Comments on: Life: the many stages of stuff http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/ Thu, 24 May 2012 20:05:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Ben-David http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125507 Ben-David Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:49:07 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125507 We moved to Israel - and wound up raising our kids in a trailer in the West Bank. We spent almost 10 years in just over 42 square meters - just under 500 square feet. Our "stuff" remained in storage until we finished construction of our own little <strike>obstacle to peace</strike> home sweet home. When we finally started unpacking the crates, we marveled at all this "stuff" we had carefully picked out, argued over, haggled for, proudly displayed - - and completely forgotten we had, and got along fine without. A lot of that stuff had defined us. By the time we opened the boxes, we had built a close knit circle of friends who knew us - as we knew them - primarily by our actions, and the community we built together in those trailers. Opening those crates was like leafing through a yearbook. A few dear pieces of tableware and furniture were welcomed back. Some "stuff" remains in the original boxes in our new attic. Most of it is gone - unmissed! We moved to Israel – and wound up raising our kids in a trailer in the West Bank.

We spent almost 10 years in just over 42 square meters – just under 500 square feet. Our “stuff” remained in storage until we finished construction of our own little obstacle to peace home sweet home.

When we finally started unpacking the crates, we marveled at all this “stuff” we had carefully picked out, argued over, haggled for, proudly displayed –

- and completely forgotten we had, and got along fine without.

A lot of that stuff had defined us.

By the time we opened the boxes, we had built a close knit circle of friends who knew us – as we knew them – primarily by our actions, and the community we built together in those trailers. Opening those crates was like leafing through a yearbook.

A few dear pieces of tableware and furniture were welcomed back. Some “stuff” remains in the original boxes in our new attic. Most of it is gone – unmissed!

]]> By: LittleRed1 http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125449 LittleRed1 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:41:42 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125449 Moving every two or three years helps keep down the larger items, although the movers groan when I say "No, no entertainment center or giant couch - just 1500 pounds of books!" I keep reassuring the gentlemen that the books are not all in one box, but they still seem depressed. :) Moving every two or three years helps keep down the larger items, although the movers groan when I say “No, no entertainment center or giant couch – just 1500 pounds of books!” I keep reassuring the gentlemen that the books are not all in one box, but they still seem depressed. :)

]]> By: rickl http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125251 rickl Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:03:43 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125251 Good topic, Neo. I'm a pack rat, and so were both of my parents. I find parting with stuff wrenching, so I rarely do it. I don't have much emotional attachment to clothing or furniture, so that part is easy. But books, old magazines (notable Life and National Geographic), photos, and papers; that's a different story. I can't bear to part with them. Whenever I try to clean out stuff like that, I always end up sitting there for hours looking through it and I invariably end up keeping most of it. <i>Gray Says: September 13th, 2009 at 1:32 am</i> <blockquote cite=""> My dad’s rule: “Have you used it in the last 6 months? No? Throw it out!” </blockquote> If I followed that rule my house would be frickin' empty. :) Good topic, Neo. I’m a pack rat, and so were both of my parents. I find parting with stuff wrenching, so I rarely do it.

I don’t have much emotional attachment to clothing or furniture, so that part is easy. But books, old magazines (notable Life and National Geographic), photos, and papers; that’s a different story. I can’t bear to part with them.

Whenever I try to clean out stuff like that, I always end up sitting there for hours looking through it and I invariably end up keeping most of it.

Gray Says:
September 13th, 2009 at 1:32 am

My dad’s rule:

“Have you used it in the last 6 months? No? Throw it out!”

If I followed that rule my house would be frickin’ empty. :)

]]> By: SAB http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125146 SAB Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:02:19 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125146 About 10+ years ago, when I was buying things for my "newly remodeled" home, I was standing next to a couple who were loudly discussing their feelings about towel racks. He was past the point of exasperation and shouted "Are you saying I'm going to have to live with this towel rack for the rest of my life?!" Two thoughts occured to me at that moment: "I'm glad he's not my husband." and "I would never marry a man who really gives a damn about towel racks." About 10+ years ago, when I was buying things for my “newly remodeled” home, I was standing next to a couple who were loudly discussing their feelings about towel racks. He was past the point of exasperation and shouted “Are you saying I’m going to have to live with this towel rack for the rest of my life?!”
Two thoughts occured to me at that moment: “I’m glad he’s not my husband.” and “I would never marry a man who really gives a damn about towel racks.”

