Are you a prisoner...

[Evil One]

Of your possessions?
Caryn and I were talking, most people are constrained and tied down by the things they own.
There are 2 of us.
We have 2 cars.
We could load up the 2 cars and leave most things we own.
Clothes, guns, laptops, tools, cats... and not much more.

Could you do it if you had to?
If need be, I could load onto a motorcycle and go.


Jim

[chillypepper]

i could (and did) load every thing i own into the back of a minitruck and move in one trip. including my tools. hasn't allways been this way. sure is nice when it's time to clean house though, nothing to pick up and put away, just sweep, dust and mop. take out the trash. then relax.

[Wayne02]

Prisoner of our possessions? Yeah, probably so, especially if you consider the real estate as a 'possession', as there is always things that need done to keep this place running. I think most people are prisoners of their possessions to a degree, that's just how it is.

Could we load up some stuff and leave everything behind? Sure if it was necessary - natural disaster etc. That's one of the reasons I have always owned an RV. In addition to using it for camping, and as a guest house, we could live in it if needed as it is self-contained and mobile. I lived in a camper for the first two years out of high school and I could do it again if circumstances required.

Could we load up the truck and trailer with minimum requirements and not have that many possessions left behind? No way that is possible, there would be shipping containers worth of 'possessions' left behind.

[GatorFarmer]

I sold everything that I owned in 2006 and moved to Washington state to marry a woman that I'd talked to on the Internet, but never actually met. Worked out about as well as that sort of thing was going to as I'm fond of saying.

While I did discover that "stuff" really is just "stuff", I would say that having stuff does beat the alternative in many cases.

[Ought Six]

When I move all my stuff, it takes a 16 foot rental truck minimum. It is the furniture that really takes up most of the space. The leather recliner couch, king size bed, entertainment center, etcetera. Does that make me a 'prisoner'? I think not. I could sell it all quickly enough if I really needed to, and I will be moving again after only one year in the house I am currently renting. If I am a prisoner to anything, it is my lust for a much bigger gun collection. I am a total gun whore.

[afriqueart]

We're both packrats. Last move cost us $10,000.

[BarbC]

I've loaded some clothes, photos, books and a bit of jewelry into a van and left. Of course, that was more of an evacuation than a move.

I didn't have that habit of being tied to physical things and aside from some very sentimental antique furniture I have now, there's not much else other than what's listed above that I would still be unwilling to walk away from.

[Jack Flash]

I'm sure I am. I like my stuff. When you're a prisoner of your possessions, at least you have the option of "freeing" yourself at any time. For someone who has nothing, the reverse is not always possible.

The news is full of stories about people who have lived a middle class life for decades but who now find themselves out of work for the first time in their lives and reduced to living in a tent. A situation like that is nothing to make light of and my heart goes out to them. I doubt that they feel liberated. I'd wager every one of them would go back to their former life (as a "prisoner of his possessions") in a heartbeat.

[2Loud4You]

Considering all the guns, tools, music equipment, etc..., NO, there's no way I could load up my little car and leave everything else behind!

[gunlovingirl]

When I moved to TN, I left a big storage unit of stuff behind. Didn't have a truck, or the money to rent one. I ended up telling my son to go through it all, take what he wanted, and sell or trash the rest. But I am a collector. Antiques mostly. Furniture, toys, china, etc. And now my passion is S&Ws. Are my possessions holding me prisoner? Nope. I've learned possessions are just that. Material objects. They may give you enjoyment, but they can't give you peace and happiness. That comes from somewhere else!

[Evil One]

I grew up being a HUGE pack rat.
NEVER threw away anything that could possibly have any meaning or value.
When my family moved from Mo to NC it took 2 26' moving trucks... and we left a huge storage room full of things in Mo that wouldnt fit into the trucks.
I continued along that path till I met my current wife.
She moved in with me with only a car load of her and her sons posessions... including his bed on top of the car.
When we moved from the house I lived in at the time, we moved in 3-4 loads in my cherokee.
When moving from NC to Ma... it took a 10 foot moving truck.
It took me a while... but I learned that pretty much anything is replacable.
Now... I can pretty much grab and go.
I am taking off to Calgary for up to 2 years... and am loading up my pinto.


