Who was the worst pack rat you ever saw in your life?

Question

Friend? Family member? Did you try to change them? Successful or not? How did you deal with it?

Look up "pack rat" on wikipedia.org if you're not familiar with the term.

Sorry the wikipedia entry should be "compulsive hoarding".

Answer 1

My in-laws, without a doubt. There is literally just walking paths throughout their house. You cannot walk next to someone else at any point. There are places where stuff is two layers deep along the wall.

When my MIL's parents died, they inherited the house. They moved in, but didn't get rid of any of the furniture (or knick-knacks). They also moved all of their possessions in. My MIL even keeps the original box of everything buys! Since all of my MIL's family stuff is there, by FIL feels justified in taking anything his mom offers him, too. Neither of them want the other person's "junk" in the house, and they refuse to get rid of their own "heirlooms". It seems to be a power struggle, now.

We gave up on trying to change them. We just don't go over there often, as we feel overwhelmed by all of the junk. We can't let our kids roam free, either, because there is too much stuff and nothing is safe to touch. I am honestly afraid one of the piles will fall on one of the girls and crush them.

Answer 2

My piano teacher from my childhood. Our lessons were at her house, so we saw all she had...and boy, there was lots! At that time, she was in her 80's, maybe late 70's. She still had a papier mache zebra she had made when she was a girl in school. "I'm still going to chelac it!" she would say. (Spelled wrong, I'm sure..chelac is supposed to be the glazing step.) In addition to the zebra, there were stacks upon stacks upon stacks of newspapers, and some magazines, too. She had so much stuff, in fact, that she couldn't even sleep on her own bed. She slept on the couch, usually sitting up, I think. She also ate every meal out of the house. She could not get to anything in her kitchen, even if she did want to cook. What a pack rat! I loved her dearly, though, God rest her soul.

Answer 3

Thank heavens I am not one nor is anyone in my immediate family. My former boyfriend and one of my best girl friends have siblings that are pack rats, very bad! The boyfriends had her committed to a mental hospital at one point, but it didn't help at all. The other has a brother and the health department has issued orders that he has to clean up because of the fire hazard as well as a health issue. She worries all the time about his place catching fire or him being evicted. He has made a path through his place, but it is terrible. I don't think you can change them at all. They need continued, moitered mental help.

Answer 4

My dear mother was (God rest her soul) she kept EVERYTHING! Sometimes gifts she received and did not want she would give them as a gift to some one else. Even the wrapping paper they were wrapped in she would use again. Greeting cards, newspapers, magazines, etc.. the list goes on and on.

Myself on the other hand am a neat freak. But one thing I can say about my mom she was a recycler.

Answer 5

My mother-in-law

My husband trashed most of her unwanted things out once and when he went back to visit her, she had collected more stuff - this time it was triple the amount, so we just gave up - she is wired that way - can't change her.

Answer 6

I work for one. you can't see her desk for all the junk. you can barely walk in her office for all the magazines and newspapers. (we work in a library.) if we complain loud enough and long enough, she might remove some of it, but it just gets worse. a yo-yo hoarder...she loses some, but gains even more!

Answer 7

The homeless, never tried to change them , no money to make them happy enough, but would like to see them sucessful. One can bless them if able with what they need and just deal with their way of living.

Answer 8

Meeeeeeeee.... I have OCD and hoarding is one of my biggest problems. What if I need it later!!!!!???!???!!