]]> By: LabRat http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125078 LabRat Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:54:25 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125078 Of course we have a meat grinder; what else to do with most of the carcass when large game is taken? If not for sausage and ground meat (ground with bacon for the extra fat makes the most heavenly burgers), all but the tenderloins and some roasts would go to the coyotes. Of course we have a meat grinder; what else to do with most of the carcass when large game is taken? If not for sausage and ground meat (ground with bacon for the extra fat makes the most heavenly burgers), all but the tenderloins and some roasts would go to the coyotes.

]]> By: BlueWaterNeocon http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125058 BlueWaterNeocon Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:01:39 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125058 Neo - I moved on a boat to sail around the world 20 years ago and just moved from Spain boatless. All of my stuff is in boxes that take the space of a small storage. No furniture or kitchen appliances. I still think I have too much stuff. My family members are selling their big houses and moving to small condos. They are finding the paring down process very liberating. My mother's house is so full of stuff I cannot stand looking at all of it. Pictures and paperwork on the hardest things to eliminate. Books are easy. Just pass them on-- as hard as it is. Neo – I moved on a boat to sail around the world 20 years ago and just moved from Spain boatless. All of my stuff is in boxes that take the space of a small storage. No furniture or kitchen appliances. I still think I have too much stuff. My family members are selling their big houses and moving to small condos. They are finding the paring down process very liberating. My mother’s house is so full of stuff I cannot stand looking at all of it. Pictures and paperwork on the hardest things to eliminate. Books are easy. Just pass them on– as hard as it is.

]]> By: neo-neocon http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125038 neo-neocon Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:52:26 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125038 dane: or a grilled cheese sandwich. Ymmm! dane: or a grilled cheese sandwich. Ymmm!

]]> By: dane http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125035 dane Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:33:46 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125035 Neo, Cheese Fondue is not the only fondue. that being said I do like cheese fondue - with the cheese(s) wine, Kirsch, etc. If you don't like fondue - try raclette Neo,
Cheese Fondue is not the only fondue. that being said I do like cheese fondue – with the cheese(s) wine, Kirsch, etc.

If you don’t like fondue – try raclette

]]> By: Gringo http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125034 Gringo Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:29:14 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125034 When I bought a condo several years ago after renting an apartment for nearly 20 years, I got rid of a lot of junk before moving. One advantage of relatively little storage space is that you have to think twice before you purchase anything. Books are a potential problem, though. Four decades ago my grandparents' farm was sold, which included an auction of most good on the farm. One item which was gotten rid of, which I wish someone in the family had kept, was an airplane cockpit- seats plus instrument panel from WW2. My grandfather had taught instrumentation or some such during WW2, which explained why we had it. That cockpit was a great toy for a kid and his/her imagination. When I bought a condo several years ago after renting an apartment for nearly 20 years, I got rid of a lot of junk before moving. One advantage of relatively little storage space is that you have to think twice before you purchase anything. Books are a potential problem, though.

Four decades ago my grandparents’ farm was sold, which included an auction of most good on the farm. One item which was gotten rid of, which I wish someone in the family had kept, was an airplane cockpit- seats plus instrument panel from WW2. My grandfather had taught instrumentation or some such during WW2, which explained why we had it. That cockpit was a great toy for a kid and his/her imagination.

]]> By: Amused Observer http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125002 Amused Observer Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:07:07 +0000 http://neoneocon.com/2009/09/12/life-the-many-stages-of-stuff/#comment-125002 A fairly wise old man once told me; "You spend the first half of your life getting stuff and the last half of your life getting rid of it. If you were more care careful during the first half the second half will be more pleasant." A fairly wise old man once told me; “You spend the first half of your life getting stuff and the last half of your life getting rid of it. If you were more care careful during the first half the second half will be more pleasant.”

]]>