Everybody on this site is always attacking stuff. I'd like to write in defence of stuff.
Stuff is awesome. Four years ago when I moved to the US I went from the situation of having an apartment full of stuff to having two suitcases full of stuff. I acquired an apartment where the old tenants were happy to leave behind a crummy couch and a mattress on the floor, did a quick run to Walmart to pick up a minimalist set of kitchenware and bedding, bought a bike to get around town, and I was pretty much in the supposedly-blessed state of having the mininal possible amount of stuff.
It wasn't that great. It was just limiting and depressing.
Four years of stuff-acquisition later I now have just about the right amount of stuff. Some stuff (like half the stuff in my kitchen) I seldom use, but it's there in case I need it. Other stuff is completely useless, but I like having it around because it looks nice. I own four frypans, which is probably at least twice as many as I need, but y'know what? Contrary to what you read in many of these articles, having the extra two frypans doesn't cause me any distress.
So while I'd never advocate anyone buying stuff just for the sake of buying stuff, nor buying stuff that they can't afford, I really don't see any problem with having some stuff, nor any great advantage to getting rid of stuff. Three cheers for stuff, and its nonzero ability to enhance your life!
I'll bet that you have a job that you really love. In this case stuff is a win-win scenario -- you earn money by doing something you enjoy, and you use that money to buy stuff that you enjoy.
Most people are not in this situation. They have a job that they either put up with, or in many cases actively dislike, and they have a lot of stuff that requires a continuous money flow to sustain. They're convinced the stuff is 'necessary', and therefore it is necessary for them to continue slaving away at the job that they hate so that they can enjoy the stuff they think they need.
In that cases, it's not a case of net postive or negative for stuff, but cost-benefit analysis. Is the stuff that you have worth the cost of working for it?
But like I said, if you enjoy your work, then stuff is basically free.
Yeah, that's pretty much how I feel about it. Of course, most of my 'stuff' consists of computer parts, so it's while it's pretty important for me to periodically go through and throw out stuff that is beyond a certain age, having this stuff around saves me quite a bit of money/time when assembling or repairing servers. more, usually than throwing out or giving away the stuff that has become garbage in the last 6 months costs me.
I think all problems with having too much 'stuff' stem from this idea that you need to take care of this stuff as if it were a family member. If you are skipping opportunities because you are unwilling to get rid of your stuff, or if you end up spending time that would be better spent on other things dealing with your stuff, if you avoid taking risks because you are afraid of damaging your stuff, then yeah, you have a problem.
All my stuff (aside from production servers) is essentially disposable. you could take everything I personally own, and eh, really, I wouldn't cry. I'd have to replace much of it, granted, but hell, most of my stuff is cheap. I make it a rule not to own a car that costs more than a month's pay. Yeah, I like having nice tools. But I don't like it enough to spend more than a few days pay on something that becomes obsolete as fast as a laptop. (I'm typing this on a thinkpad x60S. I got it used for $400 a little under two years ago) The drive is encrypted, so really if it gets lost or stolen, I shrug, change my login keys, and get a new one.
The idea is that stuff is... stuff. It exists for your convenience. When it stops being convenient, it should be promptly removed from your life. Be vary careful about owning stuff that is so expensive that worrying about losing it causes you stress. That is the 'stuff' that will tie you down, and that should be avoided, I think.
Really, I think the comments about 'stuff owning you' are wise, in a way- You need to be very careful about what things you allow to have a claim over you. Relationships with other people, yeah, those have a certain claim on you, but like most people, I think that's worth it. My production servers; my business- that has a claim on me, but again, I think that's worth it. Allowing 'stuff' to have a claim on me? emphatically not worth it. But, as 'stuff' is inanimate, I can easily have a claim on 'stuff' without allowing it to have a claim on me.
It's definitely not bad to have stuff. Owning what you can carry on your back is not for everyone.
I'd say this kind of minimalism is more aligned with optimization- realizing that you have a lot of stuff you truly don't need, and getting rid of it. You sound like you're in the middle of the curve; you have no stuff, then you have some stuff and then more stuff. Eventually you'll discover you have 9 frying pans, and say 'man when I had 2 extra frying pans that was ok, but this is just annoying' and then you will go through a reduction cycle. It's natural, imho.
