“I make myself rich by making my wants few.”
— Henry David Thoreau
For thousands of years, great minds have warned us against the acquisition of “Stuff”. The more stuff we have, the more we’re obsessed with newer, better, more interesting stuff. For about six or seven years now, I have been eliminating extraneous possessions; since before I had even heard of the Minimalist philosophy. Long ago, I realized that possession and the grasping for possessions is a serious root of much of the world’s evil. Greed drives our government. Greed drives the whole crazy idea of banking; not the idea of doing something good or worthwhile, or even making ourselves happy or free. Making money, buying junk, and paying to be entertained. This unholy trinity is the basis for most people’s lives and I don’t want to participate in that.
By most American’s standards, I own very little, but the next few months will see a serious change and a move toward absolute minimalism. I’m posting this here to maybe inspire a few others to think about their possessions, what holds you down, and what makes you happy. Every possession is an anchor.
Preindustrial Craftsmanship 
What about tools and materials? I also am bedeviled by collections of small stuff, junk drawer stuff, odds and ends of batteries, push pins, a brass hook, chargers, etc that i can’ throw out, and often find something in there I need. I have been living in tiny places, but always with a storage unit somewhere and wish I could break free of that payment .
My problem too. I have a workshop full of tools and supplies. Some of this, I’m just letting go and trimming down to the minimum. My only small regret has been with getting rid of saved hardware and supplies with each move. Ultimately, this is the tough part.
Thumbs up. I’ve been trimming gradually for years. The first place I started was with clothes. I now have a compartment wardrobe (almost everything “matches” everything else) and only four pair of shoes (two work and two play). Once you get over the initial shock, less is liberating!
As I’ve aged, I look back on all the shit I’ve collected and my dad collected and my father-in-law collected and have decided that my kids will not have to worry about it. I’ll have given it away, sold it or give to a family member that wil take care of it. What do you need? I may have it.
When my grandfather got old, he gave me a slew of his tools. He was sort of surprised I even wanted them and had already given or sold them to neighbors and friends. The reason was, they weren’t new! The old tools he gave me are some of the best things I have. BUT, on that note, the rest of the junk they acquired made me think about all stuff I was accumulating. Recent moves have made me slim down even more and I recognize I will be much more free with less stuff, whether it’s now or when I’m able to retire. Less clothes, drawers full of junk, bits and pieces of old projects “just in case” I need that one bolt or wire or plug or plumbing fitting. It has been a freeing experience and I look at “stuff” in a whole new way now.
Reblogged this on lowtechnomad.