May 16th, 2025

Author: donich_admin

Too Many Things

I’ve spent what seems like weeks now packing all non-essential things into boxes.  Even after what I thought was a thorough clean out; a big give away of unwanted but useable things to charity and a major trip with a hired van to the tip to get rid of R’s cable collection (ok, that and some other things as well).  I have digitised all my photos and discarded all my physical DVDs and books in favour of online versions.  We still have so much stuff.

Mugs that we can’t give away because they have sentimental connections.  Kitchen tools and equipment that get used infrequently but do get used (Tagine pot, melon baller, cake tins in multiple sizes etc. etc. etc.).  Clothes that aren’t worn that often because I always wear the same set of 10 favourite T-shirts over and over until they are worn out.  Formal clothes for weddings and funerals.  A model Victory in 120 parts which I have been going to build for the last 15 years.  Tech for every conceivable eventuality.  All of this is nearly filling a double garage.

And yet – here we are in our stripped down house with a good 3/4s of our belongings in boxes.  Am I suffering?  Is there anything I need and can’t have?  Well apart from a few minor irritations like R’s trousers which I had “packed” but turned out to be in the dryer – no – I am missing nothing.

All this leads me to believe we have too much stuff – in the new house I am really going to make a big attempt to buy less things I don’t really need.  In particular I am not buying any more cheap plastic crap from Amazon – if we need things for the house they are going to be quality things that last, made if possible by proper craftsmen in the UK (or at least in Europe).

For a picture at the top of the page – here is a little table which was very much on its last legs.  It has been washed, sanded down, primed, painted with chalk paint, stenciled with a gold dragon, and varnished.