If so, what the hell is in there? We've got like, crappy old CDs, nasty-ass blankets, winter sweaters, two belts, a box of candle wax drippings, and some other unidentified crap in ours. Are we the only ones, or what?

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

Answers

I am a HUGE packrat. I seriously try to keep everything. I mean, I'll throw out junk mail and stuff that has never at one point had any sentimental value, but i guess I have a lot of sentiment, because I keep a lot of stuff. Seriously, what do i need with 12 tshirts/sweatshirts from my high school plays and musicals? I am never going to wear them again!! And a heart with my name and this guy Josh's name on it with whom I went to a Valentines Day Dance. Oh, and I can't forget about almost every middle school note that I've ever received! Its ridiculous. I have BOXES of stuff, but no drawer or closet, I only wish!

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

Aaaah! I have the shirts with musicals and band concerts on them too. I also have this shirt that says "Flute -- JUST PLAY IT!" with a bright orange and green neon airbrushed flute on it. One time in college I wore it in public because all of my other clothes were dirty, and my friend Danny told me if I ever wore it again he wouldn't be my friend anymore.

Do I still have it? Yeah you bet I do.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

I'm a very selective packrat.

I throw out everything that has any possible future value. Examples:

• "I won't ever need this receipt again; I'm sure the scanner won't break."
• "This stuff in the big envelope from my bank looks boring. I'll just toss it out.").

On the flip side, I keep things I can't possibly use. Examples:

• The last time Peter and I went snowboarding, he found a little plastic TinkyWinky (the Teletubby) thing. I still have this.
• When my parents went to Australia, they brought me back soap. The wrapping on the soap has a kangaroo on it. I still have this.

I also have a "Useful Stuff I Need Sometimes" drawer, which houses the pens, pencils, exacto knives, markers, stamps, screwdrivers, screws, erasers, paperclips, etc. etc. etc.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

I dont have a junk drawer or closet per say, but the top left drawer of my dresser is sort of a catch all for things I dont know where else to put. In there I have:

My birth certificate, passport, university transcripts, old university student id cards, and old library cards to cities I no longer live in.

Old jewelry boxes containing jewelry past boys have given me (including one engagement ring which I keep meaning to sell and buy a car with....)

Every watch I have ever owned - from when I was 9 to now. I think about 3 of them are Timex (what else do you wear when you are a kid - and Swatches hadn't been invented yet? I had a Swatch too, however, in highschool - the cool see through clear one. Went with everything. Heh).

An old antique 35 mm camera that was my grampas.

A few assorted snap shots of me from various ages - not sure why they are in there.

A pink rabbits foot.

One of those cool silver paint pens. Doubt it works now, though.

A small wicker box filled with old bracelets and necklaces that have gone out of style since the early and mid 90's.

A fabric bag with drawstring that holds my earings I still like/wear, and a few rings. Ok I think I need to invest in a proper jewelry box, no?

Ticket stubs to Broadway plays I've seen with my Dad in NYC.

A few old greeting cards from events gone by that I dont want to get rid of

Box of cheques - probably with an old address on it (or even old name!)

Old creditcards that have expired (maybe I should cut them up)

Past wedding invitations I've been sent.

And a few other things that I can't recall right now. But these are all things that arent so easily "filed away"! Maybe everyone has a dresser drawer for things like this????

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

The biggest packrat I've ever seen is my mom, bar none. She's keeps everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. My mom has a fireplace, and she's very fond of using it (understandably, it gets REALLY damn cold here in the winter). Unfortunately, she's often too cheap or lazy to go out and buy real firewood, so she keeps every little piece of combustible trash she can get her hands on, and throws it into this colossal washer-and-dryer-combo packing box next to the fireplace. Eventually she burns it all. For some weird reason, she also keeps every plastic milk jug, and fills them up with water, for some unknown future water shortage or apocalypse. I don't ask; this is the same woman who puts bowls of water under ever table to make sure the house spirits are appeased, or something.

Maybe in defiance of her weird junk-keeping behavior, I keep as little junk as possible. The old shopping receipts are in the trash almost immediately after the cashier rips them out and hands them to me. Same goes for my bank statements. However, I tend to be a little obsessive with things that have sentimental value. I still have alot of programs from basketball games I played in way back in high school. The old Christmas card box is filling up nicely, too.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000