tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post6631709680302286858..comments2023-11-05T02:39:52.642-08:00Comments on Dr Sock Writes Here: Bye Bye BooksDr Sock http://www.blogger.com/profile/13378594360241846301noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post-21249460006321559712017-03-02T23:14:40.618-08:002017-03-02T23:14:40.618-08:00Okay Liesbet, I will put that on my "to do&qu...Okay Liesbet, I will put that on my "to do" list: read fifty books. 😛<br /><br />The thing about items from the past is that they are precious because they stimulate memories of things or events that were important to the formation of self or identity. Or they are reminders of loved ones at earlier stages of life. I fear that if I throw those things away, I will never again retrieve those memories. Just like your teaching materials probably remind you of your teaching life and identity, which is still important to you, even though that is not the current focus of your life. Dr Sock https://www.blogger.com/profile/13378594360241846301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post-46076530653320246292017-03-02T10:16:52.311-08:002017-03-02T10:16:52.311-08:00You better start reading to get through those 50 b...You better start reading to get through those 50 books. :-)<br /><br />While I love to get rid of things and de-clutter, memorabilia are hard to throw out. Most of my study books went to recycling, unfortunately, and every year I visit my parents' attic with some precious boxes of my stuff, I try to get rid of things. I still have shelves full of my teaching materials and lesson preparations. All that work and time and creativity that was invested in it... I know I should get rid of it all, it's not that I will ever teach again, probably, and at least not in Belgium or in the Dutch language. And, these days all those preparations are done on the laptop anyway. Yeah... I mostly just go up there in order to go back to memory lane.Liesbethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13402741679152508367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post-87317483820936669022017-02-05T11:33:02.052-08:002017-02-05T11:33:02.052-08:00B. E., thanks for the tip about Better World Books...B. E., thanks for the tip about Better World Books. What a wonderful concept and organization! Unfortunately, as I live in western Canada, we do not have donation bins anywhere close to here. However, I am donating or giving away all of the books that I no longer need that are in decent condition. The only ones that are going to recycling are very outdated (e.g., Mexico on Five Dollars a Day from 30 years ago) and/or in poor condition.Dr Sock https://www.blogger.com/profile/13378594360241846301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post-34366598427116093302017-02-05T11:26:59.821-08:002017-02-05T11:26:59.821-08:00Karen, it was great to find your blog and begin re...Karen, it was great to find your blog and begin reading it. Somehow, it seems to make the journey less difficult when you find others who are going through the retirement process too, and sharing their insights. I like your approach of looking through your books at yearly intervals. <br /><br />My daughter had a great piece of advice about reducing one's material belongings. She said she acknowledges the purpose the book or other item served at some point in her life, and then she lets it go. She said she doesn't need the actual object/book as the effect of it on her life and thinking still remains. Dr Sock https://www.blogger.com/profile/13378594360241846301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post-43951764691070488422017-02-05T11:09:24.233-08:002017-02-05T11:09:24.233-08:00Carole, thanks for your prediction. Sometimes I wo...Carole, thanks for your prediction. Sometimes I wonder whether my approach of retiring in phases over a long period of time is actually harder than just just retiring cold turkey! It's kind of like inching into a cold lake rather than just diving in and swimming.Dr Sock https://www.blogger.com/profile/13378594360241846301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post-74286806875887510092017-02-05T06:44:20.527-08:002017-02-05T06:44:20.527-08:00FYI. Are you familiar with "Better World Boo...FYI. Are you familiar with "Better World Books." They have donation boxes in some cities, but in general their mission is to "save books from landfills." I have probably purchased several boxes of used books from them over the past few years, but have yet to donate any! That time may come.<br /><br />http://www.betterworldbooks.com/go/donatebooksB. E. Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10055242860133708571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post-47501032531667713902017-02-04T17:23:57.309-08:002017-02-04T17:23:57.309-08:00Jude, I had exactly the same dilemma with what sou...Jude, I had exactly the same dilemma with what sounds like the same number of books! It sounds as if you are handling it beautifully, divesting yourself of what you know for sure you won't ever refer to again after one last squeeze of pleasurable memories from reviewing them. It's fun now, isn't it, to be able to have your outdoor books and other books for this new stage of your life front and center. I'm finding that any other books I still have (and there are still many) are stored in rubbermaid bins. Once a year I go through them again, looking to see if my life has continued to change in a direction that would make them redundant. I still have all of my adult facilitation books because I'm just not sure. I find this kind of review a good marker of progress. <br />You're doing great, Jude. Karen Humehttps://profoundjourney.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post-45165717268412167702017-02-04T15:15:32.759-08:002017-02-04T15:15:32.759-08:00There's a lot of satisfaction in the process o...There's a lot of satisfaction in the process of eliminating unnecessary things in our life. At the same time, paring down our precious books is a challenge! It looks like you are making good progress Jude! <br /><br />It will be interesting to follow along your journey as you prepare to leave the workforce. I remember it all too well. I predict that you will be a very successful retiree! Carolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17237805282007404140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post-86477837065811340722017-02-04T10:13:05.456-08:002017-02-04T10:13:05.456-08:00Vicki, I read lots of newspapers and articles onli...Vicki, I read lots of newspapers and articles online. In fact, that is my favourite way to do that kind of reading. But nothing beats the real physical object when it comes to a novel. Also, I find art books, poetry books, and art magazines much more enjoyable in their physical form. When it comes to cooking, well, I do look up some recipes online. But I also love my collection of cookbooks. They have so many memories attached to them. I also have a folder of hand copied or clipped out recipes that I return to again and again. Dr Sock https://www.blogger.com/profile/13378594360241846301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post-56596074835717813012017-02-04T10:07:18.455-08:002017-02-04T10:07:18.455-08:00Yes, Donna, books are hard to part with unless I c...Yes, Donna, books are hard to part with unless I can find someone who will appreciate them to give them away to. I have had great fun stocking the Little Free Library and the "free books" table at the university.Dr Sock https://www.blogger.com/profile/13378594360241846301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post-51480210632063496632017-02-04T10:04:54.111-08:002017-02-04T10:04:54.111-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Dr Sock https://www.blogger.com/profile/13378594360241846301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post-46260705052442673722017-02-03T17:38:33.979-08:002017-02-03T17:38:33.979-08:00I have never been a huge reader, so I don't ha...I have never been a huge reader, so I don't have that many books. My daughter has hundreds though! She still prefers a book over an e-reader, so we'll have some of the same problems you are facing as we get ready to downsize this summer. She gives books away to our local library for a big sale each year, but we always laugh because she comes home with almost as many as she donates! I guess there are worse problems to have!Vickinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137356124184306084.post-40120744612366043332017-02-03T13:35:52.955-08:002017-02-03T13:35:52.955-08:00I feel your pain, Jude. Books are one of the harde...I feel your pain, Jude. Books are one of the hardest things for me to get rid of too. Good luck with the rest of your downsizing. I have my fingers crossed that your move will take you out closer this way!retirementreflectionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256842249783275416noreply@blogger.com