As William Morris said,”Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

I was also going to say that I agree with KT in that a happy medium is best for me. I also love “stuff” (books and kitschy Value Village finds seem to be a particular downfall of mine), but I’m trying to curate more every day.

Ida, I used to do something similar. I would buy things to make me feel better, to deal with my depression. Then I would have a huge attack of buyer’s remorse, and end up feeling worse. Plus, I’d be broke. Plus plus, I would have nowhere to store my new shinies, which led to clutter everywhere.

I’ve been able to innoculate myself from hedonic adaptation by occasionally renting a run-of-the-mill family sedan, econobox, or even taking the bus. Then I realize what I have is pretty good.

I do the same with my watch, clothes, electronics, and other goods. Comparing myself to those who have without isn’t that noble, but it does work!

What you realise then though is that if you have all this stuff around that doesn’t make you happy, you might as well get rid of it..

And Brian’s on a very interesting track there. When I finally have the tag sale I’ve been wanting to for 2 years, and then look around at the house with a little bit less stuff in it, will that make me any happier? Did it really make me unhappy, or neither happy nor happy, with the extra clothes and decor in the house? Chances are I just never even “saw” it anymore. I doubt it’ll really “free” me of anything, but maybe others can actually find some use and beautify their homes with the items that I once thought I would use. (And of course, when I “kick,” there’ll be a little less that my next of kin will have to deal with!)

Now I would much rather travel than to buy a fur coat (which I would NEVER do anyway as I love critters).

I am so glad I did all the travelling I have done as I cannot afford to now and I am also older.

I enjoyed my cameras for the experiences they saved and loved the art form of taking photographs.

I treasure books often for their beauty, so that I can refer to them again and really would not feel comfortable with a kindle. I also do not understand why the kindle books are not VERY inexpensive.

But I think it is great that they are available and I’d would like to have one to use sometimes.

I’d prefer a concert to something tangible. I saw hundreds of concerts, worked many of them and I am so glad I did.

I’d rather go out and have a pleasant meal with friends rather than obtain some thing.

I would treasure a car like the one mentioned above if it was something I appreciated and always wanted. I think is is great for someone to buy a real treat- something a bit “self-indulgent”.

But I love to shop. I actually love “stuff” (ssshhhh) and while I want and need to declutter a great deal (and have been doing so) and be more selective, shopping can be a social interaction with friends, a hobby, even an art form.

Collections can be terrifically enjoyable hobbies.

I have no desire to live like a monk but just as things are not going to determine happiness, a lack of things is not going to do it either.

I see my sister-in-law half-terrified of “stuff” to the point of obsession. The kids suffer.

A few years ago I had very few possessions and I certainly was not happy nor really unhappy about it. Nor did it make me the least bit happy although I did not really find it overwhelming.

Uncluttering or living uncluttered did not make me happy.

I wound up with a bunch of hand-me-down clothes when I much rather would have gone out and spent some money on attractive clothes I wanted- not get something as it sorta fit and covered up my body. I did not need a lot.

I just think that a happy medium is nice. And people’s personal values need to be taken into consideration. Like that hot car! Go for it!

And I certainly want to get the “stuff” under control rather than have it control me. But by the same token I can enjoy stuff.

I want to get organized! And I am getting there which involves some uncluttering.

I am now taking steps to curb my “consumer entertainment” with the things in life that will give me greater emotional satisfaction.

On a more general level, I think the things we have to work hard to get, give us more pleasure for longer than the things that are easy to get.

The next (and admittedly much bigger step) in “downsizing” my life is to sell my house. Even though I have a good job (for now) and can afford the mortgage, just the thought of this enormous debt sometimes keeps me up at night. Also, the upkeep on a house is a drag. I want to go back to the relatively unencumbered state of renting. But aside from the financial wisdom of selling in a down market, will I be happier in two years for having gotten rid of this “burden”?

I discussed the matter with my sister and she liked the idea for her 3 sons.