Getting Settled - or - Where did all this STUFF come from?

This is just part of the boxes that were emptied today as I found/made/created places to put all the STUFF we have in our new place. What I've learned is that after having lived WITHOUT over half of our belongings for a year, and then having it all again, we still have TOO MUCH STUFF.  When we moved 10 years ago we did a HUGE downsizing. We moved from a 6 bedroom house, with two car garage, and many years of accumulation into a 3 bedroom apartment, no garage, and a small storage closet.  Then when we moved 5 years ago we got rid of a bunch more.  So.... without having accumulated much in the last 5 years how do we now have all this STUFF?  Even my DH is feeling like he still has too much.

I'm filling boxes to take to the thrift stores and have also concluded that when it comes time to move from here there's a lot more that will NOT be going with us. Some will be given to our kids and other things will be donated.

Along with the unpacking, we've been doing some fixing up as we go.  Had to put in a new motor in the fan in the bathroom. Then we searched for the cause of the mildewy/moldy smell in the kitchen (it was gagging me).  Discovered it was up inside the faucet, where the leak also was.  We pulled it out and threw it away and put in a new faucet. Oh... so much better.  We also added some upper cabinets in our kitchen - yep, for all that STUFF I have.  We have a bit more to do on them, but oh my, what a difference they make!

In addition to gathering wood for our woodstove next week, I do hope to start organizing, arranging, and undoubtedly purging things from my sewing/quilt room. It's calling me, but I needed to get the rest of the house in shape first.

We are loving our new place and hope to be here for several years, God willing.