Jim

[Vulcan Bob]

Boy, every now and again I have the same thought's!

[sigp220.45]

Nope. I've moved about every five years for my entire adult life. I get rid of some stuff every move, but for the most part I bring it all along. If I didn't like the stuff, I wouldn't have bought it.

[judge]

Yes we do get tied to possessions at home, no doubt about it. If I could get the wife to go along, I'd sell the house and move onto a 45ft trawler. Whatever fits on the boat is it. Otherwise, get rid of it. Spend 6 mos a year in FLA and the other 6 mos travelling up north. No property tax, nasty neighbors, grass to cut, etc. I could live on a boat with no problem!!

[BE Mike]

A buddy of mine keeps collecting things. He became a widower about a year and a half ago. I think he is trying to find comfort in things. He accumulates cars, car parts, guns, and ammo, mostly. He is always worried about someone breaking into his house. Eventhough he has very good security and alarms and good neighbors, there have been a couple of attempts and successful (for the thieves) burglaries. He lives a high profile social life. I think he is a prisoner of his possessions. I couldn't live like he does. I couldn't find happiness there.

OTOH, I live a low-profile life and am very guarded about personal information. I was very poor growing up. I think that is an advantage. My wife and I started with absolutely nothing and everything we have we have earned on our own. We live a middle-income lifestyle, and want for nothing really. The bottom line is that if we lost it all tomorrow, it wouldn't be pleasant, but we could handle it, and start over. Things are nice, but they hold little emotional attachment for me.

[jimmyj]

Hi:
I had a Partner that said a fellow should never have more "Belonging" than could fit two suitcases. His reasoning was that when your wife kicked you out all you had to do was pick up a suitcase in either hand and walk.
This same partner said that you went thru a Divorce you could forget the two suitcases as you would be lucky to leave with the clothes on your back.

Another "Gem" that I have remembered is that "Anytime you give an Citizan a "Break" it will come back to "Haunt" you".

Art, I miss you!
Jimmy

[USAF385]

I was a nomad for about 8 months after high school. I roamed the country in an old Chevy truck with just a few changes of clothes, a boot knife, and a shotgun... well and a few important items to keep me from being smelly. When my cash supply got low.. I worked construction or washed dishes... whatever I could find. Didn't even have a cell phone!

One of the best experiences of my life.... and I had pretty much nothing. I got to visit all the 48 real states . Yeah you heard me, Alaska and North Dakota!

(kidding...... an yes I really mean all but Hawaii and Alaska... those I saw latter. Hawaii on vacation, Alaska courtesy of the Air Force.)

[Farmer17]

I had a huge house with a 3 car garage and I was so successful that I had to park my truck in the driveway because of all the "stuff" in the garage. The area above the three car garage was built-out for storage and it was full of stuff, and any time I needed a tool or something I would go buy a new one because I didn't want to spend hours hunting through all the "stuff" to find it. Ahhhh the pursuit of happiness!!!

[Jetstream]

About an hour ago I was thinking about this very same subject and came to the conclusion that I probably just have too much stuff...

Do I think I'm imprisoned by it? No, but I definately need to do some pairing down. I came to the conclusion that half needs to go. Will I miss it? Probably as soon as it's out the door...

[Bat Guano]

I remember when I could easily move halfway across the country in a Chevy pickup. That may have been the right balance.

Now I have more of everything, but I don't believe I'm all that much better off.

Less very often IS more.

[Spotteddog]

After the first few times of dealing with the aftermath of relatives passing on, who grew up in the depression, you begin viewing it differently. In one instance (and I'm not kidding about this one bit!) the persons 24'X24' garage had had it's rafters stuffed full of the pickets from the picket fence of the 66'X160' lot the garage stood on. The year? 2000'. When the fence came down? 1967'. And no, they did NOT have a fireplace. I won't try to describe the cans of food bulging from being 1 1/2 decades past their expiration. A great life lesson. "Stuff" is usually only important to the one not throwing 90% of it away.

[Tom M]

There was a time when I could put everything I owned in 2 paper shopping bags. I wouldn't want to be that way today, but I was sure happy then. As far as being owned by my own stuff, I suppose I am, in a way, but it's amazing what you can live without, if you have to.

