BS: Getting Rid of the Excess

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 04:44 PM

Too Much Stuff

Artist - Delbert McClinton
Album - One Of The Fortunate Few
Lyrics - Too Much Stuff

Big house, big car, back seat, full bar.
Houseboat won't float. Bank won't tote the note.
Too much stuff. There's just too much stuff.
It'll hang you up, dealing with too much stuff.

Hangin' out on the couch puttin' on the pounds.
Better walk, run, jump, swim. Try to hold it down.
You're eatin' too much stuff, too much stuff.
It'll wear you down, carrying around too much stuff.

Hundred dollar cab ride, fogged in, can't fly.
Greyhound, Amtrak, oughta bought a Cadillac.
Too much stuff. Too much stuff.
It'll slow you down, fooling with too much stuff.

CHORUS:
Well, it's way too much.
You're never gonna get enough.
You can pile it high
but you'll never be satisfied.

Rent a tux, shiny shoes, backstage, big schmooze.
Vocal group can't sing, won awards for
everything.
Too much stuff. Too much stuff.
They just keep on going, rolling in all that stuff.
Got hurt, can't work, got a lot o' bills,
But the policy don't pay 'less I get killed.
Too much stuff. Too much stuff.
Just my luck, counting on too much stuff.

CHORUS

Running back can't score till he gets a million more.
Quarterback can't pass. Owner wants his money back.
Too much stuff. Too much stuff.
You know, you can't get a grip when you're slipping in all that stuff.

Women every which-a-way messing with my mind.
You know, I fall in love every day three or four times.
Too much stuff. Too much stuff.
It'll mess you up, fooling with too much stuff.

Yeah, too much stuff. Too much stuff.
Too much stuff. Too much stuff.
You never get enough 'cause there's just too much stuff.
You know you can hurt yourself, fooling with too much stuff.
Yeah, it'll tear you down, fooling with all that stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Midchuck
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 04:31 PM

I was well into middle age before I got the last of my stuff out of my parents' attic, and then only because they sold the big house.

Now our attic is full of stuff, part of which is our childrens'.

Poetic justice.

Peter

P. S.: Kendall, when you said Everytime I throw something out, it is a very short time before I wish I had it back. Ask my ex wife, you weren't talking about your ex-wife, were you? Does Jacqui know about this sentiment?

P.

P. P. S. What is the right number of acoustic guitars to keep on hand, and how many is too many?

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: GUEST,Wordless Woman
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 04:07 PM

THE TYRANNY OF THINGS

I am trying to rule
over ten thousand things
which I thought
belonged to me.
All of a sudden
a doubt take wings:
Do they...
       or could it be..?

A hardhanded hunch
in my mind's ear rings
from whence
such suspicions may stem:
that if you posses
more than just eight things
then y o u
       are possessed by t h e m

Piet Hein

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 02:33 PM

SRS, I finally have started putting up books on ebay, too. Still 6 more days to go, so I don't know how they will do, but one is a batch of old Canadian books by Ralph Connor. I thought of your strategy when I lumped them together.:-) Thanks, again for the advice. Like you, I am not in a hurry, but I am getting there.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 02:31 PM

Number One Son and wife just concluded a visit here and it was his first chance to review the "valuable, sentimental" personal items he left in storage with us when he went into the Navy some years ago. It's remarkable how small was the box of items he took home with him today, and how large the box he designated for the thrift shop. Same on books-- reviewed several dozen, fell asleep over the memories, took 2 when he woke up, and left the rest. But it was great because he knew we didn't mess with his stuff all these years, and got to decide for himself (not to mention doing the heavey lifting). I feel lighter, though!

The three of them did go through their stuff pretty well when they left home-- in a clergy family you never really know when you may be called upon to move fairly quickly so we didn't priomise unlimited storage space or eternal storage. :~) But one-third of what was left is gone now!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: kendall
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 01:14 PM

Many years ago we cleaned out the home of my 90 year old grandmother. That attic, my god what a mass of cultch! miles of old yarn rolled up in big balls, balls of string etc. The clincher came when we found a box of string labled "Pieces too short to save."

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Donuel
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 10:33 AM

There is a wonderful poem set to jazz by Celestial Navigations that extoll the joys and freedom from "stuff" as the nararator becomes lighter and more soul like with every item, discarded.

There are cable TV shows devoted entirely to cleaing out old stuff...
the commercials however encourage you to buy more stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Ernest
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 06:11 AM

PM me if you want to get rid of those surplus vintage Orpheum/Stewart/Bacon etc. Banjos, Gibson Mandolins, Martin Guitars and the like... LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 09:55 PM

"dumped the leftover wallpaper from the flat I decorated in 1980 (or was it '79?)"

Damn! old wallpaper is getting to be valuable, especially the 60/70s stuff...

Not kidding!

