Article: Our stuff burying us alive: The mountains of garbage we call "collections"

[Ultralight]

Worth a read! http://www.salon.com/2015/11/08/our_stuff_is_burying_us_alive_hoarding_and_the_mou ntains_of_garbage_we_call_collections/

[Tammy]

That was good social commentary on American Pickers.

[Teacher Terry]

Collections can really take over a home. Some people have entire rooms devoted to them. When I was younger I got into collecting various things but they are all gone now except for my small hummel collection. They are in a small curio cabinet so I don't need to dust them often so really not taking up much space. I would gladly sell them if I could get a decent price. I still may if I ever decide to downsize once again as I age. I do like antique furniture not dining sets, end tables, hutches, etc because they were well made & will last for hundreds of years. I don't like the chairs/couches because they are uncomfortable.

[Ultralight]

The urge to collect is an interesting one.

When I was a little kid I collected stickers to fill up a book of dinosaur pictures. I got all but one sticker. After buying a dozen packs of stickers I realized that one sticker I needed was the rarest of all and probably all the other people collecting them were trying to get that one last sticker. So I gave up. Not worth my tiny allowance. haha

I think I tried to throw it away some time later. But I suspect my mom still has it somewhere in her hoard.

[pinkytoe]

I found the passage about how we "non-hoarders" just don't see all our trash because we throw it away rather than collect it to be an insightful commentary.

[Ultralight]

I found the passage about how we "non-hoarders" just don't see all our trash because we throw it away rather than collect it to be an insightful commentary.

Yes, very good point. That really gets me thinking...

[Float On]

Collections can really take over a home. Some people have entire rooms devoted to them. When I was younger I got into collecting various things but they are all gone now except for my small hummel collection. They are in a small curio cabinet so I don't need to dust them often so really not taking up much space. I would gladly sell them if I could get a decent price. I still may if I ever decide to downsize once again as I age. I do like antique furniture not dining sets, end tables, hutches, etc because they were well made & will last for hundreds of years. I don't like the chairs/couches because they are uncomfortable.

I went to college with a Hummel grand-daughter. She didn't own any of them. I always found that interesting.

[pony mom]

I have a few small collections of different things. Each group gets displayed for awhile, then put away and replaced with something different so I can enjoy each on its own.

[Ultralight]

I have a few small collections of different things. Each group gets displayed for awhile, then put away and replaced with something different so I can enjoy each on its own.

Doesn't sound like hoarding to me.

[ToomuchStuff]

I went to college with a Hummel grand-daughter. She didn't own any of them. I always found that interesting.


I would think that would be similar to others I have known. For instance, the family that is connected to the creator of the Beverly Hillbillies and had them advertise for him, has the stuff they have in the family museum/historic home.
She probably can visit it anytime she wants, pretty easily. (seen it with Truman's, and others)

[mschrisgo2]

This topic describes my mother's house... many many "collections": ceramic teapots (70?), turtle figurines (100+), books (thousands), dolls (dozens), bird houses that she painted (about 50), china tea cups (70-80), steins (42!), afghans, 12 complete sets of dishes, 17 artificial Christmas trees and their decorations... I'm sure I'm forgetting something. It's all more important to her than any person.

[lessisbest]

In the case of the American Pickers (a show we enjoyed until we downsized to basic cable and no longer get the show), they find people who probably didn't have anything as children, so when they were older and had money, they bought all those things, and more.... It is also an age of individuals who learned never to waste anything. You know, the string savers of the world.

Sometimes it's the hunt for items in collections that is the most fun part. I was that way with books for many years. Growing up we had precious few books and eventually I was able to put together a rather large personal library. When we sold our home - with a separate library with floor-to-ceiling oak bookcases, the people who bought the house didn't have any books to speak of and wasn't sure what they would put on the shelves. Now, people don't need/want books. I've donated over half of the books I collected over the years. Most recently, delivered around 500 books to a small community who was starting a library in an old church the town bought for $1.

Many REAL "collections" lost value when everyone was able to look for things on the Internet, but it made searching much easier.

[goldensmom]

[QUOTE=lessisbest;221450]In the case of the American Pickers (a show we enjoyed until we downsized to basic cable and no longer get the show), they find people who probably didn't have anything as children, so when they were older and had money, they bought all those things, and more.... .[/QUOTE

That describes my husband but do tools count? I collect nothing as I see no value, satisfaction or interest in collecting anything nor do I want anyone to have to deal with my 'stuff' after my demise.

[Ultralight]

...they find people who probably didn't have anything as children, so when they were older and had money, they bought all those things, and more.

What is interesting is that there is actually no connection to deprivation of "stuff" early in life to hoarding. People with very little go on to hoard. People with lots of stuff go on to hoard. People with moderate amounts go on to hoard.