[max]

When my dad died, I cleaned out the house that had been in the family for 35 years. He was a product of the depression and didn't like to throw things away. He worked for the gas company and I probably threw away 1500 pieces of pipe, none over 3 inches long. I have no idea as to how many fittings, etc.

My wife and I have been married for almost 40 years and we have lots of stuff. We are at the point of trying to get rid of stuff and she is always asking people not to give us things as we have too many. I could gladly get rid of a lot of her stuff and she keeps mentioning my collection of Shooting Times, G&A, AR and AH that go back to he early 70's.

I remember when I had one gun and 25 rounds of ammo. I really don't want to go back to that, but will have to someday.

[HOUSTON RICK]

Only the kids toys.

[FirebirdV8]

I can still fit everything I have in my 2000 Camry. It doesn't accelerate quite as fast and the back end droops, but it will fit. However, I grew up lower middle class (I like to say Upper Lower class, at least that way I'm on top of a category) and find it amazing that I now have enough stuff to fill a car. I'm sure that will all change one day.

[bmhiii]

I have quite a bit of "stuff" built up from over the years. If moving and took it all, it's probably a 1/2 semi load or more for a moving company. But while reading this thread, I thought about this a little. I have a Tacoma and could easily fit everything I absolutely wanted to keep in the back of it. These would be "non-replaceable" items like family papers and photos, and well, that's about it. Most of the rest could be purchased again...

I do not feel I'm a prisoner of my possessions, but love them. After all, doesn't everyone need a 61" big screen TV in their man cave?

[gregintenn]

I don't really understand the question. I'm not sure I could fit all my junk on an aircraft carrier, yet we could leave here with everything we need in our pockets. I enjoy having "stuff", but I don't assign a lot of importance to it. My wife and children are what really matters.

[J. Galt]

Definitely...and it's been bugging me lately. The furniture and appliances I could leave with no problem (except maybe the Lazy Boy ), but I have accumulated a LOT of great books that would be hard to part with, and hard to replace. And what to do with all the guns and ammo? I've been selling some off, but they tend to get replaced by others.

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I freely and cheerfully confess to being a Pack Rat-I can still recall having a discussion with a high school classmare and fellow Boy Scout over 40 years, he summed up the Pack Rat Mentality very succinctly-"Oops, might need that someday!" Look up the Collyer Brothers. I have found the secret is to have enough to live comfortably with being either a slave or overwhelmed by it.
One acquaintance decided to clear out his storage unit and sell everything, he cleared over $800. Afew years ago I made a neighborhood boy happy when I gave him TWO complete sets of the McDonald's Flintstone mugs.
My guns, my coins are things I would miss the most in the event of loss. Then my books, some other items.
Regarding some of the comments about only have enough that will fit in a couple of suitcases or maybe a back pack due to a unsteady and volatile relationship with an SO, I will repeat my old joke about the redneck who refinanced his house to buy a truck. When his wife found out about it and blew up, he took off in his paid up truck and stuck her with the two mortgages.

[Munsterf18]

I air'd tires today. We have a small farm, but don't farm for a living.

I had 51 vehicle, trailer, tractor, etc. tires...... Didn't do the kids bikes.

Yep, sometimes I really wonder.

[LoadedRound]

Originally Posted by gunlovingirl

When I moved to TN, I left a big storage unit of stuff behind. Didn't have a truck, or the money to rent one. I ended up telling my son to go through it all, take what he wanted, and sell or trash the rest. But I am a collector. Antiques mostly. Furniture, toys, china, etc. And now my passion is S&Ws. Are my possessions holding me prisoner? Nope. I've learned possessions are just that. Material objects. They may give you enjoyment, but they can't give you peace and happiness. That comes from somewhere else!

Misty's got it. Don't Love anything that can't Love you back.
Then again.....Stuff can be pretty cool (Guns, Tools, Books.....)

[Gary]

I have a lot of stuff also. I try to keep it pruned to a reasonable level though. My rule is that when an object stops giving me pleasure it can be sold or disposed of if the opportunity arises. I got rid of a LOT of stuff several years ago when I divorced. I haven't missed it either.

[gregintenn]

I had 51 vehicle, trailer, tractor, etc. tires...... Didn't do the kids bikes.

