Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Hoarding: 'Like an alcoholic, it's hard to stop'

By MARY CALLAHAN

There have been times when Clif Williams has gone out in his truck vowing to resist the lure of Sebastopol's thrift stores.

But “like a magnet” the shops draw him in.

“You go in hoping you won't find anything” but succumb to the urge to buy, he said.

After decades of accumulating stuff, Williams has filled his house, yard and several rented storage lockers to overflowing with dishes, tools, clothes and so much else he's not even sure what he has. The 80-year-old said he remains utterly baffled about what drives his compulsive collecting.

But Williams said he hopes he has found the germ of reform in a fire that destroyed a three-story water tower behind his house June 28 and kept about 30 firefighters busy trying to save his overstuffed home..." More

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