Drowning In Stuff -- <=>?

[gansky1]

Read an interesting article today on the NYT website and then stumbled across a TED talk on the same subject. With the popularity of the Hoarders & Collectors -type shows all over the TV Machine and the constant battle many of us have with ourselves, our partners and families about this subject, what have some of you done to curb the urge to acquire more and more stuff? Get rid of things you don't use? I've been trying to do this and seem to be good at gaming it out in my head but then have some difficulty following through. The best laid plans... We did have a garage sale at the beginning of May but when it was all over, I didn't feel the "joy of purge" that I'd expected, which of course is my own fault.

I thought the (possible) correlation of refrigerator magnet & clutter to overall total of "stuff" was interesting in the NYT article.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/garden/an-anthropologist-on-hyper-abundance-and-the-american-home.html?src=dayp

 

[frigilux]

I'm brutally disciplined about getting rid of things that fall into disuse. Of course, that means I've jettisoned a couple of things I wish I still had, but overall, it's been a good policy.

Aside: TED talks rocks.

 

[norgeway]

I Guess!

I really am somewhat of a hoarder!! but I keep on hauling it in, even though you can barely walk in the building! LOL!

 

[petek]

I'm really really trying to downsize and reclaim our basement because right now I have too much "stuff" and it is beginning to look like hoarders. I have managed to give away a few vacs and other small appliances. What I would love would be for people to come into the house and take something out with them. I've gotten tired of the Ebay selling, having to box things up and ship it. 

Some days I"m at the point where if I woke up in the morning and went down to the basement and found it empty I'd be absolutely thrilled. 

 

[thomasortega]

@petek

Well, I can help you, if you want.

I can visit your basement while you sleep. LOL!

 

[philr]

I'm drowning in stuff but you couldn't guess it by my refrigerator magnets as I have only one and it's not even on the door!

 

[thomasortega]

Now seriously, it made me think...

I'm having too much stuff. Nothing serious, but I think it's time to start getting rid of some things.

 

[stan]

You know

If you are a hoarder!

Maybe it's easier to admit it here?
My advice (from someone who has had to deal with MORE than one hoarder in my life) is to stop trying to control where the next HOME for the "stuff" is going to be!
Try looking at the bigger picture, that is.... it dose'nt matter!!

And to ask yourself if you care more about the "stuff" than you do about the person-s, loved ones around you that are affected by it!

You, and you alone are the only person that can truthfully answer that question! The answer is probably that you do really love the "stuff" more!

 

[polkanut]

Hans,

I would love to visit your shed sometime!  I'm sure I could find a treasure or 3 in there.

 

[abcomatic]

Hoarding

Well? Maybe I am to an extent? I asked several friends about that and most said the same thing. I hoard music, pages and pages of it, books, old sheet music, out of print things mainly. It is in boxes under the grand, upstairs in a huge file cabinet, in the attic and don't forget all of the piano rolls that I have for the player. In cabinets, in the garage,in the attic.
Washing machines? Well, I have 6 rooms in the basement, 2 with dirt floors (think 1897) and a furnace room. The other two have 7 wringer washers, 2 Maytag automatic washers, and two dryers. Yes, more room for washers for sure. Oh, don't forget the ABC wringer and the Hoover spinner in the kitchen.
Oh, I forgot one huge pipe organ. I guess I also hoard pipes. Some in the dining room, upstairs, under the bed in the guest room, in the attic and in the garage. A set of chimes that I haven't installed yet that are in the corners of the guest room. I guess I have enough stuff? Am I certifiable? lol Gary

 

[goatfarmer]

we all are.....

...hoarders in one way or another. I'll see something discarded, and say "I have a use for that". I can't stand to see something useful thrown away, or something vintage discarded. That's probably why I have 9 roundtop refrigerators, in storage. I will never need 9 roundtops. But they were free, or low priced, most work, and they should not have been scrapped.