Decluttering The Cabin

Our family cabin has accumulated things from various family members and friends over the years. Some items have sentimental value, even when they’re not used, and I’m having trouble geing rid of things. How can I decluer a cabin that’s been in the family since my grandparents built it? - Anon., via email

- Daphne Howland

A Decluttering is a mainstay of self-help books and magazine stories, and it’s getting special attention these days with the runaway best selling book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Japanese organization expert Marie Kondo.

While many people find her method extremely helpful – she uses a very clear rule that involves touching an item to be sure it gives you joy – not everyone finds that our American lifestyles, which are often geared toward having stuff, really fit with that. Cleaning out the jumble can get even more complicated when it comes to a cabin or second home that has been the scene of memory-building for years, sometimes for generations and for many different people.