Imagine no Possessions...

Jeanwah

Today pretty much reminds us of John Lennon's words and the subject above resonates with me as I try to live as a minimalist (except when I'm given tons of 2nd hand belongings which I give away). But I'm wondering how us thinkers in MT feel about 'stuff' in general.

Could you live without many of your possessions? Americans are very attached to their things and we consume 1/3 of the world's consumables. Anyone else here think about living with less, and how our things don't truly make us happy? Because they don't...

Godfather.

all the time, cell phones- cable t.v- my bike..? ouch-computer at home-internet bill-credit cards..there are so many thing I did just fine with out back in the day.

Godfather.

lukin2006

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac

maj4e

Minimalist here. I've given away/sold pretty much all but a core group of possessions. If it weren't for wife and kids I'd totally live in a one room hovel and be perfectly happy.

mikepegg44

Jeanwah wrote:

Today pretty much reminds us of John Lennon's words and the subject above resonates with me as I try to live as a minimalist (except when I'm given tons of 2nd hand belongings which I give away). But I'm wondering how us thinkers in MT feel about 'stuff' in general.

Could you live without many of your possessions? Americans are very attached to their things and we consume 1/3 of the world's consumables. Anyone else here think about living with less, and how our things don't truly make us happy? Because they don't...

I don't think owning things in necessarily a bad thing, the problem becomes evident when you start to identify your self-worth by those things. I have a lot of stuff simply because I never throw anything away, but I would be just fine tomorrow with nothing(except internet access). I really hope people start understanding how to be okay with nothing, because it really is the only way to be okay at all. The only things that truly matter cannot be measured by stuff anyway.

release23420

could do with out everything but my surfboard /soccer ball/pillow/ blanket/ lighter / an this key this aussie gave me,,

polaris_x

we definitely have too much stuff ... but the problem of stuff goes far beyond what are needs and wants are ... it's the basis for exploitation and greed ... for example ... it's one thing to buy something electronic but it's another to know that they are made to last ... they are made to be disposed of and to be bought again in relative short periods of time ... that is the saddest part of stuff ...

Jason P

The easiest way to become a minimalist is to buy a house ... then you won't have any extra money to buy possessions

I've been working towards this approach, but not to the extremes that some might. Baby steps for now.

Godfather.

Jason P wrote:

The easiest way to become a minimalist is to buy a house ... then you won't have any extra money to buy possessions

I've been working towards this approach, but not to the extremes that some might. Baby steps for now.

good luck on your house !

Godfather.

cajunkiwi

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation ... tml?hpt=C1

You might find that an interesting read - Steve Wozniak essentially says people have become too reliant on technology... and partially blames himself... even though he admits to carrying five cellphones

Jason P

Godfather. wrote:

Jason P wrote:

The easiest way to become a minimalist is to buy a house ... then you won't have any extra money to buy possessions

I've been working towards this approach, but not to the extremes that some might. Baby steps for now.

good luck on your house !

Godfather.

Thank you. But to be truthful, it has been a wakeup call for me. A house could be considered the ultimate possession, but at least it is an investment. I've been trying to learn new skills to help cut down on costs and conserve energy. It's an older house that could use some remodeling to modernize it, but I found that checking out the local auctions and yard sales can add some nice decor for little impact on the pocket book. Plus most of the stuff is more unique and has better workmanship then the stuff from places like the Pottery Barn.

But my first step to reducing my possessions is ending my love affair with tech. Polaris was right on the money when he noted the extremely short life span of todays tech items. New TV's have a 3-5 year shelf life if you are lucky. My aunt and uncle still have a working Zenith TV that was made in Bloomington, IN about 35 years ago. Besides tech stuff, I really just have some guitars, my bicycle and my hiking gear . . . and about 15 mystery boxes / time capsules that I've been lugging around for ten years.

tinkerbell

I have moved 5 times in the past 6 years so have become good at not hoarding things, and purging everytime we move - I give a lot to the charity shops. We are not a materialistic family, all of our furniture is second hand - either hand me downs from family or picked up on the cheap. I don't place my own self worth on my possessions but unfortunately most of my generation do.
My most valuable possessions are my photos, guitar and a painting my Dad did for me.

catefrances

i could live without all my possessions except my books, music and camera. un/fortunately thats all the possessions ive got. :shock:

BinauralJam

I like my Stuff.

