Organized? Who….Me?????

Sometimes it seems like a curse and other times it seems like a blessing.  I’m talking about being an organized person.  At least I know I am not alone.  I got the following comment from Kimberly and Jerry from over at Hit The Road Jack,  “You are without a doubt, so very organized.  We always say we are anal when it comes to being organized, but we love it”.  I have to admit….I love being organized just like Kimberly and Jerry do.

But folks, you ain’t seen nothing yet.  I am going to now confess more about my organizing habits.  I maintain a notebook with a series of calendars where I have recorded the RV park or campground we have stayed in on each date.  Then if we liked the park, I may keep the brochure given to us with the park diagram, website, phone number, etc. for future reference if we plan to return.  I keep those in plastic sleeves to protect them. 

We always keep a monthly calendar on the refrigerator where we can record appointments or dates of some significance (birthdays, etc).  I have done this for 35 years or more so I just brought that habit along with us when we moved into the RV. 

I also made a separate monthly calendar for our planned activities with the girls this summer.  I made one for them to keep at their house and we have one on our refrigerator.  This makes it easy to remind ourselves what we had planned for any given day.  So far, it has been very helpful.  I highlighted our babysitting dates so we could easily spot the free days.

                                            This is the activity calendar we will use for August.

The third calendar I maintain on the refrigerator is of my dinner menus for a month.   Also many years ago, I began planning out the dinner meals a month ahead and putting them on a calendar.  This was mainly for my Dad’s benefit when he lived with us because he was always asking, “What’s for dinner tonight?”  So, I developed this calendar habit so he could always look ahead to see what he would be eating for dinner that evening.  I liked the idea very much, so I kept up that habit after Dad was gone.   The menus aren’t cut in stone….we can switch it up if we want to and go out for a meal.

                                            Dinner menus all planned out for August.

There is another added bonus to making a menu calendar.  It is helpful when planning a grocery list for buying the ingredients needed for that week.  I can scan the dates for the week and know what I’ll be needing to purchase for our dinner meals.  But I take it one step further (don’t I always?) and I have a pre-made grocery list all ready.

When I was a busy Mom and worked for our business too, time was of the essence.  I had read many books on home organization and one of them suggested using a master grocery list.  Great idea.  So I made one up and then I printed off several copies to keep in my file.  I used to do that on my old IBM Selectric typewriter…..but now can use the computer.  When it is time to make out my shopping list, I just get a copy from my file and check off the items I need to buy. 

                                            This is my pre-made list checked off with items for this week. 

                                            Here are all 3 of our August calendars on our motorhome refrigerator.

Back in the 1970’s and 1980’s before we had an RV, we took cruise vacations or trips by airplane.  We were working a family business and had a week or two at most to get away for some travel.  Packing for 2 adults, 2 small kids and still being busy with tons of stuff outside the home, I again followed a tip from an organization book.  I made out a master packing list and copies several of those also.  It was similar to our master grocery list.  I put everything on the list I could possibly think of that any of us would need for any type of vacation.  Then when we got ready to pack for a specific trip, I could check off the items we’d need.  When actually packing the suitcases I would then cross off the item to be sure it wasn’t forgotten.  It worked very well and nothing was left at home by mistake.  I do prefer having all of our stuff in the motorhome with us now….no need for packing.

I don’t know if this organizing habit is genetic because my parents certainly were NOT organized at all.  But our granddaughter, Mackenzie, is just like me (poor kid) and wants everything just so on her desk and with her stuff.  Stephanie, our daughter is very organized also, but our son, Dennis, couldn’t care less.  I’ve seen his condo so I know for certain he is not interested in organizing anything.

There could be some help for people like me….Organizers Anonymous….or something like that.  I wouldn’t go to a meeting because just like Kimberly and Jerry…..I love being organized!!!

They say confession is good for the soul so I just had to unburden myself and share with you all.  Now if I could just figure out how to get all of my photos organized in Picasa.  I may have to reread the information on that. 

Until next time…..so long for now!