SHOES!!!

I'm getting ready to move to an apartment closer to school so that means a whole lot less space in my new home (if you're not from NY, anything closer to Manhattan = less space). I cleaned out one of my two shoe closets and was pleasantly surprised to learn that there were only 28 pairs of shoes. If all else were right with the world and the other closet holds exactly the same number, that means that I own over 50 pairs of shoes....okay. If you follow me on Facebook, you're probably realizing what I'm now realizing, which is that I did the math wrong and estimated less than 50. I was so proud of myself for owning less than 50 pairs of shoes! Now, I feel indulgent and a bit like the woman who lived in the child who had so many shoes she didn't know what to do. What am I doing with 50 pairs when I wear the same black knee-high riding boots everyday? Well, I split it by season. Over the winter, I have black and brown high-heeled knee-high boots, black thigh-high flat boots, brown, black and silver low-heeled calf-high boots, black ankle-high flat boots, brown slouchy flat boots, two pairs of snow boots, tan and beige wedged, knee-high boots.....and I was super sure that I absolutely needed every single one when I bought it. I also have fond memories of purchasing each one, including casual banter with the sales people/ cashier in the various countries.

How am I going to fit two closets worth of shoes into one closet that must be shared with clothes? I already carefully sat with each pair and discussed with myself the pros and cons of keeping each one. None of them, unfortunately, ended up in the bag of stuff for charity. I said, "Self, will you ever wear those silver boots? What really goes with silver? How, might I ask, are you hoping to make that respectable?" Self had no reply but I can't give them away if I never wore them. That would be wasting money! This, here, is the logic that has landed me in this situation.

So, as I sit, in the midst of my over 50 pairs of shoes, I consider the starving kids in various countries (any will do for this guilt trip) who would love just one of these....to sell to buy food, of course...and I feel awful. Or....I can make a determined and conscious effort to wear my shoes more so that they weren't bought in vain, thus making the world a prettier place. I think I can live with this plan, better. Sigh...my conscience is clear.