Byrnzie

All I need are a p.c, my records and books. In fact, that's pretty much all I have.

Commy

Byrnzie wrote:

All I need are a p.c, my records and books. In fact, that's pretty much all I have.

same.

Kel Varnsen

Jeanwah wrote:

Today pretty much reminds us of John Lennon's words and the subject above resonates with me

Not to stray too far off topic, but I always thought it was kind of weird that a guy who wrote a song about imagining having no posessions, also had a custom painted Rolls Royce Phantom V limosine.

ajedigecko

i like my possessions........they just do not possess me.

my possessions have allowed me to experience many exciting places.

actually.....i imagine having more possessions, resulting in many more experiences.

i do not have a custom painted rolls royce though.........that escapes my imagination.

Jeanwah

ajedigecko wrote:

i like my possessions........they just do not possess me.

my possessions have allowed me to experience many exciting places.

actually.....i imagine having more possessions, resulting in many more experiences.

i do not have a custom painted rolls royce though.........that escapes my imagination.

You don't need possessions to experience anything, that's the point.

ajedigecko

Jeanwah wrote:

ajedigecko wrote:

i like my possessions........they just do not possess me.

my possessions have allowed me to experience many exciting places.

actually.....i imagine having more possessions, resulting in many more experiences.

i do not have a custom painted rolls royce though.........that escapes my imagination.

You don't need possessions to experience anything, that's the point.

you obviously have not been at 14,000 feet for any duration of time....or the desert.

Jeanwah

ajedigecko wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

ajedigecko wrote:

i like my possessions........they just do not possess me.

my possessions have allowed me to experience many exciting places.

actually.....i imagine having more possessions, resulting in many more experiences.

i do not have a custom painted rolls royce though.........that escapes my imagination.

You don't need possessions to experience anything, that's the point.

you obviously have not been at 14,000 feet for any duration of time....or the desert.

You are totally missing the point. Nevermind.

You don't have to possess an airplane to fly in one. :roll:

coralnerd

I could live without a lot of the crap in my house, except my climbing gear. I really, really need that.

coralnerd

ajedigecko wrote:

you obviously have not been at 14,000 feet for any duration of time....or the desert.

Don't worry. I get it.


One thing I would really like to have in my possession right now are some tickets to the EV solo gig in Brisbane. But I can't get any!

CAVSTARR313

I like my stuff.. I will keep it all.. I have earned it

Byrnzie

I've come to regard most 'stuff' the same way I now regard t.v - once you've done without it for a while you realize how useless it is.

I've not watched t.v in 3 years.

chadwick

i like a computer
a full water bottle
cds or records

i like a bed
:wtf: i like rocks and sticks :lolno:
i like a car (with cd player)

no cell phone, no tv,

i like a tooth brush
i like having a pair of shoes
and pen & paper so i can write

Jeanwah

I live without a car right now (not by choice; I don't have clearance to drive from my doctor, and my car is gone). I never thought I could live without it, but when forced you can live without a lot.

Jason P

Jeanwah wrote:

ajedigecko wrote:

you obviously have not been at 14,000 feet for any duration of time....or the desert.

You are totally missing the point. Nevermind.

You don't have to possess an airplane to fly in one. :roll:

I believe the padawan may be referring to mountain climbing. :ugeek:

Jeanwah

Jason P wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

ajedigecko wrote:

you obviously have not been at 14,000 feet for any duration of time....or the desert.

You are totally missing the point. Nevermind.

You don't have to possess an airplane to fly in one. :roll:

I believe the padawan may be referring to mountain climbing. :ugeek:

Yeah, I figured that out shortly after writing my post. Thanks.

know1

I'm a minimilist so I probably COULD live without a few things, but I don't have a lot of extra stuff. We have one of the few garages in our neighborhood that we actually park in.

TriumphantAngel

i'd be just fine with some books, my journal, one of my guitars, some letters, some photos, some music and my femputer.