first I was like, I'm just gonna hold it. I'm just gonna hold it. I'm just gonna hold it. And slowly have added more. Slowly added more baking sticks. I was like, oh, this is a cool mold. Put it up there. Never. Never used it. And some of them are, like, a lot of them are Christmas stuff. Well, the past few Christmases, something's happened to where I haven't been able to use them. And so now I'm like, okay, well, maybe just keep one or two and get. Get rid of the rest.

[Dana K. White]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dani K. White]

I mean, the thing that you can do right now is look at those with fresh eyes and say, what is it that I am willing to get rid of? Are there any of these instruments that I'm like, okay, this one actually does need to be donated or whatever, you know, like, is there any in there that I could go ahead and do that.

[Dana K. White]

Let me sit down for the 10.

[Dani K. White]

Minutes and do the research and find, you know, the. The closest nearest by music teachers, you know, like, those things. And getting that out just kind of is like getting you closer to that goal of being ready for the solar panels and then on your next trek through, you know, say, we're going to look it up and we're going to find a place to, you know, put it into our time to. To weigh so that I can have the actual math, which is so Funny, because I've. I know there are a lot of people who love to do decluttering challenges, which I'm not really into decluttering challenges because I usually rebel against them, but. But I've always, you know, seen ones where people are like, weigh your clutter and know how much, you know, weight worth of clutter. And I've always been like, huh, what? Yeah, but with your situation, I'm like, oh, actually, it totally makes sense for you.

[Bryce]

Yeah, it's definitely. I mean, we've never really considered weight just because of. We think, oh, we've taken out a lot of stuff, we put it in, we should be fine. But then facing. With the reality of the solar panels coming up, it's like. And the. The people who are installing it, they're like, have you guys gotten yourselves weighed? And we're like, no.

[Dani K. White]

Yep. So, yeah, it's kind of one of those things. It's like this thing that's the unknown. Like, if you've never done it before, you're like, yeah, there's this and this. I've heard about those. And you're like, how does that actually work? What do we do? What do we. Knowing that, oh, okay, we're. This. This is the thing we have to learn how to do and get it done. So what's something else you want to talk about?

[Bryce]

Stuff Shifting?

[Dani K. White]

Yeah, kind of.

[Bryce]

And a lot of it, too. I've realized how I guess bad I have it, in a way, is whenever we move the camper, because I do have to move stuff to where. I mean, I have gotten a little bit better at being quicker at it and stuff, to where stuff's not going to either break or fall or anything like that. But I want to be able to do it to where I can have everything packed up, slides in, everything within an hour. Just because there are some times where we have to move suddenly or, you know, something happens where we have to move. And so I want to be at that point. And I see myself a lot whenever the slides are open, I'm like, there's just stuff everywhere. You know, either nothing has fallen out, but it's just stuff that's been on the ground that I put on the ground. And it just kind of gives me overwhelm of. All right, I don't know what to do from here.

[Dani K. White]

Yeah. Is it necessary stuff, or is some of it not necessary?

[Bryce]

I guess some of it is necessary. Like mugs. Like, I wrap them in a blanket because I don't want them to shatter and stuff. And there's a few things that I'll just kind of maneuver and make it lock in place to where it's not gonna move and stuff. But I would say some of it is, but it just seems like a bigger mess each time the slides open.

[Dani K. White]

Yeah, I mean, it's almost like, okay, that is your clutter threshold. Right. So whereas, you know, I would say the five minute pickup is the, the goal for, you know, a general living like, of if I can get it under control in five minutes, that I'm good with my clutter threshold. For you, it is more than just everyday stuff.

[Dana K. White]

Right.

[Dani K. White]

Like it's actual packing up and doing all that. So it's like the hour worth of packing and getting mugs wrapped in blankets and stuff like that. That's your clutter threshold thing. So it's like I would like to have this, that and the other. But the reality is that will add time to my pack up.

[Bryce]

Right.

[Dani K. White]

And so even though I like this display item or whatever, we just can't in this situation because our clutter threshold for this situation is that I need to be able to get it under control for living in five minutes, but I also need to get it packed up to be ready to move in an hour. And so it's like, it's almost like you're looking at items according to the time that it would require during that hour.

[Bryce]

Yeah, that makes sense because there are some. Now that you say that there are some, like I don't have a lot of decor stuff because when I'm just not a decoration person, I've tried and just not for me and I've gotten rid of a lot of decoration stuff. But there are some things that if I know we're not going to be there for a long time, I won't pull out. But at the same time I should probably just like get rid of them. If I don't want to pull the decoration stuff out then. Because like you said, it is time now that I'm looking at it.

