Ok, I don't really need to write much at all except to post this link. The author/photographer has done a good job with the documentation:

Holy Packrat Batman

This leaves me feeling a little sane. But also curious as hell about what's in some of those boxes... Is that normal?

Bruno

And I thought my dad was a packrat. That's just insane. There's no way I'd still be living there if I were him.

Pure insanity. The commentary was hilarious, though.

I especially like the the fine layer of dust that covered most of the items. I suspect it is similar to the lunar dust that they collected off of the surface of the moon.

I know a couple people like that, but not to this extent. That is very bad.

My place can get pretty messy. But every couple of months I clean it out at least.

EBay addiction can be a serious thing. My mother had a moderate case of it about two years ago. She got addicted to collecting depression glass, but more addicted to the thrill of winning auctions. I'd say there are 20-30 boxes of pure crap that she spent a lot of money on. She never approached anything NEAR this craziness, but she certainly was hooked. It became less about getting anything she wanted or needed, and more about getting a "good deal" and winning the auction.

My in-laws run a side business selling Depression glass (among other things) on eBay. People like your mother probably keeps their business going.

I would hope that someone in my family would have the sense to shoot me before I ever became like that I don't know how a person could live like that.

He really should burn the house down and have his mother commited.

Or at least move out and never speak to her again.

I like his reply to whoever asked what about when she dies...

"I'm pretty much going to just leave the front door open and let people scrounge around."

I don't know how a person could live like that.

I know just a fraction how you could like like that - I saw that thread at the weekend and felt just a little guilty and tidied up a pile of crap and made a list of stuff to eBay "when I get around to it". Then again, it's all stuff I've aquired with a purpose rather than compulsively bought.

I guess if you are buying collectible stuff at least it can be resold again for a minimal loss, possibly at a profit!

Gareth

One word: PAXIL

- trs

I know someone who could top that but they get everything from traditional auctions and not ebay.

If not for people like his mother i would have not made rent last month. I have been relying on people buying all of my crap that i refuse to hang onto in order to get myself though college. I have even started ebaying other peoples crap for 1/2 the profit.

My mom had that same problem. Growing up I had to sleep on the sofa because my bedroom was packed to the ceiling with junk. She would get VERY mad if anyone cleaned because they were “throwing out her good stuff.” Every room had a path, including the hallway. Our house was actually dirtier that that house.

When she died it took a year to remove all the stuff from the house. I could only do it on weekends because I live about 200 miles away. Yes, I could have thrown it all out however I wanted to keep pictures and a few things mixed in with the rest of the junk. Cleaning it out was like a nostalgia treasure hunt. I never knew what I’d find. In one old dresser I found a valuable gold watch in a used tissue.

When I finally had an auction the stuff I didn’t throw out sold for over $7K. I guess to others with this disease.