I’ve referenced the vast wasteland of my filing and storage “system” before. For those of you that don’t know what that is, here’s a precis:
Once a preset-yet-undetermined number of objects has been reached, I purchase a bankers box, then proceed to put things in it. At that point, I may or may not label it, and place it in a location that may or may not make sense.
I don’t have a name for this process, although Julie has offered the best candidate so far, which is:
“Being a dick to your future self.”
And she is so right.
I count 77 boxes as of this writing. And that count is only based upon boxes that I can see. Also not included are rubbermaid boxes that I borrowed specifically for this move.
I’ve started the process of unpacking / sifting / unearthing, and found a box of credit card statements from 1999 in a box labeled, “FINANCIAL STATEMENTS & STUFF 97 – 02”
I know where I was exactly five years ago today.
I don’t necessarily know what I was doing at those locations, but I do know that I was there.
November 15th. In one day, I managed to make it to the WalMart in Germantown ($73.25), the Toys R Us in Rockville ($95.45), and the Whole Foods-then-Fresh Fields in Tenleytown ($14.96). Astounding, because I don’t have a car. Also astounding because I spent more on consumer items and toys than on actual food.
Other transactions hold other clues to what happened in my life in November of 1999. I visited my cousins in New York City (train ticket purchase) for Thanksgiving. I was also apparently still on the Magic: The Gathering crack wagon, as evidenced by a low dollar purchase at one of the now defunct Wizards of the Coast retail stores.
I can tell who I was dating at the time by atypical purchases at locations like Filene’s Basement. Also indicative of who I was dating at the time is the amount of money spent at restaurants.
My PalmPilot usage was also apparently at an all time high, because I purchased some software for it. Today, I function more with my phone, laptop, the tiny camera, a pen, and 3 x 5 index cards.
Just reviewing these documents at a glance, I can only imagine future archaeologists getting so screwed trying to get a picture of “typical” turn of the century America using my receipts.