I'd say most people on this site are on the "I've got too much stuff" still area of the meter. There is definitely a "I don't have enough stuff" part of the meter as well, I just doubt most people here have ever been in it.
We've come oddly full circle over the course of the industrial revolution. Once upon a time no human owned more than they (or their mule/ox/wife) could carry, as by necessity we were nomadic. Agriculture caused us to settle, industrialisation brought us to cities, and with a few notable exceptions, all our lifestyles adapted to suit 'settledness'. Now, as we're moving into the post-industrial age, a return to mobility seems to make more sense, and with it new attitudes and beliefs about property.
Steve Roberts ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDaz8vaKzdQ ) is a bit of a hero of mine and I think the first person to really figure out the physical implications of internetworking for the knowledge worker. Steve took his first voyage a few years before I was born, but in that short time we've seen unbelievable changes in society, the economy and of course technology.
I struggle to think of somebody I know personally who couldn't do their job from anywhere in the world, if only they had the courage to demand it. The whole economy seems to be disappearing into the ether and the workforce seems to be slowly following, albeit largely via Bangalore and Beijing. Perhaps most extraordinary is the technological change. I recently built a modern version of Steve's Winnebiko, but I quickly realised that it was a largely pointless task - twenty-odd years of miniaturisation and a whole heap of bandwidth have shrunk almost all of his 125kg trailer rig into an ordinary smartphone. I still get a little thrill every morning at the marvel of technology that lives in my left pocket. Every record, every book, every photograph, a telephone, a camera, a television and much more besides in what previous generations might have described as "something no bigger than a pack of cigarettes".
It is so easy to forget that we already live in the future.
I struggle to think of somebody I know personally who couldn't do their job from anywhere in the world, if only they had the courage to demand it.
I have a friend who is going to college and paying for it with housekeeping. She could always unleash a roomba, but if she's going to clean the toilet, then we'll need some robotic tidy bowl man.
For hands-on work, I guess if you are a surgeon, you might have more luck working remotely:
Bruce Sterling wrote about simplifying possessions a couple years ago on signaling the end of Viridian Design.
Basically useful, sentimental and beautiful things make the cut. Everything else goes.
His unique recommendation was to photograph and meticulously document everything you got rid of and generate a database of your former possessions. Quite useful if you find yourself missing it in the future, and a pretty cool personal history project to boot!
I question the value of most sentimental stuff. I'm moving next week and have been looking at my boxes of sentimental stuff. I realize I only look at it when I'm moving.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not throwing it out--because I'm human and I can't.
Last time I visited my parents' house, my mom asked me to go through my old stuff and throw a good deal of it out. That crystal radio set that was the first piece of electronics I ever built had some sentimental value even though I'd certainly never use it again, but having a picture of me and my dad with it before throwing it out is a different and much more compact artifact with a similar level of sentimental value.
Twice since 2008 I've left one state for another with all my possessions crammed into my Honda Civic. It's liberating in a way that's hard to explain to someone who doesn't already understand the feeling. I learned what I really valued (apparently some books, my computers and gadgets, and old letters and other mementos). And a car is large enough that there was still plenty of room for junk I didn't need.
I've done the same except intercontinentally and with two suitcases.
I didn't feel liberated from my stuff, I just felt like I now had an inconveniently small amount of stuff and needed to buy all my stuff all over again.
I'd say the difference is I had enough space to carry all that was truly important to me, whereas two suitcases is enough for some clothes, a laptop, and maybe a couple other things.
Haha, I did the same thing and on a Honda Civic too. Charlotte to Chicago. The feeling of mobility and adventure and an open future was fantastic. By the next time, I'm hoping to cut my "stuff" down to just a carry-on and a laptop bag.
Lightweight living, a minimalist lifestyle, or whatever you want to call it represents maximum freedom for some people. If you come across adventure or you decide you want to move, you can do whatever you want at the drop of a hat.
I'd say it's best suited to people who don't have a family, sedentary lifestyle, or hobbies that require a lot of stuff.
