If Martha could see my cubicle, she'd say, "It's sad that some people have to live like that. I guess they don't know any better."

(Same goes for my house, probably ...)

no, she wouldn't, Harriet--she'd say, "get rid of this stuff! Clean that! Organize this! Get some shelves in here! It won't take that long. It'll make a huge difference."

Martha doesn't waste any time pitying people--she just orders 'em around.

She'd be irritated with me, but not really be able to give me any concrete suggestions to fix the problem. She wouldn't have a response for the fact that I had to dumpster dive my desk, chair, and old student desks used as tables. She would get irritated that I couldn't organize myself when I came to work and found my office moved somewhere overnight because "they needed the room." I just never found my system for my work space. Too much was out of my control most of the time.

I find it difficult to get my work space at home to function well. I'm still caught in the vertical/horizonal piler quandry. The same space needs to function while I spread out papers for the grants I'm writing for our Irish Dance non-profit. I need to sew ties in this space. I need to keep my stash of books in this space. My sewing supplies in this space. I've got bookshelves, but the room is only 8 feet wide and 25 feet long. I can only get so many shelves in and still have room to walk around my sewing table.

Oh, well. It's the best I can do right now and it doesn't interfere with my ability to get done what I need to get done. It's still a cozy place I've got decorated with things I enjoy.

Gloria

I'm a science teacher, so I don't have an office. I try to keep things fairly organized, though there are days when I have papers piled on my desk for lack of a better place to put them (because they have to be returned/handed out, etc). I usually even have it neat on lab/activity days, though last Thursday there were beans all over my floor from an activity simulating owl survival (parents had to feed "owlets" beans using forks as talons). I don't think Martha could say too much considering my profession (7th grade science, btw).

I try to be uncluttered for my sake, so I don't lose things. Plus, I don't work well in a cluttered area. I don't think as well when clutter is around.

She wouldn't have a response for the fact that I had to dumpster dive my desk, chair, and old student desks used as tables.
Actually, she'd think that was great, but she'd have all sorts of suggestions for painting them the same color, and covering the scarred tops with leather, and stuff.

Or, if that's the office, she'd have the VP of facilities on the carpet for not giving you proper equipment to do your job! (you should see OUR facilities team!!)

vtchewbecca, your science room sounds like fun!

Martha wouldn't like it. I use the "guest" room as an office, with a long desk with computer, etc. on it, two chairs, a bed (just in case GD comes), file cabinet (piled with photo boxes), marble-top dresser with computer stuff in it, cedar chest with heavy, large doll house and 2 file boxes on it, boxes under the bed, and papers, notebooks, and Christmas decorations in the small closet. The top of the bed is covered with papers and notebooks, and frankly I can't find anything. Maybe that's why I sit at the computer and read email, Home Forum, and play games. Too discouraging.

I dunno ... not much you can do with industrial beige fabric walls, industrial beige and blue psychedelic carpet, chewed-up industrial beige office chair, industrial beige laminate desk top and computer (at least everything matches!) in a space approximately 7' x 9'. I do have three golden pothos plants, a cat calendar, a New Yorker poster, and some office memos for decoration. And lots of our books (I'm a book production editor). It's not really messy; I just haven't been able to do anything to make it very chic. I was thinking that even Martha would throw up her hands, though you're probably right, she wouldn't expend any pity on me.

Oh, and she wouldn't throw up her hands, LOL!

She has a suggestion at EVERY turn. Even a storage closet that looks decluttered, tidy, and well-labeled, is "badly organized!"

I have seen one of her offices--it's not chic at all. It's VERY bare and utilitarian. Big table for a desk, a wall full of shelves and drawers, and that's it. No art, no fabrics. Very spare.

My cell was nicer than that....