a junk conundrum

It has already begun and I haven't even moved into my own place. For some reason (probably a rule of polite society that was covered in High School on one of my sick days) when people find out you are getting your own place they want to either buy you a housewarming gift or give you their old crap. I am not even in possession of the new apartment and folks are offering me things. I need to come up with a nicer response than "no thanks, I'm not looking for handmedowns."

I know they are being nice but they are not dealing with a college kid striking off to his first big boy apartment alone. I am an adult and in spite of my new financial reality I will be able to afford the few necessities that I require. The thought of having less stuff is extremely calming to me. I once had a fantasy of boiling my life down into a single bag. I'm nowhere near that but less is definitely more at this stage in my existence. I am only going to purchase things that have a purpose. Even the stuff I decorate with will have to make me smile or else it will have to go.

So far I've been offered a bed, three couches, two kitchen tables, a dining room set, various tables from nightstands to dressers to entertainment centers, and a truckload of other things. A goodhearted friend who shall forever remain nameless and will never find out about the existence of this thing even offered me a spare bathmat that they have in their garage. Holy horseshit. If I can't afford a rug for the bathroom then I have no business living by myself.

These are strange times but I have no desire to take a conestoga wagonload of junk on a two state roadtrip. As it currently stands I will have one small car load to take on the 23rd. I'll empty that our whilst moving in, hopefully some variety of sleeping furniture will arrive in that first day or two, set up what I can, then swing down and pick the boy up on Wednesday after his last final to come back and celebrate Thanksgiving here. easy peasy no trailer full of other people's donations.