As I mentioned before, I grew up working poor and in a working poor neighborhood. A close friend of mine (the only other guy to "make it out of" the old neighborhood) is one of the types you describe. He was poor and when he starting making $50,000 a year after college he and his wife would go on lots and lots of shopping sprees. I remember him telling me the wonders of "retail therapy." He buys massive amounts of clothing and toys and gadgets and such.

Obviously, I went the other direction.

I also think there is more nuance to the idea of not wasting things. When we generally think of people who don't waste things we think of people with all the "strings" and such, as you alluded to.

But I think of myself as not wasting much, at least compared to most Americans. Why? Because I don't buy much.

[Tammy]

Exactly! The first word in the phrase is reduce - only after that do we reuse and recycle.

People forget about reducing but it's the most effective one.

[Ultralight]

Exactly! The first word in the phrase is reduce - only after that do we reuse and recycle.

People forget about reducing but it's the most effective one.

But recycling gives people permission to buy lots of stuff -- just remember to throw it in the recycle bin!

[Dhiana]

The last time I visited my mother she reminded me of her valuable Hummel collection that she received after her mother died.
Do NOT just throw it away after she passes!

I told her to give them to my cousins.

Hoping to dodge the Hummel Collection bullet.

[Ultralight]

The last time I visited my mother she reminded me of her valuable Hummel collection that she received after her mother died.
Do NOT just throw it away after she passes!

I told her to give them to my cousins.

Hoping to dodge the Hummel Collection bullet.

She wants you to keep the collection when she passes?

[Dhiana]

She wants you to keep the collection when she passes?

Yes, she does.

But I already have the items I want to remember my G'ma and it was never the Hummels.
There are only about 8 or 10 of them and I never gave them a thought, even when I was living with her.

One of my cousins mentioned them a while back so if I do get stuck with them, I'll give them to her anyway :)

[Ultralight]

Yes, she does.

But I already have the items I want to remember my G'ma and it was never the Hummels.
There are only about 8 or 10 of them and I never gave them a thought, even when I was living with her.

One of my cousins mentioned them a while back so if I do get stuck with them, I'll give them to her anyway :)

What emotions got stirred up when she asked you to keep her collection after she passes? In her? In you?

[Float On]

Beverly Hillbillies

Paul Henning, the producer, had ties to Branson. They filmed several episodes at Silver Dollar City. And I can visit the Beverly Hillbillies truck just 4 miles from my house at the museum at CofO campus. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/14355

[Float On]

In my efforts to do the entire year's 100 items a month challenge, I have pared down a few collections. My old camera collection now has just 3. My old key collection is down to 12 from 30 or so. My old lock collection is down to 4. My mini-globes are down to 3. And they all make a nice display together on some old sewing drawers I made into shelves. I think that's it for me for "collections".

[Ultralight]

In my efforts to do the entire year's 100 items a month challenge, I have pared down a few collections. My old camera collection now has just 3. My old key collection is down to 12 from 30 or so. My old lock collection is down to 4. My mini-globes are down to 3. And they all make a nice display together on some old sewing drawers I made into shelves. I think that's it for me for "collections".

That is some pretty dang good progress right there! :)

[iris lilies]

Our Lily Society, which has been dying slowly, has suddenly taken a downward spire with the president out of commission due to health, and the Vice President unreachable by email.*

Now I am looking at disbanding the group after we host the national convention in 2017. Why am I posting on this thread? Because the Society owns "stuff" and I will have to deal with it. We rent a storage locker for $500 annually. Ugh. We have collections of tubes that hold lilies for a show and those will be offered to other Lily Societies across the country, those are useful. The rest if it, collections of plastic baskets, backdrops, signs, etc not so much.

once I got access to the storage shed, I threw away the stuff that always blocked the entrance. Our club had several men who like making things out of heavy wood back in the day, so there were multiple large items used for displays and it required two trucks to haul everything to a show.

*tangential rant: I do not understand how someone expects to fulfill duties for an organization if he cancels his email account. He is pretty much out of the loop now.

[Ultralight]

Our Lily Society, which has been dying slowly, has suddenly taken a downward spire with the president out of commission due to health, and the Vice President unreachable by email.*

Now I am looking at disbanding the group after we host the national convention in 2017. Why am I posting on this thread? Because the Society owns "stuff" and I will have to deal with it. We rent a storage locker for $500 annually. Ugh. We have collections of tubes that hold lilies for a show and those will be offered to other Lily Societies across the country, those are useful. The rest if it, collections of plastic baskets, backdrops, signs, etc not so much.

once I got access to the storage shed, I threw away the stuff that always blocked the entrance. Our club had several men who like making things out of heavy wood back in the day, so there were multiple large items used for displays and it required two trucks to haul everything to a show.

