Too many objects confound a life. When your items become too numerous, your time and money is spent caring for objects rather than living your life. I'm thinking about that today as I ready the home for a number of holiday visitors. What items do you really need?
For each of us, the list of necessary items will differ dependent on our age, geography, interests, profession, family and more. At this point in life, these are the items I need and want.
Photos
My photo collection in boxes, online and positioned in frames all over my house is a collection that brings me joy. Of course, I want to cull the collection in boxes by giving away significant photos to people at special times and also getting rid of photos that are not significant or repetitious. A collection of a few 100 photos is probably sufficient.
Gardening supplies
The supplies for indoor/outdoor gardening help to bring the beauty and good foods that plants bring to our life. Those are keepers.
Craft/creativity supplies
I like to make things for special occasions--I rarely enjoy just sitting so to have a small collection of craft supplies gives me something fun and meaningful to do.
Books
I have a relatively small book collection of books I've read and loved and books I want to read. I typically cull that collection regularly by giving away books I won't read again and books that I think someone I know would like to read.
Clothes
Clothes can present a quandary for women since fashions change so quickly and women's bodies tend to take on different shapes and sizes over time. I've always regretted giving away wonderful clothes items too quickly and wish I held on to those items. So for clothes, I'll save the special items and organize the clothes I wear regularly with a focus mostly on clothes for outdoor activity--having the right clothes for outdoor adventures promotes more of that good activity. I'm a big fan of cozy pajamas too because I tend to get more down when I'm wearing cozy pajamas. And having a few outfits for travel and parties is helpful too.
Cooking supplies
Since I have a big family, I invested in a sizable collection of tableware. That has been an environmentally friendly choice since we don't have to buy paper supplies every time family members visit. I also cook a lot so having a nice collection of good cooking tools and pans helps me to cook better. We have a decent glass/mug collection too and have inherited a large number of special kitchen tools that I use all the time. There are some supplies that I no longer need and I'll put those in a box and donate to place that provides kitchen supplies to people who need them.
Games and toys
Since my children are now adults, I've kept a nice collection of games and toys that we still play with as a family and that someday grandchildren may play with when they visit.
Decorations
We've collected a number of holiday decorations for the many holidays and special events that occur throughout the year--we'll keep those and potentially add only a few more over time.
Furniture
We have a nice collection of typical household furniture--we'll only buy more if what we have wears out.
Blankets, towels, sheets
Our collection is small and sufficient.
Foods
We have a weekly list of staples and sometimes buy specialty items when we want to cook something new.
Technology
We enjoy the information and entertainment computers and television bring to our lives.
When you first begin your life away from your childhood home, you begin to accumulate items. As your family grows, so do the items you tend to collect, and then you reach that empty nester stage and there are few items that you need to live well. At that later stage, experiences hold far more value than lots of items, and when your collection of things is small--your time for experiences is greater. Onward.