De Clutter, De Clutter!

So the real estate agent came by yesterday with the papers. It was initial here, sign there, more initials, more signatures, acknowledgements, and disclosures. I wasn't surprised at all the paperwork, I've done this before. In fact I need to start strengthening my hand in preparation for the eventual closing (Keep it clean people). If I remember correctly, it's about an hour's worth of signing my name to things. But that's not what has had me worried about our big adventure in moving. Neither is the part about packing the things we intend to take along with us, nor all the potential buyers traipsing through our house. No, none of that. What I truly dread is the de-cluttering. After all the papers were signed yesterday the real estate agent gave us instructions on preparing the house for sale. He looked into the living room and said, "You have to de-clutter this room". That's the same room that I thought I had already de-cluttered. "And in the kitchen make sure the counters are all clear. Nothing but the coffee machine and maybe the knife set." he told us. That's when I started to sweat. I know the job we... or rather I, have ahead of me. Mark has over five hundred cookbooks, some that I don't even think he has ever even opened. And then there are the Broadway show posters he collects. Again, over five hundred of them. So tomorrow Mark and I will go out and buy some decent boxes, some bubble wrap, and a good packing tape gun. I'll have to also rent a storage locker someplace. It's very daunting, and I hope Mark is cooperative, because a dumpster would probably be cheaper and easier.