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 09:27 PM

I've been holding on to murder mysteries that were my fathers since 1997. I haven't read them yet, so I figure it's time to let them go. I can get books at the library if I want to read them later, and I have plenty of my own already (and a lot he sent me, which will probably stick around for a while longer, until I do read them).

I've been selling them in small lots, by author, on eBay. I've made a little money (over eBay expenses) and cleared out several feet of shelf space. This is during early days yet, at first I sold them very low just to move them out when I could see that there were a lot from a particular author for sale on eBay. Now I'm into the authors who don't appear often, and surprise, surprise, they sell for more. The last such batch more than tripled my asking price, which was a lot higher than usual.

I've improved my feedback score and as we move into spring I'm going to put up several linear feet of books, still in small lots. It's interesting to research a little and include the cover blurbs in my ads. I end up with at least a familiarity with what he was reading, and I've set a few aside to actually read, now that I'm finally looking at them. Even though I'm selling his books, I feel closer to him in the process. That's nice. And in one book (which I've kept to read) I found a note he'd written to me telling me why he thought I'd like it--that was priceless!

I will confess that I stopped at the local Half-Price bookstore today and went through their clearance shelves to find a couple of $1 copies of books to round out one of the lots I'm selling.

There's a lot more stuff that can and will go in eBay, and I have plans for a garage sale in a couple of weeks. I'm serious about decluttering, but I'm not in such a mad dash about it that I get rid of stuff indiscriminently. I've done that before and then regretted it, because I realized I was letting emotions dictate my actions, and treating family treasures as excess baggage. Anger or depression are not good tools to use for sorting out stuff, though if you have so much that it is the cause of your depression, then maybe it's exactly the right tool!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: kendall
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 07:47 PM

Everytime I throw something out, it is a very short time before I wish I had it back. Ask my ex wife.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 04:09 PM

I HATE throwing out perfectly good stuff, which is why my house looks as it does.

But I've been doing a good job of de-accessioning. Books go to the local library sale. Most magazines go to a couple friends. I don't have time to have a yardsale, soooo....Freecycle.ORG (make sure it's dot ORG!!!)

And I've been very, very good about not accumulating much Freecycled stuff. (But it's bailed me out of a few tight pinches.)

The coolest thing, though, was when I got rid of two manual typewriters. One went to the Easter Seal Society in a neighboring town and the other went to a six year old boy who was fascinated by typewriters and like to make books. Wow!

Now if I can just get Tom to eBay the boxes of antique-ish and old stuff and ephemera. I'm tired of storing it!!!

Cubic footage! Cubic footage!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 03:59 PM

We had a good clear out last week.... then yesterday Limpit couldn't find her homework. I had to send her to school with an apology note to her teacher explaining that I'd 'tidied it away'.....

Housework is evil, it must be stopped.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 03:21 PM

Week #3, minus another 4.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Charmion
Date: 07 Apr 06 - 02:12 PM

Oh, God, BillD, you remind me painfully of my mother. Now, there was a world-class packrat. After she died, I spent literally weeks clearing out the cellar and under-eaves boxrooms (nine of them!) of my parents' house, which were crammed with:

pickle jars, paint cans, stacks of magazines, heaps of newspapers clothing fashionable 15 to 50 years in the past, five old flock mattresses in three different sizes, boxes of spools, boxes of doorknobs, boxes of porcelain junction boxes, stacks of lumber scraps, obsolete storm windows, two porcelain industrial laundry sinks, a couple of dozen miscellaneous kitchen chairs, several incomplete sets of dishes, three generations' worth of hand tools (most of them broken), a dead refrigerator, a moribund kitchen range, dozens of filthy old butter boxes full of bundled letters and financial records, about half a ton of coal dating from before installation of the oil furnace, and the sawn-up trunks of three Manitoba maple trees.

I was a basically tidy person when I started the job, and a confirmed neatnik when I finished. On the other hand, I could write a song about it, with a chorus like Killigrews' Soiree:

There was birch rind, tar twine, cherry wine and turpentine,
Jowls and cavalances, ginger beer and tea;
Pig's feet, cats' meat, dumplings boiled up in a sheet;
I tell ya boys, we had a treat, at Killigrews' soiree!

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 09:53 PM

"The only way to be sure of having emough is to always have a little bit too much"

         unknown Sage


well, ok, I have a LOT too much. But I am always finding uses for stuff...and repairing things with saved gadgets and tools. It's ALL so potentially useful....

...well, maybe the old floor polisher with no brushes can go, and perhaps the assorted fuses, now that we have a new breaker box....but I'm SURE all the rest of it is important.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 09:52 PM

I have to chuckle when I see one around here. The guy that owns it sells mobile homes for a living and he lives in his big house with his long paved driveway dumping him right out on the highway. Yeah..he needs a Hummer. The only thing my friends and I can figure is that he is enjoying his mid-life crisis. We smile, wave and call out, "Sorry about your penis!!"

