Are a lot of people that you know trying to reduce their possessions and clutter?

Yes and more so as we age and pare down our possessions due to lack of storage space when we move into one bedroom apartments.

The much older seniors 80 years and up that have serious mobility issues etc are clearing out possessions and getting ready for the next phase when they move to a facility that caters to all there needs( dry cleaning done for them, food prepared by chef,entertainment supplied,trips by senior buses to local events sponsored by the huge restaurants here,some that are still active go hiking and swimming in the summertime or to the recreation center since they receive free passes etc

They don’t need kitchen supplies,pots,pans, dishes etc since all is supplied for them and expertly cooked meals and festivities that are centered around the seniors mobility issues if any as well.

Yeah, but I’m just getting old, it has nothing to do with Marie Kondo.

I find minimalist dwellings do be sterile and unwelcoming. I like having “stuff” useful or not in the areas I use to relax. Books, antiques, nick knacks people have given me over the years, etc.. I do keep things orderly though. I don’t like clutter to the point you’re tripping over it or can’t manage your space. If it is something that I’ll never use, serves no purpose and is actively in the way then I’ll sell or donate it.

I am. I’m giving stuff to my kids and I’m not buying anything new to replace it.

I know I am, ive went through my closet and have decided that if i haven’t worn it with the last Yr then it must go! Losing out on closet space is the worst thing because you don’t want your living space to become a cluttered mess, ill be giving to Salvation army, Good Will, I even put some things aside for friends that needed certain things. I get a warm feeling inside when I see the relief on people’s faces when I give them things I know they appreciate.

I am giving “Marie Kongo” gifts this year, not adding to clutter, but giving experience: a trip to a concert for my girlfriend, tickets to performances for my kids, a trip to the Museum of Ice Cream for my daughter.

My grandma was my idol. She had, and could produce in moments, anything a person might have a sudden need for.
Popped a button? A quick search through a cigar box and she would produce an exact match. Need a safety pin? Out of oregano? Sneeze and sniffle she would send you home with a couple of oranges and a Tupperware container of homemade chicken soup, the chicken she killed and dressed herself.
I have stuff, and multiples of several things. I like my stuff. I am getting rid a bunch of stuff my daughter left behind when she took off. Most of it I’ll be sending to shelters. My stuff stays though. I have dozens of scarves in many colors and various prints. They cheer me up. I have lots of unwrapped trinkets for when a moment pops up that I need a token to give someone, and have gifted lots of those items.
I resent people who label being well supplied as hoarding. I have seen hoarding, and there is a difference.

I never was a knickknack person, so I don’t have a lot of that stuff. What I have too much of is paperwork that I would love to get rid of, but for the most part I can’t. I also have a room full of furniture, framed pictures, and kitchen stuff that is in boxes, because I’m in a smaller house than usual, but I didn’t downsize my stuff. It drives me crazy.

Many of my friends where I live got rid of almost everything when they moved to Florida and bought new furniture. Some moved into turnkey houses that had everything ready for you to just bring your suitcases. One of my friends had given away and thrown out most of her things and all of her furniture before she moved three years ago. This year she couldn’t take it anymore and bought a bunch of Christmas things to decorate for the holiday. Some were very very similar to things she had given away before moving. That’s what keeps me from giving away a lot of things, the idea I might wind up spending money buying the same thing again.

I have given away or thrown out quite a bit of clothing. I know a few of my friends have done some closet clean-ups.

I haven’t read Kondo’s book, but I do believe in the Swedish idea of getting the house ready for your passing. It’s kind of like having on clean underwear if you get in an accident. What state do you want your house to be in if you die and others need to sort through and get rid of all your stuff. That idea makes me want to pare down drastically.

Also, when I’m on vacation or staying out of town it always strikes me how I get along just fine with so much less. I really like the simplicity. I also really like some of my things that have sentimental meaning to me, so I’ll always have some of those things taking up space in my house I think. I tell people don’t buy me anything. I don’t want the gift in the first place, so I don’t have to worry about more sentimental items in my house. I do like new dish towels though.

Sigh

I used the incorrect salt and pepper shakers when making hash browns.

My sister is a nutter. But I am too. So I didn’t get bothered by this.

@JLeslie: Two things struck home with me with your post. One was the thought of throwing stuff out and then having to replace it with the same stuff. The second is how whenever I’m on vacation at a resort or hotel, I think to myself how I could live there long term with just those items if I had to. Just with some items of clothing, toiletries, and in the resort, the minimal kitchen stuff, and I’d be just fine.

I’ve been mimimalist most of my life and love it. Clutter makes me claustrophobic and rarely do I see a truly clean house thats stuffed with collections. Half my family are clutterbugs, its hard to be around.

Yep….finally realized at 60 that our sons do not want any of our possessions or their grandparents possessions that we have. Not many younger generations like antiques. I tried to give my son my 105 year old grandmother’s blue and white Currier and Ives dish set that I have and neither him or his wife wanted it. So now what to do with something like that..that is dear to me that I wanted handed down. Get rid of it now and give some away so they won’t have a garage sale after we die.

@Harper1234 : A friend has several fancy dish sets from her deceased relatives. She said none of her three adult children want any of the dish sets. She doesn’t know what to do with them. Nobody wants fancy plates with gold or flowers on them. The trend is white, not fancy. I went to a church fundraiser auction with this same friend. She got six Hummel figurines for $10. She said she used to pay hundreds to buy her MIL a Hummel for birthday or Christmas. Now nobody wants them. Incredible to get 6 for $10.

I deeply regret not taking my grandmother’s good dishes. I wish I had them, but also they were probably worth a lot of money if I had wanted to sell them.

My mom had a thing about collecting dishes too. I ended up with all of them.