Clutter vs. claustrophobia: who will win?

Advertisement

The Northwest Corner of Connecticut has had its share of bone-chilling cold, coupled with strong gusting winds lately. The combination that Mother Nature has thrown our way has made it tough to be outdoors for any length of time.

I do enjoy short hikes in area nature preserves such as Pond Mountain Natural Area in Kent or the Great Mountain Forest in Norfolk. There’s nothing like connecting with the Great Outdoors but the opportunities have been limited. Sure, I could head out into the wilderness, but wearing a football helmet to avoid a direct hit from a tree branch as I walk by in strong winds isn’t my idea of relaxation.

Consequently, I’ve become much more housebound in recent weeks and a Polar Vortex that can’t stay within its usual boundary doesn’t help the situation. Long stretches inside my house began to take a mental toll as I struggled to fill time and ward off growing claustrophobia. But then I found the answer right in front of me in new-found activities.

For instance, when was the last time you took the cushions off the couch and cleaned inside all those crevices? You’d be surprised at what you might find. Sure, there were the expected tufts of hair from Max, my dog, because he’s allowed full access to the furniture. And there were also bits of salted peanuts (my favorite), popcorn, pretzels and a few M & M’s. Now you have a good idea of my diet when I’m watching a movie on Netflix during the evening.

I didn’t stop there though. The hours continued to melt away as I turned my attention to cleaning the drawers of nightstands, cluttered with old batteries and remote-control devices for electronic devices from long ago. I also found a portable phone for a landline that I haven’t needed for at least five years. For some reason I can’t persuade Spectrum to take that extra $22 a month off my bundled package bill. Nothing like paying for something you never use! 

I can’t even begin to tell you how many hours it took to clean out my sock drawer. It made me wonder why there were so many socks missing to make a pair. Good warm socks, too—socks I could use whenever I’m able to get back outside. But I didn’t dwell on the past because soon I was on to cleaning and arranging the food pantry. 

A recent shopping list left for me by my wife (she still works so it’s up to me to keep the cupboards stocked) included baking soda and mustard. Well, it’s a good thing I was on pantry patrol because we already had FOUR boxes of baking soda and two jars of mustard. There’s a savings right there! 

Behind a can of creamed corn, deep in the back, I also discovered a can of sliced beets that had expired in May 2018 along with a thick bar of Baker’s chocolate that had begun to fade in color because it was 18 months past due. I was still tempted to try a piece, because I love chocolate, but decided against it.

Now there’s much more room for all kinds of staples yet to be purchased. I did decide not to arrange the different foodstuff alphabetically because I figured that might signal that I’ve lost my mind as I continue to bide my time until the weather moderates.    

I do get out from time to time, traveling to Davis IGA to pick up my weekly six-pack of Diet Coke or heading to the post office for some stamps. Whatever my schedule calls for, I always make sure to set aside time to take a nap. So important to get my rest with so many indoor things to do. The rattling of the bedroom windows from yet another day of high winds puts me right to sleep. 

But all my hard work has come with a downside. With so many accomplishments in my rearview mirror, I’m running out of things to do and I’m starting to get more than a little nervous. And with no end to the cold and wind in sight, my anxiety level is ticking higher. I need to get outdoors more and soon to keep my sanity—even if it means taking a walk in the woods with a football helmet in hand. 

Dave Dunleavy was a longtime reporter and columnist for The News-Times in Danbury. He lives in Kent.