Junk

[Don1500]

Now that I have decided that I WILL retire to the sea I am looking at everything I own and wondering; "Where did all this JUNK come from?"
I am seeing things in a new light, when I go to a store, or see a commercial, it's all junk. New car? Nope, junk. New digital blue-ray player with all the bells and whistles? Nope, junk. There isn't a salesman or pitch that could sell me anything (except that new Titanium Captain's knife with marlin spike).

Everything I see in my house has suddenly turned into junk. If it doesn't fit on a boat, it's junk. At least when I get to the final days ashore and have the "Big Garage Sale" I know I will be able to sell everything and not have a qualm about losing Mom's turkey plater. And when that's over, loading the dumpster will not be a problem either.

Anyone else get this feeling?

[Mcpsych]

Hmmm yeh
the stuff in my shed will def. Not fit on mine
but then , number one wife says I am not retiring anytime soon so I guess that is not a problem

[CaptainForce]

Welcome to the forum and welcome to the great freedom and economy of non-ownership. Take care and joy, Aythya crew

[WanderingStar]

Even cruising can be enlightening. After a couple of days aboard, my wife marveled at our few pans in the galley, saying "Why do we have all that stuff at home?"

[Don1500]

"Why do we have all that stuff at home?"

EXACTLY!

[bljones]

It's a vicious cycle, isn't it? We have the space so we fill it with stuff and then we still need more stuff so we acquire more space...

YouTube - George Carlin - A place for my stuff

What do we REALLY need?
"...Money, keys, comb, wallet, lighter, hanky, pen, smokes, rubber and change...." Mostly.

[LandLocked66c]

Ugh, and we have a basement too. MORE STUFF!

[WanderingStar]

Truly. I've been a bargain hunter and thrifty all my life. I never let go of anything that had value or function. This year I finished moving out of a rented house, into my (new) wife's house. I had numerous books, tools, boat parts, and clothes. She had a little house already full of her stuff. I decided the simple expedient was to give away or throw away everything I wasn't using. It was liberating.

[pdqaltair]

It's all perspective. All of that stuff had value at some point in your life. Perhaps some was "keep up with the Jones" urges and some was the urge to feather a nest or prove selfworth. Some was no doubt the result of effective media urgings. I wouldn't assume buying all of it was a mistake. I hope it was well-used.

But have you thought how many non-sailors would think all of the boat stuff is "junk?"

It comes down to whether the "stuff" has a positive or negative impact on your life. That is a complex calculation and is different for every person and situation. I like and regularaly use much of my "stuff", but sometime I will down-size. I will be ready for a change.