[Dani K. White]

Well, it would cut out on time and so it could hurt. But it's like, am I willing for this to be part of that time or by getting rid of it then I know that I have, like, if it's actually gone gone, then I have officially cut off a potential 15 minutes of pack up time.

[Bryce]

Right.

[Dani K. White]

Like that can't even happen because those things don't exist in this space anymore.

[Bryce]

Yeah, no, that makes sense.

[Dani K. White]

But it's hard. But it's the ma. You know, some, again, it's kind of like that it's the container concept. It's the clutter threshold, where you go, okay, accepting this reality isn't fun. But it also, yes, I can by definition, make packing up easier.

[Bryce]

Oh, no. I mean, I've seen what the difference has made just like, to this point right now because I would just get so overwhelmed in the camper that for me, I feel like I can't really start anything until the camper's clean or at least like 95% clean. And it would just take me forever to get it to where I wanted it to be. Then I could start doing stuff now. It doesn't take me that long to where, you know, I feel more at ease coming in. But still, there's that little bit that makes me kind of.

[Dani K. White]

Yeah, yeah, well. And it's also one of those things where you're like, I know that we're moving in a week. That's like extra motivation on the five minute pickups.

[Dana K. White]

Right?

[Dani K. White]

It's so that it's kind of like that whole. The layers of a clean house, you know, it's. It's like I need that one hour to be only the actual stuff that deserves to be here as opposed to, you know, dealing with clutter or catching up on daily things.

[Bryce]

Especially because I don't. I think we will be moving within a week. So maybe that's motivation to get some stuff out.

[Dani K. White]

Yeah.

[Bryce]

Yeah.

[Dani K. White]

I mean, really, it's like if I. If I do, I. You know, what if I get rid of this, I don't have to pack it up, you know?

[Bryce]

Yeah. And I'm. I realized that I'm kind of the opposite. I'm like, oh, I'll just wait till we're at the next place. Or I'll just wait until I'm at the next place and we'll wait until we're at the next place. And I've been hauling stuff around for four years that hasn't been touched.

[Dani K. White]

Oh, I can relate to that. So hard. For sure. I mean, because that is the natural thing. Like, oh, I'll know better next time. I'll just figure it out next time. Oh, whatever. But you will never have to shift it around. You'll never have to deal with it if it's gone. So.

[Bryce]

Yeah, because, I mean, I grew up with. You kept everything. Like, everything had sentimental value to it. Like, why would you get rid of something like that? And so it's definitely taken a lot to get rid of and be at this point, but I think I just need to move on.

[Dani K. White]

Well, it sounds like you've made so much progress.

[Bryce]

Oh, no, yeah, yeah.

[Dani K. White]

You've experienced the benefit of that and you've probably naturally gotten rid of some stuff just because of the forced, you know, relocations and moving and packing up and all that. But it's like, okay, I'm going to make all of that easier and you'll really appreciate it because you've been through so many times, right. You know, having done it with too much stuff. So. So is there something else you wanted to talk about? I know we kind of went out of order a little bit.

[Bryce]

That was pretty much it. Kind of like the main, I guess, thing, because it's just been. I guess I've just been putting it off of, like, I'll just wait till we're at the next place. At the next place. And this summer we've moved around a lot more than usual. And so I was like, I'll just wait till, you know, the next one. Instead of, you know, now with the solar panel in the picture, it's like, okay, this got. Some of this stuff's got to go.

[Dani K. White]

Yeah, yeah. That's really good motivation. Well, tell me what you love about being a kindred spirit.

[Bryce]

I think nothing is you won't get judged for how you deal with stuff because everyone deals with their things differently and how people feel like you're not going to be shamed for feeling certain things about your stuff or how your place looks or anything like that. And so it's just kind of. Everyone understands. And even though some people are at different points and stuff, either, you know, far along or just starting, everyone's been, yeah, it's nice to see that you won't be judged for thinking certain things or where you're at.

[Dani K. White]

Right, exactly. I think that that's what's so. To me, there's nothing more disheartening than feeling like you've made progress and then somebody telling you that's not enough progress, you know, and so just the reality that we focus so hard on, like, every bit of progress is worth it. And people look at their own space and other people's spaces that way. That. That's really, I think, really powerful.

[Bryce]

I had, you know, read certain books and watched a few people before finding you, and it was kind of disheartening because it felt like something that wasn't attainable. And it was like. It was like either all or nothing type thing. And that was very hard for me. And I just felt like, I just can't do this because, you know, it's just I'm Never going to get to that point of how their place looks or how they do certain things. And so with your methods and stuff, it's very attainable. And even for what I've done so far, it's feels like a weight's been lifted, even though there's still some stuff I need to get rid of.

[Dani K. White]

So what do you remember your first moment of realizing, oh, I can actually do this?

