Yesterday two of my objectives collided. I’ve been hyper-focused on my first objective, which is to get rid of stuff and organize what’s left. So I haven’t been thinking much about my other objectives, especially the last one, which is to make better use of free time.

At the start of each summer Bob and I usually make a list of places we’d like to visit and things we’d like to do. And by the end of the summer we’d checked off very little. This year I’d decided not to bother, not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t want to be bound to a checklist. Last month we bought a Wildlife Conservation Society membership, because we love the Bronx Zoo. Yesterday they had a special members’ evening, so instead of choosing my 33 wardrobe items, I went to the zoo with my family. It was great to do something spontaneous, and we had fun. And now I’m rethinking my summer list. Even though the summer’s halfway over, I’m going to suggest that each of us choose two things we really want to do before school starts. I felt a little guilty for not working on my project, but only briefly.

Today I worked later than I’d expected, so I still haven’t finished choosing my 33 items. This process is a lot harder than I’d anticipated. Thirty-three items seems like a lot, but it’s really not. This period will take me through until the middle of October, which I think will be good timing because the weather will start to cool quite a bit by then. So I need work clothes for warm and cool weather, and casual clothes for warm and cool weather. My workplace is casual enough for cropped pants but not casual enough for jeans.

Most of my pants, minus what’s in the laundry.

So I chose seven pairs of pants: one pair of jeans, one pair of cropped jeans, and five pairs of cropped pants. I’m hoping I can wear the cropped pants to work until the middle of October, but if I have to swap earlier I will. I was having a really hard time because I felt like I needed to give away the stuff I’m not going to wear. Reminding myself that I’m not doing anything permanent was helpful. I have two pair of pants I wear hiking and I’m trying to decide if I want to count those as exercise clothes or not. I don’t otherwise wear them.

Pants for the next three months.

I was into scarves way before they were popular, and today for the first time I counted them. My collection consists of 29 scarves in a big range of shapes and sizes. I wear some more than others but I love them all and have had many for almost 20 years. Since it’s warm I decided to chose 4, but I haven’t picked them yet.

First and last time they’ll ever be this neatly folded.

I need to add shorts, work shirts, casual shirts and shoes. My jewelry collection is kind of large so I’m not going to include jewelry this time around, but I might try to pack some of it away anyhow.

I really, really want to come back Friday and say I’m done. As much as I like clothes I’m a bit over this, and want to begin working with my pared-down wardrobe.