I have been purging for about ten years, and yet I still have a lot of stuff. We are currently in the process of moving and I did not need a driveway bin. It probably helps that I don't have the sentimental gene in my DNA, so I feel no obligation to keep things that are meaningless to me. Having read about Swedish Death Cleaning, I had purchased about 100 clear bins so whoever had to deal with my estate, would have ready made boxes to pack everything in. They have come in very handy for moving and now I can just keep everything in the bins and store them on shelves in the basement. Most of it is overstock - 20 of everything I might use like lightbulbs, etc. It feels like I won't need to buy anything for the rest of my life, except half and half, fruit, vegetables and meat. Moving is hell, but it feels like being given a second chance to live like a sane person. No more buying in bulk, no more Armageddon thinking. And I have dropped most of the hobbies I've had over the years. I want simple, simple, simple - like Thoreau. I made a note to pack for future me, which is very different from the previous versions of me. The addition phase happens when you are young - the subtraction phase should happen when you age. A lot of seniors neglect this. The kids of my friends are dreading the death of their parents because of all the crap they have that nobody wants. When you take a step back, consumerism really feels like a mental illness. Not doing half of what I used to do feels good and I'm going to revamp my life so there will be time to walk, chat with neighbours, putter in the garden, volunteer, read and try new recipes. Life is a full-time job, but we can control the speed of the treadmill.
Well Todd an interesting post that many can relate to I'm sure. I don't have quite the same amount of 'things' to deal with but I understand your thought process, I think. An elderly couple around the corner from where I live recently died (8 months a part) and their children are in the process of getting rid of everything they owned and had kept, 'just in case'. The man would keep things that I would have thrown out long ago but ..... I understand they need to in order to sell the house but it was so final, so quick and all the 'things' this couple had, went into a big bin that will be taken off to the dump. Really made me think that thinning things out makes sense.
The 'P' wasn't much of a guess, more a surmise, but I did have a strong sense of INF, given your writing style and subject history.
I can't always read everything you post as I don't have a cell phone and thus cannot access the substack app and, as I live on my pensions, I don't have much discretionary income to become a paying subscriber. But I do enjoy the discernment and intelligence evident in your writing and agree with everything.
Did I just write this? 🤔
I have been purging for about ten years, and yet I still have a lot of stuff. We are currently in the process of moving and I did not need a driveway bin. It probably helps that I don't have the sentimental gene in my DNA, so I feel no obligation to keep things that are meaningless to me. Having read about Swedish Death Cleaning, I had purchased about 100 clear bins so whoever had to deal with my estate, would have ready made boxes to pack everything in. They have come in very handy for moving and now I can just keep everything in the bins and store them on shelves in the basement. Most of it is overstock - 20 of everything I might use like lightbulbs, etc. It feels like I won't need to buy anything for the rest of my life, except half and half, fruit, vegetables and meat. Moving is hell, but it feels like being given a second chance to live like a sane person. No more buying in bulk, no more Armageddon thinking. And I have dropped most of the hobbies I've had over the years. I want simple, simple, simple - like Thoreau. I made a note to pack for future me, which is very different from the previous versions of me. The addition phase happens when you are young - the subtraction phase should happen when you age. A lot of seniors neglect this. The kids of my friends are dreading the death of their parents because of all the crap they have that nobody wants. When you take a step back, consumerism really feels like a mental illness. Not doing half of what I used to do feels good and I'm going to revamp my life so there will be time to walk, chat with neighbours, putter in the garden, volunteer, read and try new recipes. Life is a full-time job, but we can control the speed of the treadmill.
Well Todd an interesting post that many can relate to I'm sure. I don't have quite the same amount of 'things' to deal with but I understand your thought process, I think. An elderly couple around the corner from where I live recently died (8 months a part) and their children are in the process of getting rid of everything they owned and had kept, 'just in case'. The man would keep things that I would have thrown out long ago but ..... I understand they need to in order to sell the house but it was so final, so quick and all the 'things' this couple had, went into a big bin that will be taken off to the dump. Really made me think that thinning things out makes sense.
Let me guess, your personality type (MBTI) ends with a 'P'?
INFP...you guessed it...
The 'P' wasn't much of a guess, more a surmise, but I did have a strong sense of INF, given your writing style and subject history.
I can't always read everything you post as I don't have a cell phone and thus cannot access the substack app and, as I live on my pensions, I don't have much discretionary income to become a paying subscriber. But I do enjoy the discernment and intelligence evident in your writing and agree with everything.