A new family pulled up unexpectedly this afternoon in a large moving truck at one of the vacant houses down the street. The kids and I went to help unload. Professional movers make a skimpy living in Idaho because everyone moves themselves. Just last Thursday, we loaded a different neighbor’s truck for their move to Utah.
It took us ninety minutes to unload the boxes and furniture from the 25 foot truck and 20 foot trailer. It was packed tightly from floor to ceiling. The family hadn’t closed on the house yet, so everything was stacked in the three car garage. When we were done, there was barely any room in the garage to walk. Just two narrow pathways that threaded between bookcases, desks, mattresses and dozens of boxes.
Americans, including myself, own too much stuff. Which is why whenever I finish helping someone move, I return home and start giving things away.
We used to have a coffee table book at our company headquarters with photographs of families throughout the world standing in front of their houses with all of their things spread out on the front lawn. The contrast between nationalities was stunning. I don’t need to tell you which nationality had the most things.
My goal is if they took a similar picture of my things that it wouldn’t take a two page spread.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
You are so right, JD! I have been trying to own less stuff myself and have been purging a little bit every weekend. It feels great!
Yes it does, Lisa. Happy purging.
Me too, me too! Before I moved overseas for a few years, I gave away a lot of things. When I came back, I found that I didn’t need all that much to be just as happy (or happier!). It’s very liberating to free oneself of dependency!
Anyway… I’ve noticed that (North) American homes are on average, larger… which doesn’t help. We are not as densely populated over here (and our people are almost as obese ha!), but still the average house is smaller in Australia (though still huge c.f. European/Asian homes). I wonder why!?