I count 46 in my head, but haven't walked around to see if I missed anything. I just realized...I'm a junk-a-holic!

[CAJUNLAWYER]

You want to know what cures one of having a lot of stuff?????
Try a hurricane blowing through and taking it away. You fast realize that the only real important things are what you can cram into a Trailblazer, a suburban and into the boat you are towing. The idea of stuff has become less and less important to me after living through Betsy, Camile, Andrew, Lillie & Gustav. ( I didn't mention Katrina cause although my and my wife's familys lost just about everything-my household came through unscathed).

One good thing about Katrina was that when my MIL passes, she won't have much for the kids to fight over and it's all new.

[rburg]

I'm thinking you guys are rank amateurs at this stuff. My father lived through the great depression and forever corrupted my little mind. If its free, its mine. If its cool, I want it.

We collect stuff. My wife and I get along well because her parents were the same way. Our stuff gives us pleasure. We know we've got what we need. She collects trash, I collect good stuff. Doesn't matter. We have way too many hobbies. I even indulge her with occasional presents. I've bought her a series of embroidery machines. Computer controlled sewing machines, really. She needs supplies. So one day at the flea market, we found a guy who'd bought out the Cannon textile mills old handtowels. I bought her 50 of them for $50. She loved them. So the following weekend I filled my pockets with green and went back for serious shopping. Turns out the guy had almost nothing in them, but wanted $1 each. I asked him for his next price break. He asked how many we were talking about. I ended up buying 1000 of them for $400.

About 5 or 6 years ago a local embroidery factory was going out of business. They had an auction. I took a few hours off work to visit. My wife, intelligently, decided I couldn't be trusted alone. She showed up unexpectedly (by me.) Anyway, I bought one of about 10 tables full of thread. The one I bid on had boxes under it. They were filled, too. We own enough thread to make a string easily to the west coast, probably back to KY. Colors of the rainbow, too!

The company I work for had a telemarketing division. We sold **** to gift shops. Gift shops wrap presents. We had pallets full of stuff that just sat in the one warehouse, gathering dust. Maybe 3 years ago someone decided it was going into dumpsters on the following Monday. I was polite and asked. We worked the Saturday morning. Her station wagon, full to the roof. My oldests minivan, filled twice. I own more ribbon, the kind you tie packages with, than most suppliers. Other **** too!

And thats just the sissy stuff.

I never throw away tools. Or hardware. I've got bolts. I've got screws. Nails? You betcha. Cloth chokers found along the road. Same for the $10 gas cans people buy when they run out of fuel, then leave along the road.

Wanna talk about gun stuff? In 1965, I bought my Browning T bolt. I've still got the instructions, the extra mags (now worth about $100 each), the floor plate and lift to convert it to single shot. Everything else I've accumulated, too.

But I don't have the disease bad. When I clean a gun, I throw away the dirty patches. And I never keep the fired 22 rimfire cases. But I do accumulate old plumbing stuff, like old copper pipe. Yes, I took it back to a metals recycler when copper got to $4. But don't feel too sorry for me, its growing again. Or do feel sorry for me, send me your old wire and copper pipe!

Beside the garage I've got a ramp from a delivery truck. Its aluminum. Weighs several hundred pounds. No real use for it, but its worth $$. When the local AMC/Jeep dealership closed down I was given a few cases of synthetic gear oil. Still have it, too.

If I go to a yard sale, I buy stuff I think is a bargain. Thursday I had to go to another of the company's buildings. I passed a yard sale on the way, so I stopped on the way back. I paid $2 for a table cloth for my wife. Brand new, and it fits our dining room table (good guess on my part.) The only problem is its bright red. We'll use it. If not It'll become a table cloth at a gun show.

Want to talk about odds and ends of ammo? If you've got me beat, you've got quite a pile.

[wbraswell]

I'm a pack rat, my dad was too. I'm an only child and only grandchild on my dad's side. My granparents had lots of nice stuff from all their travels and the many places they lived. It's all mine now, and when my dear 96 year old mom leaves this old world, all her stuff will be mine. Am I a prisoner of my possessions? Of course not, I'm the warden of my possessions. They can leave when I say so, or when their "freedom" is bought. I just hate cleaning all that stuff. Especially yard work.