I got stood up like three times this weekend by the same person (well, ok, I had varying degrees of advanced notice and excuses, but still). It was awesome.
I really want to get a
Wiki like
Tom’s. I think it would be better for the way I think and would allow people to help me develop my ideas. Here’s a thought fragment (not to be confused with real writing) I’ve been thinking about a little. I’d like some feedback and will try to hatch it into a more readable cohesive do-hickey at some point...
topic: stuff
when I say stuff, I’m talking about stuff on a more specific scale: things; as opposed to abstract concepts like the stuff with the things. You know, like books, furniture, cooking utensils, etc. That shit you have to drag around the country when you move. Or give away or sell.
The idea
Trying to pair down stuff. Have less stuff, get more out of life. It’s not an idea that will meet much resistance in theory (I think most people would agree with it), but in practice it is difficult.
Personal experiences
Before I went backpacking in Europe, I read some books, they all agreed on one thing: pack light. I took that advice to heart and was super happy with the results. It was very liberating to not have to worry about much stuff, I was able to focus on what was more important.
Dave is great in this regard. He doesn’t have lots of stuff – he has everything he needs though.
I started thinking about this when my parents basement actually got full. And full of lots of stuff we hadn’t looked at in ten years. My sister and I had to convince them to get rid of all this stuff. It was around then, and right after backpacking though Europe that I had to pack up all of my things for my move to Baltimore. I noticed the packrat in me as well. I have too much, and lots of it never gets used. But it’s laziness, and frugalness to an extent, that keeps us from going through our things and clearing them out. Right now I still haven’t gone thorough and weeded out the junk as I’ve been meaning to. I have been able to cut down on acquiring new things though.
Books are one of the worst things, it’s very nice to have your own book, but then you keep it, and it’s really hard to let them go. And they’re heavy. My goal is to use the library for all non-work (professional reference) related material. Using the library would also have the double benefit of making me finish books I start in a timely fashion.
I had a bizarre experience when shopping at
IKEA. I was debating between two nearly identical chairs. For at least 20 minutes (ok, much longer). It seems so ridicules to me later – which one I picked didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, even in the medium scheme of things.
One possession I am keen on ditching is the car. What a time and money hole. I know I’m not really going to settle down somewhere if not having a car is infeasible.
applicable quotes:
Fight Club: "Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate, so we can buy shit we don't need. ... The things you own, end up owning you."
Less applicable: "You're not your job, You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your fucking khakis. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world."