In late 2007, I got rid of my place and everything I owned to travel indefinitely with only a laptop, HD cam, four shirts, a pair of pants, and two pair of underwear/socks. My worldly possessions weighed 14 lbs and occupied a backpack smaller than the L.L. Bean that hauled my books in high school.
Over the course of the preceding 6 months, I'd realized I never actually used my kitchen, living room, couch, TV, or pretty much anything else in my place. I would get home, play guitar and drums, use my computer, sleep, and leave.
So I got rid of it all, and the feeling was one of total liberation. I haven't looked back, and after 3 years (including a move to SF), I've added a small acoustic guitar and shed the HD cam.
I also realized that an apartment is mostly wasted space for someone who spends most of his time outside and around town, so I got rid of that too and sleep in my car.
Long story short, I've found getting rid of excess to be liberating, productive, and addictive. Highly recommended.
I am personally obsessed with lists, rankings and statistics in general so I do not know how universal my desires are... but:
Try making a weighted list of your dearest possessions. In as much depth as possible to its dearest extent. Not the "true wealth" things such as love, family, friends et cetera, but instead your physical objects like laptop or favorite books.
I found that the objects low on the list I didn't care so much about and did not use too often. It was easy to get rid of them then. Putting on paper what my unconscious already valued made this process much more comprehensible and satisfactory to me.
I find that the more I eliminate in excess the more I can love the things that I do care about. Maybe that is true for you as well.
That's what I do too! Just did it again last month and simultaneously move into a smaller place. I still have some boxes in my car and now that they've sat in my car for a couple weeks and I don't miss them I'm pretty sure I don't care or it may just be sentimental stuff.
I moved to Europe for a two year post-doc with nothing but a suitcase. I left absolutely everything behind --- people included. I learned things about myself and the world that I could never have imagined.
That said, I should have at least brought a damned book.
I just got back from 7 months backpacking from Peru to Panama. Sometime while I was away, my storage locker was broken into back home.
My whole life is in that locker, yet when I sat down to think of what might have been stolen it occurred to me that there was absolutely nothing in there that I'd really miss if it were gone. Maybe a couple old photo albums, but that's about it.
Turns out, the burglars came to the same conclusion. Evidently nothing I own looks particularly valuable to anybody else either. Anybody want a bunch of my old useless stuff?
Oh, and as to Pack Weight, it goes for traveling too. I carry exactly one complete change of clothes on the road, along with a few books and a laptop. At one point on this trip I wore the same shirt 40 days in a row (washing it and putting it back on every couple days), until it degraded to the point where I wore it shirt shopping and tossed it in the garbage can next to the fitting room.
Much like the author, I get a bit of a chuckle watching the first-timers hauling expedition packs on their backs and "daypacks" larger than my main one on their front. They're learning their lesson for next time.
The annoying thing about stuff is that there is that tool or that nick nack that you might use 5 times a year. You really really need it, and don't want to buy it and dispose of it and waste the time of going to the store to find it, so you just keep it in some box for when you do need it. It's usually not big enough to rent or to deal with the hassle of renting so it can get pretty irritating.
Is selling a house in this market a good idea? The important thing is to not let your possessions tie you down. If you own it outright, maybe you can just rent your place out while you check to see if that sort of a life is for you or not?
I don't think I'll ever get to this point, but I'm slowly working my way up. Sold a few computers, excessive speakers, and more a few weeks ago to finish paying off my collegiate credit card debt.
It's unbelievably liberating.
Tip: pack up all your stuff and move somewhere smaller. In the new place, unpack as you need/want things. In 2 months, throw out all the boxes left over.
In the article, the writer mentioned a Russian who went around buying typewriters, stereos, and all sort of car parts. He couldn't believed that these things were so cheap but he brought it anyway. In Russia, every one of these part are extremely valuable. All of which are simply junk to the author. So the Russian guy didn't quite adjust his value system yet.
Now, the author himself is faced with the fact that he is doing the same thing as the Russian guy did years ago. A whole lot of things are completely digitalized, such as video, musics, scholarly journals, and all these thing. He throw 200 pounds worth of information into the dumpster as soon as he realize that there are no more values in such papers, which are already digitalized.