Isn't it strange that Americans are now driving vehicles dubbed as luxury vehicles that were intended for use in combat? It makes NO sense whatsoever.

And thanks Bobad!!!!!   :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 09:33 PM

Uh, Rapaire, I've been sitting here wondering just what circumstances would necessitate my having a Hummer. Unless I'm planning on hauling 14 people down a hostile street some time soon I'd have trouble justifying it.

I noticed the other day that Juneau now has a second Hummer. So two local families are in Hog Heaven. Unless perhaps the second one is for Wifey.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 09:28 PM

I have no objection to anyone buying a Hummer or anything else if it is needed. My objections are to those who buy things because it "enhances their self-image" or plays to their advertising-derived view of self. (And yes, I know that that is something none of us can free ourselves from entirely.)

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: bobad
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 09:22 PM

Good for you Lily, wishing you all success.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 07:49 PM

Give it a shake afterwards - more difficult for women

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 07:33 PM

About the car thing....my first concern about a car is safety and can it get up my mountain in the winter. Gas mileage is a concern no matter the angle...but I'd rather pay a bit more for gas and know my family has some added safety (the new Hummers, BTW, got a bum wrap for safety...Honda's record is improving).

As soon as next month hits, I'm going to be an eBay queen, getting rid of lots of this stuff....

And I'm getting rid of parts of me that are too much too.

Week #1..............Minus 4.6

It's a start.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 11:17 AM

Last month I moved from a large apartment to a two-room plus bath. I got rid of a LOT of things, mostly to Sally's, and I'm having to be creative with what I have left. Started out with three-deep boxes and one narrow path. Now although there are still some surfaces piled with some things that have not found a home I put up shelving to get everything off the floor and there are a number of deep built in cabinets. It will work.

While I was moving, there was a 'Moving Sale' next door. I didn't even dare go in there. There's not a thing more that I need.

One plus is that the cat and the dog are better friends than they were. Not as easy to avoid each other. (Both of them are recent members of the household - the cat came last June and the dog joined us in December.)

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 09:13 AM

Another thought that just occured to me is that we all too often buy not what we need,but what we want. And what we want is driven by advertising.

Eg., I need a car to get to work. It should get decent gas mileage and get me there safely and efficiently. I am told that a Hummer will do this AND my self image is of a macho, outdoorsy, extreme-sports type of person -- so I buy a Hummer. A Honda Civic would do the job just as well (if not better), be easier to park and maintain, and cost a lot less -- but I'm a Hummer type, not a Civic type.

We have been conditioned to think that we need more than we do, and we have confused "need" with "want."

I "want" a lever-action rifle in .45-70 caliber, but I certainly don't need it. (Please note that I also don't own one and probably never will.)

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 09:06 AM

And yes, when we get rid of stuff we try to give it to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, or some other organization that can make use of it. Even rags are washed and sold as shop rags by some organizations.

"Use it up, wear it out...."

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Amos
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 09:03 AM

Well, if you have too much, and get rid of some, you're fine. If you get rid of too much, and get some more, you're fine. If you get rid of too much and don't get any more you are inconvenienced. If you get too much and don't get rid of any, you are crowded out of house and home -- there was a case of a packrat who was killed by his habit.

If you just stop getting anything, ever, you can end up feeling very subdued and deprived and your stuff will gradually wear out and break and you are inconvenienced. If you acquire without ever getting rid of anything you become ruled by your heaps of stuff.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 08:43 AM

I recently evicted all my tenant servants, then bugger me if I didn't have to eventually replace them.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 08:43 AM

Being a librarian (and married to a librarian/lawyer/mathematician), we find it very difficult to get rid of books and not accumulate more. We compromise by not buying a speedboat or an RV or a pickup truck. Instead, we just kinda move along with buying books instead of a pair of ATVs.

I am appalled by the lifestyles of some of my neighbors, though. Several have RVs that I know had to cost more than their house, others have four and even six ATVs, snowmobiles, and several vehicles -- and often they are the same people. I realize that it's their money and their choices, but I wonder how long they can maintain the debt load.

And I mean several kinds of debt, not just monetary.

If you REALLY want to pare down, ask yourself this question:

What would I take if I had to flee NOW before an advancing wildfire? No time -- you've got 20 minutes to load up and get out. Or rephrase it as, "What would I take if I had to head for hills as the secret police pulled turned into the street?"

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: gnomad
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 08:36 AM

I'm downsizing too, amazing how much tat I have accumulated. I have got rid of sundry small furniture, 2 out of 4 beds (1 still to go) and a stack of oddments. I'm just keeping the best stuff, so I suppose that the average quality could be said to be rising.

