Survey #246—Full Response from Gabriella
| Pronouns | She/her |
|---|---|
| Describe ways in which clutter has interfered with your ability to entertain visitors or host guests in your home. | For a long time I used to need to clean for several days before I could receive guests. This has changed in the past years and now I am usually able to clean up in 15 -20 minutes before my friends come to visit. I love having them over. I recently experienced, however, that my apprehension that I might be judged was not altogether unfounded. After a long time, I finally dared to invite a close friend, whom I know to be pretty demanding, as she has commented on clutter or cleanliness problems in the houses of other friends of ours in the past. When I showed her my office, where I'd assembled all my old electronics to be decluttered on top of a cabinet, I saw her frown when she saw it. Apart from the electronics, my office was clutter free. |
| If you could wave a magic wand to make all your clutter disappear or become beautifully organized in an instant, what kinds of entertaining would you like to do in your theoretical “perfect” space? | Have friends over for brunch, lunch or dinner, or for the wonderful German custom of afternoon coffee and cake. Celebrate Easter or "Advent" (the German custom of lighting 1, 2, 3, and eventually 4 candles on a wreath and eating Christmas cookies on each of the 4 Sundays preceding Christmas). Of course I'd love to surprise my teddy bears with home made cup cakes. (By definition, teddy bears are special friends, they are not clutter!) |
| What would you consider the bare minimum requirements you’d need to achieve to get your space into shape for entertaining? | Entry way and living room in default mode (i. e. clean). Dishes done in the kitchen. Bathroom clean with guest towels. The entire apartment not in the state of needing a deep clean. |
| How has your concept of entertaining evolved over the years? Do the materials, equipment, and supplies you possess—such as special cookware, extra tableware, serving dishes, decorations, party games, etc.—still support the types of event you’d like to host? | Since I've begun to ivite my friends over regularly , I have gradually assembled some simple and beautiful tableware, that I combine with a few items of the rather luxurious tableware I inherited from my family. I enjoy putting together decoration themes to suit the respective occasion. |
| Here’s your chance to ask Gayle and Ed any question you’re curious about. It need not be related to this survey’s topic(s). If we think that your question—and our answer—might be useful or instructive to The Clutter Fairy Weekly audience, we’ll share them in an upcoming episode. | I am regularly watching the "Space Maker" channel on Youtube. In it April Scott Tandy regularly helps individuals, couples or families declutter and organize their homes. Most of her "clients" have been American, so far. Lately she has begun to work with Dutch "clients" in Amsterdam. I may be wrong, but I perceive some clear differences in clutter habits and styles in comparison to American clutter adepts. Gayle, I assume you have done online sessions with people across a lot of different countries and cultures. Have you come across intercultural differences with respect to clutter and decluttering? |
| Future topics | "Evolution" of the individual decluttering process: |
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