Where did this go wrong? A collector's lament for the ages! - Bilge

I ikitnrev Tiki Socialite D.C. / Virginia Joined: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1325	I ikitnrev Posted posted on Mon, Jul 21, 2008 6:17 PM I did the same thing that James did - decided to give a good listen to all the cassette tapes I had recorded from the years 1978 through 1993 or so. For a long time, I would buy LPs, tape them, and trade the LPs back to the store to get more credit, and then buy more records, and the cycle would repeat over and over. I had over 400 cassettes to listen too - it was fun to listen to those songs again, and sometimes wonder 'Why did I ever record that?' ... and it took several months for me to complete the task (I listened to the tapes only when driving) I have accumulated several collections since then - started with LPs around 1992, and since then has continued with various items, but mainly tiki stuff and books - lots of books. Will I ever have time to read all of my unread books - probably not. But I like having them around, as I feel they kind of define who I am, and provides some level of anticipation. I moved from a one-bedroom apartment to a 3-level townhouse, and for the next 15 years I had the space and freedom to do lots of thrifting, and since my tastes were not too expensive, pretty much buy whatever I wanted. About 2-3 years ago I reached a limit though, and for most everything I now buy, I have to get rid of something .... it really does cut down on purchases. All those unlistened to records and unread books I have? They are part of what I consider my retirement plan - so I will have something new to listen to and read when I no longer have to work. Earlier today I found a good review for a book called 'It's All Too Much - How to Declutter Your Life' - the review has lots of good excerpts, that kind of match what James said above. Having too much stuff really chains you down a bit. Here is an excerpt from that book ... I have been in more cluttered homes than I can count, and the one factor I see in every single situation is people whose lives hinge on what they own instead of who they are. These people have lost their way. They no longer own their stuff--their stuff owns them. I am convinced that this is more the norm than the exception in this country. At some point, we started to believe that the more we own, the better off we are. In times past an in other cultures, people believe that one of the worst things that can happen is for someone to be possessed., to have a demon exercise power over you. Isn't that what being inundated with possession is-- being possessed? Are we being possessed by our tikis? more excerpts, and the book review, can be found here http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/002926.php [ Edited by: ikitnrev 2008-07-22 05:24 ]

I did the same thing that James did - decided to give a good listen to all the cassette tapes I had recorded from the years 1978 through 1993 or so. For a long time, I would buy LPs, tape them, and trade the LPs back to the store to get more credit, and then buy more records, and the cycle would repeat over and over. I had over 400 cassettes to listen too - it was fun to listen to those songs again, and sometimes wonder 'Why did I ever record that?' ... and it took several months for me to complete the task (I listened to the tapes only when driving)

I have accumulated several collections since then - started with LPs around 1992, and since then has continued with various items, but mainly tiki stuff and books - lots of books. Will I ever have time to read all of my unread books - probably not. But I like having them around, as I feel they kind of define who I am, and provides some level of anticipation.

I moved from a one-bedroom apartment to a 3-level townhouse, and for the next 15 years I had the space and freedom to do lots of thrifting, and since my tastes were not too expensive, pretty much buy whatever I wanted. About 2-3 years ago I reached a limit though, and for most everything I now buy, I have to get rid of something .... it really does cut down on purchases.

All those unlistened to records and unread books I have? They are part of what I consider my retirement plan - so I will have something new to listen to and read when I no longer have to work.

Earlier today I found a good review for a book called 'It's All Too Much - How to Declutter Your Life' - the review has lots of good excerpts, that kind of match what James said above. Having too much stuff really chains you down a bit.

Here is an excerpt from that book ...
I have been in more cluttered homes than I can count, and the one factor I see in every single situation is people whose lives hinge on what they own instead of who they are. These people have lost their way. They no longer own their stuff--their stuff owns them. I am convinced that this is more the norm than the exception in this country. At some point, we started to believe that the more we own, the better off we are. In times past an in other cultures, people believe that one of the worst things that can happen is for someone to be possessed., to have a demon exercise power over you. Isn't that what being inundated with possession is-- being possessed?

Are we being possessed by our tikis?

more excerpts, and the book review, can be found here
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/002926.php

[ Edited by: ikitnrev 2008-07-22 05:24 ]

Post #395627 by ikitnrev on Mon, Jul 21, 2008 6:17 PM