Yesterday I dumped the leftover wallpaper from the flat I decorated in 1980 (or was it '79?) which was 4 house-moves ago. The books have had a good weeding-out, but how come I still have about 80 assorted drinking glasses when I seldom entertain? The tools and cutlery seem to have been breeding as well.

I tell you, moving the contents of a two bedroom house & garage into a one bedroom flat is harder than it sounds, but I'm sure I will benefit long term.

Anyone need a free wheelbarrow, microwave, or a single bedstead (W.Yorkshire, UK)? PM me if interested.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: JulieF
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 07:46 AM

Been slowly doing this for the last three years. 3/4 of the books gone and working slowly through CDs and videos. Its amazing how long it takes one person to sort things collected over twenty years by two people when one just walks away.

Slightly more urgency in it now that the house should be on the market in a couple of months and I'm planning a fairly major downsize but still will have daughter in tow.

A disturbing process and I'm not really sure what I feel about it all.
Haven't touched the photographs yet.

J

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 07:04 AM

I'm trying to do just that at the moment.

Somewhat of a problem when you realise alot of the things are bits you're looking after for other people. This is why I have 45 m2 of portable dance floor under my bed, and often 2000 watts of PA equipment.....

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 06:47 AM

I agree with not just throwing stuff in the trash. I'm a big fan of the Salvation Army and have given things to them for a long time. I'm planning on a large yard sale and the remainder will go to Sal's. I do have to say though, that some of the "things" I am getting rid of are not material things...and I'm sure the Salvation Army, the church thrift shop, etc wouldn't be interested...you'll see!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 06:23 AM

I once cleared out all the baby stuff. Then twins!

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: John O'L
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 12:27 AM

Be careful not to throw away too much. Like those bits of 4x2 hardwood that've been behind the garage door for 20 years. You might need one of them tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: open mike
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 11:48 PM

here is where i put in another plug for
www.freecycle.com
(or is it dot org??)

where one persons trash is anothers' treasure.

this web list is a great way to share things

so if you pass thme along you can feel good

about them being used by someone who appreciates

them and the land fills do not get useable things

sent to them. there are free cycle groups all over the world.

furniture, clothes, appliances, even vehicles are given to
others thru this site..yes i am prtty sure it is freecycle.org

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 09:51 PM

I did that with my sleeping bags too, Rap. I had four of them- donated them all a few years back to the local homeless shelter, along with bunches of other stuff.

Then I had to go and buy one to take to the Getaway. The first year I borrowed one from a friend; last year I bought my own. Ah well. I don't regret it.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 09:42 PM

You can end up without that which you DO need, even though you didn't think you would.

Example:

We got rid of our sleeping bags. Now we want to go camping again, so we have to buy new ones.

Get rid of it, yes, but be realistic too. Realize that you might have to repurchase some because of judgements you made. In our case, the bags we get know will be (hopefully) some twenty years improved.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 07:49 PM

Amos,

   Can you explain that just a bit? I mean, I understand about the food but how does that relate to getting or getting rid of stuff? If I get rid of stuff and don't get anymore (which is actually my goal), how does that end up in trouble? Just curious....

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Amos
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 07:33 PM

Moving "stuff" into and out of your life is just the thing to pass the tie away, but as with food, you get in trouble if you stop either end of the flow! :D


A

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 06:18 PM

Here too. Excising the demons can be both painful and profitable. I have sold $4000 worth of unnecessary "stuff" and said what needed to be said thereby ending a long and troublesome relationship.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: bobad
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 04:58 PM

I'm way overdue for a major dumping. Problem here is that I have tons of space, sheds, barn etc. so the shit just piles up and it's always gnawing at that part of my brain that knows it's gotta go.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Sorcha
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 04:39 PM

Been doing it for months.....lotta lotta Stuff gone here!

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 04:37 PM

You bet it is!

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: number 6
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 04:32 PM

Done it already ... when we moved from Toronto to SJ we literally gave away, or sold everything ... well almost. Years and years of collected 'ueseless stuff'. It was like starting out all over again .... new demographics, new people, new latitudes, new longitudes, new house, new furniture, but very little stuff. It was almost like a rebirth of the soul.

You'd be surprised what you don't really need, and what you really do need.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 04:23 PM

Yep...I'm not talking just about material stuff by any means (although I'm keeping my spouse, thank you very much!!!!)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 03:48 PM

Right! Spouses, lovers, and other junk -- it's all gotta go!

(We did that when we moved twice within three years. Life's much nicer now.)

Subject: RE: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 03:46 PM

Very good idea.

Subject: BS: Getting Rid of the Excess
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 03:34 PM

Maybe it's related to spring cleaning and the desire to air out the house, get organized, start fresh with the new season, but I have decided that I don't need all this stuff in my life and am getting rid of lots of the excess...anybody else feeling or doing the same?

Michelle