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The Big Box Store Ruined My Love of Self Storage

I have always had a love affair with organization. I am addicted to squirreling things away in appropriate bins and boxes. During finals week when I was an undergrad, I remember always organizing my closet. It was a way for me to feel like I had everything under control, so I could study unencumbered. It was usually a late night binge. 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. You could also pick up snacks, socks, a book and some cheap exercise wear to round out your shopping experience. It is a dream for a girl on a budget. What I did not know back then is that the Target self storage options of my college years would become a whole fad in the retail industry.

Now that I have children, my desire for organization has led me to explore new and fancy self storage options. 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. Our kids finally had a playroom in the basement. Of course, the playroom needed organizing. I noticed this big store called "Container Store" just down the street. Could it be? A two floor store full of stuff to contain your stuff?) (I can hear George Carlin now.) It is a sad commentary on our society when a whole retail chain flourishes because we have so much stuff that we need more things to put stuff 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. I started to panic and get disoriented. TOO MANY CHOICES! Where is that self storage expert? Do you think he has some smelling salts?

I chose 3 lovely linen bins and got the hell out of dodge. I have not been back since. I do not need that many options. I realize now that Target, a big box store itself, was like a gateway drug for the nation. We got our feet wet there, and now have moved on to the need to have an entire big box store for containers or wires or whatever. 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.