Lifestyle: gift wrapping, part 1: boxes

Self-tutoring about holiday lifestyle: the tutor mentions one way he prepares for the holidays.

It’s been a busy fall; two days ago, we weren’t ready for Christmas. Now, we are, more or less. It took one full day of shopping, then one of cleaning, decorating, and gift-wrapping.

It’s sometimes mentioned that I keep things other people might throw away. Perhaps I learned the tendency from my maternal grandfather, whose habit of keeping things my grandmother would throw out concerned her. Yet, I can see his logic.

With Christmas in mind, I accumulate boxes throughout the year – not every one, but an assortment. Through July, I mainly keep ones that are special dimensions or somehow stand out as having potential. Then, starting in August, I begin more earnestly keeping boxes that are shoe-box-size or smaller.

I tend to keep the box collection where other people won’t notice it, since their instinct might be to throw them out.

When one needs a box – for instance, for holiday wrapping – it can be difficult to find. The same is true with a lot of supplies: people see them as unnecessary or just garbage, until they would come in handy. In my experience, it’s best to stay prepared, by keeping such things on hand, even if their function isn’t obvious on November 1.

Last night, gift wrapping, I retrieved six boxes from my stash of them. I was glad to have even more on hand, since the holidays aren’t over yet.

I re-use and re-purpose lots of things. However, to do so, one needs to hold on to them until they’re needed:)

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.