[Outdated, please look at pinned post] Casual Conversation

Not me usually, but if I've been hoarding an item for years and throw it out, you better believe I'm gonna need that item a week after I toss it

Hi!

I believe in having a small footprint and i move alot. I am this person.

Yes, my mother is one of those people.

She was freaking out about all the stuff I had left in her attic when I moved out (and overseas) years before. I was confused because I didn't leave that much. And sure enough, my brother looked up there and all that clutter consisted of three small boxes sitting in the middle of a totally empty attic.

Every few years she throws out or gives away anything she considers unused or unwanted, including things that to others would have significant sentimental value. And often she ends up having to buy new items because she threw that same thing out a year before.

She is the anti-hoarder.

A minimalist?

Yes, that person is me.

Even more extreme, actually. I knew one person who was actually, honestly, voluntarily homeless. For years. Living on the street, no car. No obvious mental health issues, had family who would have been happy to take him in, strong social network, active in the community. Didn't want to be tied to all of the things ownership of stuff brings, and was willing to make the many and extreme sacrifices that entails.

To be clear, this is not the normal homelessness experience. I've known too many homeless people, and the right-wing conspiracy theories of middle to upper class panhandlers on every corner are utter nonsense. Ideologically motivated self justifying cruelty inspiring bullshit. Even when homeless people I have known said it was by choice, I usually knew enough about their situation to recognize it as a face saving salve to their pride (a hard thing to come by in the lower rungs of society, and very precious). But there was that one.

I have become one. I lost everything in my life four times somewhat involuntarily. The fifth time I did it intentionally.

the need to purge belongings is a form of clutching for control over your life, usually with the idea that one is starting anew in some way, and can be a symptom of borderline personality disorder in my experience

i wouldn't compare it to minimalism

Yeah, there is a whole lifestyle around that. Or well, maybe it's more like a religion. It's called minimalism.

Me. I come from a zero waste family. I hate buying stuff and use as little of things as I can. Don't really sell stuff but own as little stuff as I need

Have you seen the "does it spark joy" woman?

To the chagrin of my dad, my mom. We went through a period of time growing up where things like a waffle iron, ice cream machine, or bread maker were bought by Dad and discarded by Mom like 3 times in about a year "because you never use them."

My ex wife was like this. Would throw out kids toys and get rid of 'extra' kitchen knives without any communication.

Yeah my mate used to throw out all his spare computer cables or excess material from a home repair job. He's since learned to keep them

https://www.theminimalists.com/minimalism/

My friend buys a boat, uses it twice, then sells it. A couple months later he buys a boat... This has happened for years. Either he's really picky about the boat he wants to fish on, or he actually hates boats and fishing but can't admit it to himself.

I wish I were like this myself.

A couple summers ago I list almost everything I owned, due to being unable to pay the bill on a storage unit.

It’s been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ve never felt more free and whole.

Yeah, often things that I'd bought her, it was very annoying.

I'm sure these are along the lines people think of me. I often will mention anything more than I need to enjoy myself is considered excessive to my mind. Clothing of every style, carpeting galore, lighting for every square meter, houses that stretch whole plots, do I need any of that?

I believe that's called an Ascetic.

I have a bit of a split response to this. On one hand, I have a workshop which is absolutely packed with tools, machines, materials and so on. I can make and repair almost anything in there. Many people would look in the workshop and assume I am a hoarder.

But as far as my living space, I love a clean, uncluttered place. I will get rid of kitchen gadgets, books, disks, furniture, clothes, etc if it is not adding something useful or beautiful to my life. I have half a dozen matching t-shirts same for underwear and socks. I will regularly go through out kitchen cupboards and take things we can't/don't use to other people or food bank etc. I am a frequent visitor of the "tip shop" near where I live and things get repurposed and rehomed there. I love a clean streamlined life, I would be more streamlined if the people I live with were more into that mindset 😁

Three piles. Background, I moved roughly every two years from 1 until mid twenties. Not a military family. Even with this I still move several boxes of stuff that I never open until the next move.

First pile is stuff you must keep/love.

Second is stuff that is okay or may be nice-to-have.

Third is stuff that can be sold/donated/disposed of.

Get rid of the last two piles.

My mom. My parents have moved a few times and each time she throws out more and more. Their lifestyle is extremely Spartan.