Oooh, I really upset my landlady’s son the other day. I asked him what he was going to do with the junk car in the back yard. He told me that, in fact, it was a collectible car and a valuable investment. He just needs to do some work on it and it can be sold for at least $10,000.00.
Well that’s great. It has monetary value, but here’s the thing: It’s been sitting there gathering dust and taking up space for a year and a half. So as far as I’m concerned, it’s junk. I don’t care if something is worth a million dollars. If it’s not being used, can’t be eaten or worn or read, doesn’t have sentimental or artistic value, and/or doesn’t enhance your life in some significant way, it’s worthless.
People who stuff their life full of inanimate objects because they might be worth something someday make me crazy. And it seems that the likelihood of someone actually making the effort to go out and sell a possession is inversely proportionate to the number of possessions that person has. So all they’re doing is taking up space, spending money that could be better utilized elsewhere, and paying to heat, cool, house and store mounds and mounds of useless flotsam and jetsam.
We are raised to look at the monetary value of things, rather than the utility value and the sentimental value. I think that’s a pity. If we viewed things through a different lens, our attics, closets and garages would look a lot different.
[Image credit: farhanadhalla.com ]
The View from a Drawbridge 
I am a minimalist, but you know the saying – one person’s junk … 🙂
Sadly, I’m living it. That car will probably live at this address longer than I will.
Two years ago, I spent the summer cleaning out the attic. There is absolutely nothing left. I got rid of a ton of stuff from the upstairs and downstairs and even 20 bins of stuff from the basement. There is 50 years of Kindergarten papers, dance, Boy and Girl Scout stuff and dingy prom bouquets. How can I part with any of it? Well, Barb… Here I go. I just realized that Our four children are never coming back to get this stuff, nor are they ever going to get a place big enough, nor do they even care. I know it is MY VERY BIG PROBLEM. But I will bite the emotional bullet and gut this place for once and for all.
Well, it sounds like you’re making great progress. Think of it this way, too: The one thing hoarders seem to overlook is that if they leave behind piles of junk, then when they pass away, it falls upon their grieving children to deal with all of that. So by cleaning it all out, you’re doing a very loving, unselfish thing for your kids.
That’s for sure, and it usually falls into the lap of the chosen or volunteering child that always takes care of everything, usually leaving little time for their own needs. That is the main reason for doing this. And, most of it is donated to her church closet or Church Yard Sale. Win, Win.
Your blog is having definite impact in my life. from appreciating fall leaves, people watching. soul-searching and re-structuring my life. Thanks Friend.
Very much my pleasure, dear lady. One of the best things about this blog is I get to meet amazing people like you.
If I still had the G I Joe action figures we played with as kids, they would be worth a lot… but we lit them on fire and blew them up with fire crackers… so maybe not so much.
Which is why they’re so valuable. I’m guessing very few of them made it through unscathed.
None of them did.
I mean, globally. Not just yours.
Crazy collector people…
LOL! My son did that with my daughter’s dolls. My brother took my skates apart. Must be a guy thing.
I think that is true. Never give small boys a living thing to play with.
Only one and a half Years? I have been living with a Husband who refuses to get rid of anything in this house and backyard. ie: Motorbike in my LOUNGE for over 10 years!, BMW standing in my backyard over 8 years, My sister in Law’s crashed Vehicle for over two and a half years and a friends trailer for more than a year!! All he says is: It’s not years and it does not cost you anything.
Wow. You poor thing. But it does cost you something. Storage space has value. Ask any storage company. The space that stuff takes up could be put to a much different and better use. Also, it’s causing you stress, and it’s putting a strain on your relationship. And if it’s really extreme, it’s putting wear and tear on your property. Have you ever seen the show Hoarders? If not, you can watch it for free on Hulu.com. As for the motorbike, I’d have to draw the line there. It’s your place too. Wait until he’s off somewhere and get someone to help you move it outside. Give the room a nice makeover, and then dare him to say even one word. That’s easy for me to say, though…
You absolutely made my day. Thanks. I do put the bike inside the house to good use. I use it as a clothes horse and as it is covered in a blanket that does not come off often I wait till he is not home and am fixing it bit by bit all by myself. I will just start it up and ride it out soon.
WOW! That’s fantastic! That’s…I’m so impressed by you! Talk about turning lemons into lemonade! You’re learning something, gaining confidence, and will teach him something valuable in the process! I’m really impressed.
Kappaloca, Two thumbs up! Let us know when you take that ride.