At least once a year I like to “clean out” my clothes closet.

I read about a trick a few years ago where you hang up your clothes, on turned around hangers, at new years. Then, when you wear an item, the next time you hang it up, turn the hanger the correct way around and … after a year or so, any of the clothes that are still hanging backwards, you can donate or toss out.

After all, if you didn’t wear said clothing in a year, the chances of you wearing them this year, are slim.

You would never know much I love to toss shit out, if you look at all the shit in our house. Even though I like getting rid of stuff — apparently, I also like keeping stuff, so I thought the hanger thing would make it easy as pie to sort through my closet.

I found a small problem with this plan though. Silly as it sounds, I have what I can only call, “emotional clothes.” I have clothes that spark memories.

Besides, I wear the same clothing, pretty much everyday. Not the exact same thing… I do wear clean clothes, but I have several black turtle neck shirts, several pairs of jeans and several sweaters. I keep these clothes on a shelf in my bathroom, and not in my closet.

So while, I do change my clothes, I don’t change the look. I like the ease and simplicity of my “wardrobe.”

I suppose if I had a job and had to get all gussied up, it would be a different story, but I don’t, so it isn’t.

Still…. I have a closet full of clothes, and the hangers have been turned around since we moved to Sechelt three years ago.

I keep thinking, I’m not getting rid of them because, I might need to wear a dress or skirt or buttoned up blouse… one day.

It would be a real shame, if I followed the rule of tossing out what I don’t wear, just when I might need to wear something. And, well, nothing sounds worse to me, than having to go clothes shopping. Ugh.

So, once again, I kept the dress, the skirt, and the buttoned blouse…. just in case.

The new and good news is, I actually put a few things in a bag marked for the Sally Anne, but it was hard. The outfits I decided I could let go, I will probably never wear again. Probably.

But… I love them. I’ve had them for a while… they still fit, are only a little faded, and, oh the memories they hold. So what, if I bought them at the Saturday Market in Eugene, Oregon in the late 80s. They are awesome, I wore them a lot over the years, and come to think of it, I still might.

Memories around clothes? Yup, I have a lot of good memories wearing theses outfits, and as I write… I’m changing my mind.

Maybe I’ll try again next year. After all, I have plenty of room in my closet, and so what if all the hangers hang backwards.

So what? Call me Alice, I don’t care!