We learned just about the same lesson (maybe not so far as ditching the insurance...) while backpacking the globe a year ago. Amazing the kind of junk we've shed that used to be 'important' or 'valuable.'
yes, but if having stuff is what works for you or you want to make sure responsibilities are attended to even if you're not around, you probably need insurance.
'decides they need a particular thing'? Can I undecide to need food and water? I would argue that 'needs' are by definition the things you don't have a choice about.
You can say that, however if you've ever actually been homeless, you'll find that is something quite shocking, and you will find yourself in quite a tiff most likely. Shelter is a pretty basic human need.
It sounds good and feels good to get rid of all useful rarely used things that clutter our minds as much as they do our homes.
Its unfortunate that our government is so committed to consumption and has geared so much of our economy and infrastructure, at great expense and much debt, to supporting a complex existence, often at great cost to those who swim against the tide. Why is it that we cannot let life develop in its own direction?
I'm sad to find this out. One thing I know is cycling is dangerous! I road my bicycle 10,000 miles around the perimeter US and loved it but everyday on the trip I would hope that I would not get hit by a car. Had a few close call on the ride, but I made it home safe.
Postscript: Sadly, Larry McDuff was killed in a hit-and-run accident while riding his bike near his home in June 2005. His wife, Ann, died in a similar bike accident just two years earlier.
It's difficult to simplify past a certain point. I want to reduce more, but I'm at the point where I have:
1: Some clothes
2: Tools
3: Key things (laptop, vehicle, phone)
4: Books
5: Food and some dishes
I know tools and books are the next in line, but I value books highly and tools just as much. I haven't got a tool I don't absolutely require at least occasionally.
I think the idea is to find a way to have access to those items (that you need only occasionally) when you need them. Something like zipcar (for those who need vehicular transport only for weekend groceries for example). IMO on-demand is the way to go for nearly everything.
Living in a cooperative - or at least taking inspiration from them - helps a lot with this problem in my experience. When you don't need, lend. When you need - borrow.
Mobility also requires 'the cloud' - that cloud is a society you are well connected to. Hence cooperative living.
Actually, didn't mention that, but I have one :) Massively reduces my book collection, and it rocks. But, I also have a sizable collection of textbooks I'm keeping as reference books.
I'm roughly at the same point. Ultimately for me I need to decide if, on a deep level, having these things are worth more then maintaining these things.
I found that the answer was deciding what is the simplest version of my life that reflects goals, dreams, values and makes me happy, and then to live out those facets with a simple mindset.
Am I the only one reading these comments that appreciates the need for some people to settle down given that our current "nomadic" lifestyle is heavily dependent on farms?
Last time I checked, none of these people were hunting and gathering with their 14 pound packs. In fact, I would argue that were they to start deriving all their food from hunting and gathering, their packs would increase in weight by approximately one spear and probably a decent bow and arrow. A gun, would of course, require people to work in a factory to manufacture it, so that's out.
There seems to be a general ignorance amongst many people these days that almost everything humans have accomplished started with domestication of plants and animals. And a core element of domestication is a sedentary lifestyle.
Stuff is awesome. Four years ago when I moved to the US I went from the situation of having an apartment full of stuff to having two suitcases full of stuff. I acquired an apartment where the old tenants were happy to leave behind a crummy couch and a mattress on the floor, did a quick run to Walmart to pick up a minimalist set of kitchenware and bedding, bought a bike to get around town, and I was pretty much in the supposedly-blessed state of having the mininal possible amount of stuff.
It wasn't that great. It was just limiting and depressing.
Four years of stuff-acquisition later I now have just about the right amount of stuff. Some stuff (like half the stuff in my kitchen) I seldom use, but it's there in case I need it. Other stuff is completely useless, but I like having it around because it looks nice. I own four frypans, which is probably at least twice as many as I need, but y'know what? Contrary to what you read in many of these articles, having the extra two frypans doesn't cause me any distress.
So while I'd never advocate anyone buying stuff just for the sake of buying stuff, nor buying stuff that they can't afford, I really don't see any problem with having some stuff, nor any great advantage to getting rid of stuff. Three cheers for stuff, and its nonzero ability to enhance your life!