I am not sentimental in the way of things. I have nothing other than photographs from my family. I may inherit some jewelry but beyond that, I don't have a single thing. On the other hand, my sister hoarded every last thing of my mother's should could. This is where I have to laugh- there is a pretty picture of some sheep in the pasture that supposedly belonged to my Great Grandmother. This was something passed down to the females on my mom's side of the family. About 15 years ago, I asked my Aunt about the picture. How did Great Grandma get it? Why is it sentimental? Well, the answer I got had me howling. It was something she was given when she traded some food she raised on the farm, to help a family out. She never really liked it and gave it to my Aunt, who gave it to my Nanna, who in turned gave it to my Mother. It went from a sentimental piece of art work to just another thing in an instant.

I have never been attached to things. At 16, I gave all I had to a local animal shelter for their yard sale. I kept some books, a teddy bear and a few small items. My mother about flipped out but it has never bothered me. I was thinking about this today. I am in my 25th year of simple/minimal living and am ever so grateful for living like this. I can't imagine moving the 18 times I have with a lot of stuff nor would I give up all the countless memories and places I have gotten to see, because of simple living.

When I went to CT last summer, I was looking around my parent's place. Yes, some stuff brings back memories of where we bought it or where it was in the house, but nothing I would want to take or keep. Like I said, all I took was a large envelope of photos.