Comments on: How Getting Robbed Saved Me from the ‘Culture of Stuff’

By: educatedvagabond

educatedvagabond — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:02:30 +0000

I really enjoyed this piece, mostly because I’ve been going through this a bit myself. I used to live out of a duffle bag and now I live in an apartment full of things. I unpacked for the first time in years and realized I had settled into frame of mind where the most useless objects became necessities.

I thought I was the biggest packrat ever – and then I saw my sister’s room in my parents house. Her room, two closets, the common area outside of her room, two bathrooms – all of them filled with boxes of her things! The boxes are full and yet the floor and every surface is covered with things.

I realized I needed to put my things in perspective. I like being minimalist and trying to limit my number of possessions. But I also don’t need to have as much or as little as someone else. Just enough to get by.

By: Anna

Anna — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:00:37 +0000

Totally agree. I think much of the developed world has been sucked into a culture of consumerism, where commercial actors have persuaded them that material excess will make them happy. Despite being the richest people in the world, those in western culture constantly look up to the excessively expensive lifestyles of pop culture figures such as actors and musicians, as if such riches and material possession would make them happy. People don’t appreciate that it’s EXPERIENCES that are of value to us at the end of the day, not the amount of stuff sitting on your shelves or the number in your bank account.
Also, why should we own stuff anyway? Houses, furniture etc… it’s all going to outlive us, so what sense does it make that I should OWN it. What right do I have to say that something more immortal than me is mine and under my control? In modern commerce, I can “own” a plot of land, but given that this plot of land is eternal, and I will be dead within the next century, surely I am just a guest on this land. How can it actually be “owned”? The same goes for all my stuff that will still be here after I die. If it will outlive me, what sense does it make that I should claim that it is mine? Furthermore, when I die, my possessions are no longer of use to me- would my money not have been better spent renting or borrowing such items during my life, and spending the excess money on new experiences?

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:06:06 +0000

I so totally agree. It has taken the economic downturn for me to reassess my life and re-prioritize. Why would my wife and I (and a 20 lb cat) need 300 sq ft, a pool, 3/4 acre, etc etc etc
I decided that we need less stuff and more memories- that the career which consumed the 1st half of my life (hopefully I have another half yet to go) was not fulfilling- so into the travel business I dove.
I love it.

By: Pet Friendly Hotel

Pet Friendly Hotel — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:02:11 +0000

Fantastic post. I really like it. Me too have some many stuffs that I haven’t used yet.

By: James Clark

James Clark — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:03:32 +0000

Good one. I have found that when I come back from a long stretch away from my homebase I see all my stuff that I haven’t used for ages and realise it is not as indispensable as I thought it was.

By: Of Robbery and Disappointment — Three New Leaves

Of Robbery and Disappointment — Three New Leaves — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:53:58 +0000

[...] wonderful news, Vagabondish.com just published my latest piece, the aptly-titled ‘How Getting Robbed Saved Me from the Culture of Stuff.’ I’d add on some self-deprecating witticism, but, uh, that’s what it’s about it. For [...]

By: Michael F.

Michael F. — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 10:11:29 +0000

One of the best feelings of my life was when I moved from my hometown to Seattle. I got rid of everything I could as I was lucky enough to have a friend willing to drive me to my new home.

I had five boxes when I moved, and it was liberating.

Fast forward five years, and here I am with a similar pile of useless possessions. A storage unit to boot!

As I start to plan my exodus from the norm, I realize how easy it is to accumulate things. I cannot wait until I can be free of all this once again.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:32:13 +0000

Great snippet!!!!!

By: Joshua Sierles

Joshua Sierles — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 07:15:56 +0000

Something similar happened to me. I placed all my things in a storage space for which I neglected to pay for correctly while traveling. Everything I owned was auctioned off to an unknown party. My initial reaction was anger and loss, but quickly this turned to deep relief and weightlessness.

It was undoubtedly the most remarkable event that led me to my nomadic life.

By: Sabina

Sabina — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:57:22 +0000

Oh, yeah, so many people think things, and then more things, will make them happy. Things make me sick.