I would never categorize myself as a “hoarder” (per se)--but my wife surely does. To me, a hoarder is much too harsh a word because it sounds more like someone who needs medication or therapy to fix it. A “pack rat” is probably a little closer to my description.
Just because I enjoy “collecting” things at a much higher level than the majority of humanity, does not qualify me as one of those clinically extremes who have their own dedicated TV shows.
I haven’t reached the point where I require a psychiatrist with a garbage truck to cure my condition. All I need is a dose of willpower to reduce my inventory instead of obtaining more, and maybe an occasional garage sale to sell some of my stuff to get money to buy other stuff.
There are various reasons that I have multiples of several different items. For instance, I may already have a certain thing, but then I get a new one as a gift. The new thing is much nicer, but there’s really nothing wrong with the old thing. I can’t justify throwing it away, so I just hang onto it, or maybe add it to my stack of garage sale items.
Another reason is knowing when the price on stuff is a “really great deal” that simply cannot be passed up. You know those things that go on sale, often just before or after a certain holiday, with an irresistible price reduction. My thought process: maybe I’ll save it as a back-up or a spare, or give it as a gift to someone else, but I must have it!
Not all of my “collections” were created intentionally, such as tools. I mean, I didn’t just get up one day and decide to start accumulating screwdrivers or saws or sanders or wrenches, etc.
Often times, for instance, I’ve found myself needing a certain tool but unable to find it because I’m not the greatest organizer -- so I’ve gone out and bought another one. After this happens about five or six times, I end up with five or six of that same tool. This is the same repetitive formula for how I obtain much of my stuff.
I just have a slightly easier time gathering things, than I do getting rid of them. Whether they’ll admit it or not, I know there are others like me out there (many others).
One of my favorite stand-up comedians from back in the 1970’s and ‘80’s, George Carlin, had a comedy routine when talked about our “stuff” and how we, as a society, can never seem to get enough tangible things. He joked, “A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff.”
I just don’t know if I could survive being a minimalist. I do admire people who can get by with only the bare essentials, but I think it takes a special mind-set. I like the comfort of knowing there’s always an extra one on standby, just in case.
We, Americans, probably have more stuff per/capita than any other country in the free world. I’m sure most people would prefer to buy their stuff locally, or at least domestically, but that’s often hard to do when you compare the ultra-cheap prices of imported stuff, especially from third-world countries. It’s sad but true.
Just remember, regardless of how much stuff you have or where it came from, it’s all YOUR stuff and nobody should be allowed to tell you how much you can or cannot have...even your spouse.
Danny O’Fallon is the publisher of
The Columbian-Progress. He may be
reached at (601) 736-2611 or
dofallon@columbianprogress.com.