*tangential rant: I do not understand how someone expects to fulfill duties for an organization if he cancels his email account. He is pretty much out of the loop now.

By hook or by crook it seems that the collections of others work their way into our lives and can cause chaos.

[iris lilies]

By hook or by crook it seems that the collections of others work their way into our lives and can cause chaos.

Yep, but you know what? I kinda feel that this is my God given role, to close out the Lily Society. I am not afraid to call it quits. Others would be more comfortable flogging this dead horse for a few more years, but not me. Others would be paralyzed about cleaning out the storage shed, but not me.

In in addition to the "Stuff" we also have a treasury of around $7,000. I expect the few remaining members will be able to agree how to disperse this money, I don't foresee much argument because this has always been a collegial group.

and I'm now retired and have time to do,this work! So that's why I doubly feel it should fall to me.

[Ultralight]

Yep, but you know what? I kinda feel that this is my God given role, to close out the Lily Society. I am not afraid to call it quits. Others would be more comfortable flogging this dead horse for a few more years, but not me. Others would be paralyzed about cleaning out the storage shed, but not me.

In in addition to the "Stuff" we also have a treasury of around $7,000. I expect the few remaining members will be able to agree how to disperse this money, I don't foresee much argument because this has always been a collegial group.

and I'm now retired and have time to do,this work! So that's why I doubly feel it should fall to me.

I admire your willingness to take this on. Will it be emotionally bittersweet?

[catherine]

What emotions got stirred up when she asked you to keep her collection after she passes? In her? In you?

My MIL worried out loud to me once, saying "What's going to happen to my Royal Doultons when I'm gone?" She knew I was not interested in them in the least. She also had a collection of Hummels and Edinburgh crystal.

As of now, they still sit where they were the day she died 5 years ago, because BIL has not touched the house since then. Her bedroom looks as if she might wander out of it at any time. It's like Miss Havershim's house. I know DH and I should encourage him to pack the stuff up, but it's not easy. I don't know if it's grief or laziness that's keeping him from getting rid of the stuff and making the home his own.

[Ultralight]

My MIL worried out loud to me once, saying "What's going to happen to my Royal Doultons when I'm gone?" She knew I was not interested in them in the least. She also had a collection of Hummels and Edinburgh crystal.

As of now, they still sit where they were the day she died 5 years ago, because BIL has not touched the house since then. Her bedroom looks as if she might wander out of it at any time. It's like Miss Havershim's house. I know DH and I should encourage him to pack the stuff up, but it's not easy. I don't know if it's grief or laziness that's keeping him from getting rid of the stuff and making the home his own.

That is all very sad... :(

I know my dad is relieved to know my sister will properly deal with his stuff when he dies.

My mom though, she will enter the next life in a state of major anxiety thinking about what stuff my sister just threw away!

Of course, they know better than to leave me anything but cash -- which I don't think they have much of.

[iris lilies]

I admire your willingness to take this on. Will it be emotionally bittersweet?

Oh sure, it will be sad to close it down. The founder died in 2014, and his widow still chugs along in the group. She is our treasurer. I'm sure she will be sad.

Lily societies all over are struggling to get new members. None of them stepped forward to put on the national convention, and so that is a sea change. My group is hosting the 2017 convention but will not take financial responsibility for it, technically the Morth American Lily Society is running that convention.

[kib]

My MIL worried out loud to me once, saying "What's going to happen to my Royal Doultons when I'm gone?" She knew I was not interested in them in the least. She also had a collection of Hummels and Edinburgh crystal.

Funny, my Mom's just the opposite, she's constantly downsizing things Pickers would go crazy over because she doesn't find them as valuable as other people do and therefore, in her world, they aren't. Sold their house for 2/3 market value, because "that's what it was worth" (???) Set a collection of vinyl worth probably $20,000 on the curb. (Dad's.) Gave the Salvation Army a set of almost new furniture, a Hummel collection and a 20*16 authentic oriental rug because she never liked the pattern. (Gifts from her MIL.) It's especially irksome because she grew up poor and she's always hounding me to save money, save save save, but she doesn't seem to see that some Stuff is money whether it agrees with your personal taste or not. I've finally decided she can do what she wants with her stuff even though it bleeds money out of the family estate, but I have the right to do what I like with whatever comes into my possession.

[ToomuchStuff]

Paul Henning, the producer, had ties to Branson. They filmed several episodes at Silver Dollar City. And I can visit the Beverly Hillbillies truck just 4 miles from my house at the museum at CofO campus. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/14355


I remember seeing that as a kid. If it were up here, with all the oddball connections I have to the family, I would be able to take a closer look at it.
Been off the sight a few days. Bunch of work, and trying to work a deal on a house, so I wouldn't have to buy it through a tax sale next year. Unfortunately the legal owner, has his head in the sand and doesn't want to lift it out and face reality.