I am at once relieved that I am nowhere near this point of chaos, and at the same time terrified that I could get to this state if I do not keep up the effort to conduct periodic purges. The older I get, the more I have experienced regret at parting with various items, everything from the sentimental, such as old letters, to the utilitarian, such as boxes, bottles, or miscellaneous junk when a use for them surfaces and I find they have been discarded. So it grows harder and harder to toss stuff without second thoughts. I become really angry with the "organizers" in some episodes who fling the hoarders' useful and unsoiled belongings into a dumpster rather than use a "FREE" sign at curbside, list on freecycle, or take to a thrift store. Also these "organizers" seem to have no notion of the meaning of sentimental and irreplacable. I think the most egregious examples were talking a woman into parting with a beautiful vintage rocking horse in mint condition that was the first toy she had given her baby son long ago. It was lovely, original, sentimental, and should have stayed as a centerpiece in her livingroom. They would not have wrested that treasure from me, I can assure you! Also convincing a lady to toss her photographic negatives into the trash because she had prints of them in a photo album really took the cake. As if the photographic dyes would never fade or the need for another clear original never surface. My blood boils at the thought. Talk about irreplacable. On the other hand I've lost beloved items in the clutter when I've really let things go - never permanently, they have resurfaced, but it gives me pause. I think everyone has a different comfort level for clutter. When I cleaned out the spare room a few years back, the result was so stark and desolate and I quickly replaced some pictures on the wall and other stuff that I had removed. Now the junk in that room is piling up again and it's time to de-clutter again, but this time I won't be so thorough. My comfort level definitely requires lots of colorful furnishings and an abundance of pet hair (and pets)in every room with most wall space covered with pictures and shelves crammed with knick knacks to feel like home.

They get to my area early. We've had a couple here for several months. I have had as many as 12 in past years. The most I've ever seen was when we were at FlamingO's house. They were everywhere! Of course she has lots of feeders out, many flowering baskets and a beautiful flowering tree (can't remember what kind it was). So the little hummers were in Paradise!

Loving this discussion! My not so favorite comment and one that would get you wasted in no time flat are the variants of "This is a complete gut job" spoken about kitchens and bathrooms. And then there is the dreaded "cookie-cutter" home which no young person wants anything to do with of course. I'm also puzzled that every single buyer has to have an office. Ok, I get that some people do work from home. But it's a universal demand...I mean, are there that many folks who must have a separate complete room to make some phone calls and noodle on their laptop??? The entertaining requirement is a mystery, especially when people are moving to another city...state...country. Just exactly who are these hordes of people you are going to be hosting in a place you've lived in for 2 weeks? I've also grown to expect that they will choose the one house with the fatal flaw, or which is the complete opposite of the style they loudly have said is the only one they will consider. Looking for a modern townhome? Well, guess the suburban ranch is really the one for me! That house that backs up to the freeway? Why that's our dream home, forget about the cottage with the only noise being the babbling brook outside and the birds singing. And the international shows, well I can't help but suspect that the realtor asks the budget, then throws a dart at a board, takes them to whatever hovel it hits on and *surprise* the price is the sucker...um, foreign buyer's budget amount. Really, they will roll up to some dump that is literally falling down with Americans in tow, and with a straight face intone 'and the price is $400,000'. Special props, lord love em, to the American housewives whose husbands have been transferred to wherever and who wander around repeating 'this kitchen/bathroom/bedroom/yard is so much smaller than what we had in 'Murica". And the poor sap guy is always worriedly telling the camera that he has to go along with the missus because she has made such a sacrifice coming to live in wherever. Even if wherever is Paris, Copenhagen, Singapore or other vibrant cosmopolitan cultural center instead of Plano or Cleveland where they hailed from! And yet, I keep recording them and watching them so I'm guilty of supporting this (literal) cottage industry... Ann

albert, I once thought bird watching was fun and then I got hooked/addicted and started feeding them a few years ago. Then I started learning so much about them. Good luck with that. They bring such joy to this crazy world of ours. Hope you continue to post your experiences on here.