My Love Affair with Self Storage Has Been Cheapened by the Big Box Store

I have always had a love affair with organization. I love putting things in drawers and bins and having them out of the way. In college, I would reorganize my closet around finals time. It was a way for me to feel like I had everything under control, so I could study unencumbered. This usually happened around 10pm and could last well into the morning. I lived in a sorority house with lots of other women, most of whom loved a weekend trip to Target (or "Targe," as we would call it). Target offered a ridiculous amount of color coded multifaceted self storage options. And, while you were there, you could also get make up, frames and underwear. It is a dream for a girl on a budget. I had no idea that the self storage desires of the country would eventually create an entire retail arm of bin and box mania.
I am a parent now, so my self storage needs have become more complicated. There seem to be loads of little tiny wooden, paper and plastic pieces all over our house at all time. In my effort to corral those items, I have tried any number of receptacles. You name it, and I have tried to store something in it.
My self storage monster was fed when we moved to a new house. We now had a playroom with shelves. Of course, the playroom needed organizing. There was a "Container Store" about 2 blocks from our house. An ENTIRE store full of things to put your stuff in? (I can hear George Carlin now.) How can it be that we, as a nation, have so much stuff that an entire big box store has sprouted up to offer more stuff to put all that in? I ventured in and was overwhelmed. A self storage representative greeted me and pointed me in the right direction. I was in way over my head, in spite of my years of sorority training at Target. I walked past trash cans that looked like frogs, collapsible laundry twirlers, acrylic boxes for paper clips. My palms were sweaty and I was getting light headed. HELP! I JUST NEED SOMETHING TO PUT TOYS IN! Where is that self storage expert? Do you think he has some smelling salts?
In the end, I walked out with 3 medium linen baskets for toys. I have not set foot in the store since my purchase. I find I do not need the pressure. Target, once an innocent place to romp and play and get organized, was one of the big box store pioneers. We got addicted to the multitude of cheap options and now must have an entire store dedicated to even more specific cheap options. The big box store has ruined my love of self storage and bins and boxes. I might have to learn to weave my own baskets. See More Portable storage . Storage .

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