MAY 17th | TODAY IS:
NATIONAL PACK RAT DAY – I do not think of myself as a pack rat although my collection of Christmas decorations is staggering. I do have a number of unneeded items in my home but pathways are clear and generally tidy. My friend Heather claims I decorate like a Brit with many things to dust. I am definitely not a minimalist.
I did not know, however, that there is an actual animal called a pack rat. I thought that is was merely a nickname for people who like to keep lots of stuff.
The mammal pack rat is a bushy tailed rodent unlike your typical rat with the weird scaley tail. Pack Rats have large pouch-like cheeks that can hold lots of food and other items. They are also known as wood rats.
The human pack rat is not the same as a hoarder. Pack rats are said to buy unneeded items and have areas of clutter. Hoarders maintain clutter to the point that it interferes with normal daily activities.
I am happy to say that we have had a number of yard sales and they are the best way, for our household, to get rid of unwanted possessions. And anything that doesn’t sell immediately is donated to a local charity.
If you aren’t a pack rat, celebrate the rodent. If you are a pack rat, celebrate all your stuff today! And then have a yard sale ……..