How much is too much?

Do you own your stuff or does your stuff own you? At this very moment, my stuff owns me. It's everywhere, and I do mean everywhere. I don't qualify for the tv show "The Hoarders", but I imagine this is how some of the hoarders started out. It starts innocently enough. I'm going to keep those clothes because I might fit back into them one day. HA HA HA! I'm going to keep that game because we might want to play it again someday. I have to keep the kids artwork because it is so cute and a reminder of those preschool days. They might want to see it one day. The problem is that all of my one days and somedays are taking over my house. I want to look around and not see extraneous stuff everywhere. (that is possible, right?)
We have a garage full of stuff. I have no idea what most of it is. Some people advocate that if you haven't even opened a box in two years, you should just throw it all out. That makes me sweat just a little bit simply typing the words. I have promised myself that before 2009 is over, I am going to go through that stuff. What isn't important is going away. I will keep some of the kids preschool work, but not ALL of it. I will keep a select few of my old clothes, (just in case of 80's days at school-my kids are prepared with my calvin kleins and duran duran t's) The bulk of the stuff is going away.
Hopefully, after I tackle the garage I will be able to move to the stuff in the house. I would love to reclaim our guest room from the boxes that live there now. I would love to organize our craft/office/school supplies so I don't keep buying the same stuff because I don't know where to find it. Wow, that is profoundly sad. and wasteful. I guess that is part of my inspiration. I want to practice good stewardship. That's a word we usually only hear in church, but it makes sense in my situation. I am not taking care of the stuff I am in charge of. I am letting my stuff have a life of its own. It is time for me to be responsible for my stuff. It is time to stop letting my stuff own me. I'll let you know how it goes.