We choose to have small homes and decorate them sparingly. I am a minimalist for most things, except when it comes to my motorcycles. They are in the house, the garage is full of them to the point you can barely walk around, and I have a large heated storage space with bikes under covers. I also hoard GP two stroke engines, pistons, cylinders, cranks,bodywork, etc, but they are all neatly organized in clear bins with labels and stacked on shelves in the garage. Except for the bodywork. It has taken over the crawl space in the Montana shack.

I used to buy every new electronic/computer gadget that came out, but I've notched that back quite a bit, thankfully.

But I agree, Cliffie, getting rid of the clutter and simplifying is the way to go :)

Other peoples crap. I have that. My attic is full of stuff from my ex and her dad. He is gone and if she does not come for it soon, it will all go to the dump. At least it is not where it is actually in the way.

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They are Silver Pigeons...

When I replaced my battery yesterday, for a moment I considered keeping my old battery and losing the $12 core, just so I could have a spare for random electrical testing. I said screw that, and am glad I traded in the paperweight. Not collecting crap is a conscious mindset that needs to be exercised regularly. If I need a test battery, I will pay $50 for a little motorcycle battery.

I don't intentionally collect them, but i have a bunch of hardback non-fiction books relating to history and the US Constitution. Lots of em.

I have no plans to get rid of them, I figure eventually I'll be able to read them again for the first time ;)

This thread has been a wake-up call for me...I've never gotten rid of stuff...need to change that. Maybe I will...or not....

But I should....anything I haven't used in 50 years....GONE :)

Unless it's family momentos, decorations, or antiques, if it hasn't moved in 2-3 years, and is nothing but a dust collector, consider gifting it to someone, heaving it in the trash, or selling it to someone with more money, and space than you have.

My GF is unable to watch those hoarder shows. She gets physically sick. It has something to do with satisfying a need to be in complete control of at least one part of one's life-one's immediate environment.

Those shows demonstrate how some people become totally helpless; overwhelmed and surrounded by dust, filth and disorganization. It scares her and she is repulsed by it.

You know, when you read Moby Dick the second time Ahab and the whale become good friends.

EdRogers, it will feel very good to sell/give your equipment to someone who will use it.

I know what he means. The book is different because you're not the same person that read it last time. Unfortunately, the older me often thinks the protagonist is a selfish idiot, but some I enjoy and yeah, some I remember liking but not much else so they're somewhat new again. One thing I dread about passing on is leaving my books behind - my family sees books are a good source of kindling. :-)

That would be why it's called fiction.

My cousin has some acreage with a pond that legend states has some fish in it. So we're out there in a row boat testing the hypothesis when the neighbors float by doing the same in their little skiff.

When they get to within earshot I stand up, oar upright in my hand, and holler in my best Gregory Peck voice:

'Ahooy! Have ya seen the white whaaaale?

One guy on the skiff recovered from laughing just in time to prevent his going overboard.

hahhaha..

i once asked this big muscle bound idiot, "hey, you want me to tell you about the rabbits?" his girlfriend laughed, and he looked at me like he was trying to figure out how to pummel me into dust.

books are awesome..but i wouldnt save them.

I sell other peoples crap.

I used to think getting stuff was great until I started being owned by my stuff. I used to be out hiking, biking, skiing, diving, etc. I was always out doing stuff when I lived in a one bedroom and all my possessions lived in a closet. Both days each weekend I was out with my buddies or in the mountains or on some adventure. Now I live on an acre in a 3000 sq ft house with 4 cars, riding mower, 5 bikes and endless stuff. Now that I am "living the dream" I am not nearly as happy as in the one bedroom because I spend more than than half my free time on maintaining my stuff. It owns me. I used to laugh at the saying, Less is more, but they were right. Now I feel good getting rid of stuff. Will keep at it. Good thread.