[Bryce]

I think it was kind of a culmination of everything, of watching your videos, the podcast, and reading your books. And for me, I guess I just need to hear it 5,000 times over and over again and thinking, okay, like, I can definitely do this. Because at first I was like, oh, like, I already do the dishes. Like, no, I didn't do the dishes. Thinking I did do certain things. And I'm like, no, I don't take it there now. And then when I would catch myself, I was like, oh, my gosh. Like, I don't take stuff there now. Like, I should. And then I saw, you know, how it helped me, you know, now, yeah, I think that.

[Dani K. White]

That I'm always so big on, like, go ahead and try to prove me wrong. And I'm not saying that it was like a try to prove me wrong. I'm like, you will learn so much more by proving to yourself that it does or doesn't work. It does, but, like. But just try it, you know, like, even if you're like, this wouldn't work for me. Okay, well, then you're going to know that for sure if you give it a shot. So, yeah, that's great. Well, this. Anything else that you want to talk about?

[Bryce]

That was pretty much it. It was just kind of that big thing of what to do and clutter threshold and stuff. Because I didn't really realize that clutter threshold was a thing until when you were talking about it and stuff. And I was like, oh, my gosh. Like, because I grew up with parents who have a lot of things, you keep all your things. And it was just very overwhelming and stuff. And I didn't realize that until you were talking about it. And I was like, wow, Like, I cannot keep all this stuff. Like, I just can't. Can't do it for myself. And, yeah, that part has been very helpful in realizing that.

[Dani K. White]

Right. And clutter threshold, it's affected by your life situation, you know, like, you're in a unique position of clutter threshold because you literally don't have a shed and a yard and anything that's, like, attached to the ground, you know, to Just keep things forever. So it's like, this is your reality and the fact that you have to be ready to move and you're wanting to make that process easier. I'm like, that clutter threshold is different where, you know, at some point when you decided to. If y'all decide to, you know, live in a regular house, your clutter threshold would be different. It'll be the same principles, but it'll be, you know, it'll. It'll adjust according to, you know, what you can handle in your current unique situation, so.

[Bryce]

Right.

[Dani K. White]

Well, this is so helpful, I think. This was so fun, and it's so interesting. I mean, I'm just so. It sounds really fun. Like, do you like the places where y'all. Like, what kinds of RP RV parks do you stay at?

[Bryce]

We. I mean, we call them blue collar RV parks. They're very basic. They don't have a lot of amenities, just basic hookups and stuff. But, I mean, we absolutely love it. We've. We don't really do resorts just because, just for us personally, we don't need all that stuff. We rather just have a place to, you know, have full hookups because we are living in it full time and it is our rent in a way.

[Dana K. White]

Right.

[Bryce]

But we've absolutely loved it. And for us, after this past summer, with moving around so much, we did have to pay more of a premium for certain RV parks. That's why we're doing the solar, to kind of cut back on the cost and stuff of it. But, I mean, it's been absolutely. I mean, yeah, the stuff we. We did this summer of, like, Yellowstone and the Tetons and stuff, we're like, man, this is awesome.

[Dana K. White]

Oh, yeah.

[Dani K. White]

Do you usually have a place like that has a little bit of yard where you can sit outside or.

[Dana K. White]

Or not?

[Bryce]

Sometimes. It really depends. Like, right now, like, I could. The. The guy next to me is so close that if you probably. If we stuck both of our hands outside, we could probably, like, give each other a high five. But sometimes there is a little more space. Sometimes you were literally, like, right next to each other. That is kind of all right. Keeping the blinds closed and stuff.

[Dani K. White]

Right, right. That's so fun. Well, that's really fun. I think that's great, and I love hearing about it. So thank you so much for doing this. I appreciate it.

[Bryce]

Thank you.

[Dani K. White]

Wasn't that fun? Isn't she fun? Like, she's just a very. I don't know. Just feels like we'd be friends. I always feel that way about all of my kindred spirits. But anyway, yeah, if you want to.

[Dana K. White]

Find out more about being a patron of the show, go to Patreon P A T r e o n.com A.

[Dani K. White]

Slob comes clean and find out more.

[Dana K. White]

Find out about the level that includes.

[Dani K. White]

Ad free podcasts and how that works. But don't forget to couple other things if you're listening to this on the day that it comes out, you still.

[Dana K. White]

Have time to grab take your house.

[Dani K. White]

Back before the all day declutter on Saturday the 18th. And I think you're gonna love that jump start to decluttering here in 2025. It's such a great focus day. People love it. And also, don't forget my new book comes out February 11th that's coming up in less than a month now and you can find out more about that at Slash Jesus. That is my new book, Jesus doesn't care about your messy house, which is the spiritual side of this desalobification process for me. All right, I will talk to y'all next week.

[Bryce]

Bye.