How crazy you just started this thread, BTD....last week I took the first tiny steps towards getting rid of a mountain of stuff. I began scanning my papers. I have always saved sentimental letters, receipts, notes, you name it, in shoe boxes. I have about 10 of those boxes, as well as bigger boxes with bulkier items, and I'm sick of them. I love all the memories though. So I decided to take LashStoat's advice and scan/photograph it and get rid of it. It's a much more modern way to be a packrat, I figure.
Not only did I just start that last week - I just got an email from an old friend that she's doing the same, and wants to meet in a month's time to swap scanned photos that she originally took with *gasp* a film camera. Must be something in the air...