This seemed to be the week of people getting organized, finally overcoming the overwhelming bedlam they call their homes, or their closets, or their minds, or their life.  Organization is a wonderful thing but I prefer puttering. Puttering seems to prevent any overwhelming anything.

The earliest meaning of puttering was the action of poking or prodding something repeatedly or to do something idly to pass the time.  I don’t use puttering to pass the time; I live in a constant state of puttering.  To me it’s not about being lazy but to move through my day at a slower pace, change direction on a whim, zero in on a nagging bit of something or just catch up to myself.  I could do this for a few minutes during my work week, or for a few hours when I get home from somewhere, or for an entire weekend.

Some people are deliberate in their puttering setting aside a certain amount of time or relishing specific days to putter like Monday holidays.  Some formal putterers wear particular “puttering” outfits or eat specific puttering food, never a full meal but something a step above snacks.   Others have rules for puttering.  I even read about someone finding themselves in a period of “puttering prayer”.  Not fully engaged but turning their attention to God in the moment and then carrying on with their day.  I kinda love that, just sayin.

For those people in full on chaos puttering will have to come later, although my Sister has a method that is working for her.  What bothers you the most, do that.  Repeat as necessary. I’m an organized person and a world class putterer, kind of the Martha Stewart of puttering.  When I’m in putter mode I have no set goals, no specific rules, no deadlines I simply relish the act of puttering.  The only thing I might turn to during a languid  turned energetic act of puttering is a good play list; The Big Chill soundtrack comes to mind.

Here’s how it might look.  Early mornings on Stowe Lane look the same every day, dog walking, dog feeding, nutriblast (or I might not see a vegetable all day) and latte.  Every day, no deviation it just works.  As I’m drinking my coffee something might catch my eye, like the spice and stuff corner of the kitchen.  Maybe they need topping off, maybe they need rearranging, maybe I might want to clean the canisters.  You see what I mean.

That done, relax with a book for a while or catch up on TiVo.  Perhaps start the wash and then decide to change the sheets.  With a little help from Toto that might take a bit more time, so why not make another cup of coffee and take it to the deck.  Lina and Toto enjoy the deck too, coffee finished and I can continue on with the sheets.  It’s carefree, it gets done, everyone is happy.

So while the laundry is going I’ll go back to the deck and catch up on some work.  I could work all day everyday but in these fits and starts I can pace myself and not even notice how much I’m working.  After a certain amount of time or the completion of a specific task I feel free to daydream a bit. The imagination needs moodling, inefficient happy idling, dawdling and puttering said Brenda Ueland.  I couldn’t agree more, as I’m moving through some of the puttering I do feel like I’m dawdling but things are getting done, things I didn’t realize needed doing until just moments before. It’s quite efficient in its inefficiency.

And one’s imagination does get rolling, so much so that I have to jot things down periodically so they’re not lost.  Little tidbits of this and that for a post or didn’t I have a picture that might work for something?  You see there is truth in imagination being unleashed in a clear mind. All of that done, sometimes I just sit.  And think.  Or doze.

Or pop up and take a photo walk.  Why not?  There’s always something interesting happening nearby on my beloved Stowe Lane, or the farmer’s market, or a fair, or someone’s garden.  You never really have to walk far but somehow I don’t even notice I’m walking when I’ve got my camera with me.

In the end there are many upsides to puttering.  There is a relaxation that comes over you, then a sense of accomplishment even if it is just rearranging the spices or one shelf in a closet or making a grocery list or throwing out all the expired medicines or discovering a new color, or talking with everyone in the neighborhood.  Because there’s no pressure to do any of it.

Everyone should learn the art of puttering.  If you don’t think you’re capable, find someone who can teach you.  I read somewhere that every neighborhood has a world class putterer with too much time on their hands that will gladly  join you under the guise of teaching.  We can never get enough.