When possessions become a curse.

[Cort Haus]

I'm beginning to suspect that the purchase price of something could almost be negligible compared to the cost of storing it long term.

Obviously in some places this won't apply, but anyone who is feeling the squeeze on the old Lebensraum will know what I mean. I hope.

[notyoueither]

Yep.

Not only that, but when space is relatively cheap (it is here, but going up too rapidly) a lot of stuff feels like an anchor.

I loved being young and travelling light.

[Jon Miller]

I need to get rid of some of my stuff. I mostly have books and games.

Jon Miller

[Jon Miller]

The quote from that post: "Possessions increase to fill the space available for their storage.
-- Ryan "

Jon Miller

[Aeson]

"Stuff"

Everything I own I can fit in the trunk of my car... er... that is if I still had a car.

[Jon Miller]

I have lots of books, lots of games, some computers, an electric piano (which I no longer play well), a bed, lots of clothes, and lots of old classwork/any other scrap of paper I have ever had.

I don't want to give up the electric piano, I still dream of playing it again. I still buy the books, for some reason I haven't touched libraries recently... (although I find it annoying to wait, often). I really will never play many of the games I now have... I always think I will go back, but I don't even have time to play the ones I bought recently (or am still paying for, like MMOs).

Jon Miller

[Dis]

I used to be pretty light when I first went in the navy. But I just started accumulating more and more electronic stuff. I never even had a PC until 1995. Bought a sega genesis in 1994. a tv in 1993. A stereo in 1994.

I have several more PC's now I need to get rid of. Isn't there a place to recycle PC's and other electronic equipement?

I also have lots of PC games and some books, not a lot, but some. And my furniture. A few other soveniers and gifts. appliances. my house.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Aeson
"Stuff"

Everything I own I can fit in the trunk of my car... er... that is if I still had a car.

This is the direction I would like to be heading, though not perhaps the extent.

I have books, CDs, videos & DVDs, old computers and boxes of assorted wires and cables and old modems and cards. I have a collection of boxed boardgames going back some decades with lots of sentimental value.

On the musical side I have two bass guitars and an acoustic, various amps and speaker cabs and an oldish keyboard. I also have some obsolete recording gear that is only really good for throwing out.

I want to cull my books, but collections from favourite authors from the past were so lovingly acquired and devoured at the time, and various technical books going back to college 20 years ago on Cobol, Pascal and Fortran might actually be usefull again one day. Or will they? What about the manual to Corel Draw 6, or Excel 97 - they should go. Apache? Too recent to kill. Powerbuilder 5.0? Director 7? Director 8.5? (Lost the licence code).

[MOBIUS]

Re: When possessions become a curse.

Originally posted by Cort Haus
I'm beginning to suspect that the purchase price of something could almost be negligible compared to the cost of storing it long term.

Obviously in some places this won't apply, but anyone who is feeling the squeeze on the old Lebensraum will know what I mean. I hope.

I have a spare garage if you need some storage...

[Starchild]

Stuff is great. Possessions are the only true love. Partners break your heart, friends get lost, relatives grow old and die. But material goods? They'll outlast you and ask nothing for their eternal love save what you think they're worth.

Particularly the plastic ones. I've got stuff that still be shiny when I'm dust.

[Cort Haus]

Starchild, that is a very depressing and jaded view of humanity, and a very strange personification of the inanimate. Things do not love you, only people can.

I admit, when I was very small I thought that my teddy bears had feelings, but this is usually something one grows out of, no?

[MOBIUS]

Originally posted by Cort Haus


This is the direction I would like to be heading, though not perhaps the extent.

I have books, CDs, videos & DVDs, old computers and boxes of assorted wires and cables and old modems and cards. I have a collection of boxed boardgames going back some decades with lots of sentimental value.

I'm definitely going minimalist these days (multiple moves/travelling in the last 6 years does that!), the important thing with too much stuff is how to get rid of it. I found a combination of eBay and recycling stuff was the best way! eBay has netted me a few grand in the past few years with selling on a lot of sentimental stuff (gaming, comics etc), then there's ca$h Converters shops for a few quid or car boot sales (AMAZING what CRAP people will buy!) and with the rest of the stuff that didn't/wouldn't sell, there was always recycling in the form of libraries/charity shops/clothing bins etc... For big old stuff like manky furniture etc, there's websites like gumtree or charities that take your furniture to give to poor people - then you can also get your council to take your crap away for free!

These days I have a bare minimum in the house in terms of books, CDs, DVDs etc due to the draconian measures above. Who needs it all with the internet these days? Plus our library service is so good if we want a new book we request it and they order it in within a few weeks - I think between us we've requested about 50-60 books, CDs, DVDs etc in three years (assuming they don't have them already), and haven't been turned down yet! I think the most valuable thing I have in terms of possessions is photos, and those are gradually being uploaded onto flickr as a safety net - after that, there is very little I couldn't bear losing...

I want to cull my books, but collections from favourite authors from the past were so lovingly acquired and devoured at the time, and various technical books going back to college 20 years ago on Cobol, Pascal and Fortran might actually be usefull again one day. Or will they? What about the manual to Corel Draw 6, or Excel 97 - they should go. Apache? Too recent to kill. Powerbuilder 5.0? Director 7? Director 8.5? (Lost the licence code).

I still have a rump of sentimental stuff (games, comics etc), though it only fits into a couple of small boxes, as for my technical books I found I hardly used them anyway so I donated them to the library - plus I have access to Cardiff University's library, which kicks arse for computer books!

Go minimal, it's such a great feeling getting rid of your crap - especially if someone pays you for it!

[Starchild]

Originally posted by Cort Haus
Starchild, that is a very depressing and jaded view of humanity, and a very strange personification of the inanimate. Things do not love you, only people can.

I admit, when I was very small I thought that my teddy bears had feelings, but this is usually something one grows out of, no?

It's wonderful being jaded. The world never fails to come up with justifications for your outlook on life.

[DanS]

Getting rid of stuff is very good for my state of mind.

I would like to live very simply. Sometimes successful.

[Blake]

When I see the thread title I can't help but think "I don't really see how random demon possession can ever be a good thing".