And I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For...

It has been and interesting couple of days around here - I have been trying to find a copy of my birth certificate so I can send in my pension paperwork. I know I have three of them somewhere, but I cannot locate them anywhere. I have since purchased a fire-safe lock box to put these types of things in, but it doesn't arrive until Tuesday. After that, I will put the paperwork I have into that box so they are all contained in the same place. I am frustrated with myself at this point due to this, but I can always order more, if I need to. The thing is that I know I had them when I renewed my passport, and I have the new passport and the old one, so I know that my certificate was returned at some point, but I just cannot find the copy anywhere I thought it would be. Blech.

I have, however, found lots of other things in my searches through my boxes of stuff. I need so much more space for all the junk that I have around me, but that isn't going to happen. I need to be downsizing. That is difficult for me. So, I will be figuring out some more organization systems to help me prioritize, downsize, and do my best to avoid losing things in my own home.

There are times when I need help with my environment. My home is overwhelming me right now. I need to figure out how to make organizing something easier for me to do and then remember. Labels, color coding, maps all help me know where things are. I have to organize the materials that I have and the stuff that I am bringing home from my place of work in a way that makes sense to my brain and will allow me to find things when I need them. I have to start from scratch with this system, but that is fine. I can do that.

I have taken an organization quiz from Cas at Clutterbug. Her system determines that I am a bee. Bees do best when they can see what they have. Things that are put away are forgotten. Yep, that works for me. Describes me very well. I like having projects within easy reach, and I need to be able to find things when I need them rather than (ahem) having to look for them in all the clutter. We tend to be clutter prone, us bees.

So, here is what I am thinking for my new organization system. Books and music in the library closet. Instruments in the music room cubbies. File folder activities and materials in the boxes in the music room closet. Paper stuff in either the office or the craft areas (depending on what type of paper it is). Important paperwork in the fire-safe box (coming Tuesday) which I will keep in one of the closets. I will list things in my inventory when I put them away in their locations.

Let's hope that I find one of my birth certificates so I can send off my pension application. I still have two months before it is due, but I like to get things done early so I can rectify things if I need to correct mistakes. Time to go searching.

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