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Why I don't want stuff

sivers.org

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Re: Why I don't want stuff

#111

Post by enjo »

nostromo wrote: post #91
0xffff2 wrote: post #70

I can appreciate the sentiment, but I actually like doing things. Don't get me wrong, I probably spend much more time than most in front of my computer, but even so. I'm a photographer -> Two bags full of camera gear, tripod... I'm a hiker/backpacker -> Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, hiking boots... I'm a cyclist -> Bike, helmet, gloves, pump... I'm a computer engineer -> Solder station, wire cutters, crimping tools..…

I wish there was a startup in this space. I have so much house maintenance stuff. For example, I only really need a ladder once a year. But I keep it around forever because when you need a ladder, you need a ladder . I would love to not have to store and maintain all this stuff and to just request it on demand. Can someone solve that for me? I'm embarrassed to admit that sometimes it's easier for me to just buy a new…

There are things like the Denver Tool Library (http://denvertoollibrary.org/) that help to solve this problem.

What I want is a delivery version. I'd pay $xx/month for access to tools and other household items I rarely need along with $x per delivery and pickup to not have to go get them.

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#112

Post by mbrock »

0xffff2 wrote: post #102
mbrock wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course, it's possible to "do things" that don't require a lot of extra things. Writing, walking, meditating, listening to music, reading, making out, drinking tea, running, dancing, making electronic music, math, logic, praying, thinking, debating, making movies with your smartphone (one such movie recently won a documentary award), origami, chess, baking, cooking, lifting at a gym, hackerspace participation, movi…

To take just two examples to add to my list above: Tea drinker -> Three different tea sets, which get used variously depending on what kind of tea I am drinking. baker -> An entire kitchen full of tools. Perhaps I'm taking the article too literally, but if he really only has the things that came with his apartment, so clothes, a laptop, and headphones, he really can't do most of the things on your list, at least not…

I have some nice tea things too, but when I'm travelling, I make tea with whatever's handy. The thing I mostly use for brewing is a gaiwan, which is basically just a cup with a lid, and that's very easy to substitute. And I used to bake quite a lot of bread using nothing but a couple of mixing bowls and an oven.

So not to be argumentative or anything, but beyond clothes and a pair of swim shorts, the only things you need to do everything on my list, and that wouldn't be found in a typical furnished home, are: a decent pen, a deck of cards, and some oranges...

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#113

Post by jimbokun »

0xffff2 wrote: post #70

I can appreciate the sentiment, but I actually like doing things. Don't get me wrong, I probably spend much more time than most in front of my computer, but even so. I'm a photographer -> Two bags full of camera gear, tripod... I'm a hiker/backpacker -> Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, hiking boots... I'm a cyclist -> Bike, helmet, gloves, pump... I'm a computer engineer -> Solder station, wire cutters, crimping tools..…

Mr. Sivers emphasized repeatedly he isn't trying to convince anyone else to live like him.

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#114

Post by hnal943 »

ck2 wrote: post #19

Not wanting "stuff" is a gamble that your present and future is secure and safe. Having been homeless at one point, I've become a bit of a hoarder, because you never know when things will go south and you are one month away from being homeless (again). Also we'll see how often you keep erasing things and starting from scratch as you get older and find that remembering things is a lot harder and takes a lot longer to…

I've never been homeless, but if I knew I was coming into hard times, I would rather have savings instead of stuff.

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#115

Post by 0xffff2 »

vram22 wrote: post #74
austinjp wrote: post #2

I don't live quite like this, but I feel similarly about gifts: I far prefer them to be practical rather than decorative or frivolous. I've realised that people can get slightly upset when I explain it to them. They want to buy me something fun, something I'll "enjoy". Chances are I won't, although I do of course appreciate the sentiment. Equally, I find it more satisfying to buy a "useful" gift for others. And of co…

Does anyone use Amazon wish lists to solve this sort of issue? Do they even exist? Asking both out of interest of this thread's topic, and because some time back I consulted to a dot com startup where the product was to be a gift related site. Startup was executed very poorly so I left (and it shut down soon after). But the idea may have had merit.

I do. I've trained nearly everyone in my life to accept that I'm happy receiving nothing for my birthday and Christmas, but my dad refuses to get on board. I always have a list of stuff saved in my Amazon cart that I want eventually, but not enough to buy it right now. So every time a holiday rolls around and he wants to buy me something, I just chuck all of that stuff into a wish list and send it to him.

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#117

Post by rcfox »

branchless wrote: post #41

I fight against this all the time. It's simply impossible due to all the guilt involved. I do not want anything for xmas/birthday. My wife always wants to get me something and makes me feel like a killjoy. This is perhaps manageable. Bigger problem is I have 2 kids who get invited to parties. I have to take the birthday boy/girl something. Fine - but this means it's reciprocated. Valentines day recently. Used to be f…

> Coming over for dinner? They bring a (bad) bottle of wine that I now have to get rid of.

I'm not a drinker myself, but I always assumed that people brought wine to dinners with the intention of drinking them at that dinner. Shouldn't that take care of getting rid of it?

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#118

Post by 0xffff2 »

jimbokun wrote: post #113
0xffff2 wrote: post #70

I can appreciate the sentiment, but I actually like doing things. Don't get me wrong, I probably spend much more time than most in front of my computer, but even so. I'm a photographer -> Two bags full of camera gear, tripod... I'm a hiker/backpacker -> Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, hiking boots... I'm a cyclist -> Bike, helmet, gloves, pump... I'm a computer engineer -> Solder station, wire cutters, crimping tools..…

Mr. Sivers emphasized repeatedly he isn't trying to convince anyone else to live like him.

And I'm not saying he is. I am saying that I would like to understand him and how he derives fulfillment out of his lifestyle better than I do.

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#119

Post by branchless »

axxl wrote: post #69
branchless wrote: post #41

I fight against this all the time. It's simply impossible due to all the guilt involved. I do not want anything for xmas/birthday. My wife always wants to get me something and makes me feel like a killjoy. This is perhaps manageable. Bigger problem is I have 2 kids who get invited to parties. I have to take the birthday boy/girl something. Fine - but this means it's reciprocated. Valentines day recently. Used to be f…

I understand most of your post and your desire to have less stuff. However, when you can't bring wine (a consumable, literally no long term space-occupation or anything else, probably gone that night, if not you can just dump it down the drain) to dinner... sheesh.

Let me flesh that out. It's the waste I don't like. I don't dislike the person for the sentiment. I don't enforce this nor do I criticize it should a guest bring some.

I basically just want someone to come to my place and enjoy themselves, they shouldn't have to bring me a gift: I invited them. If they do anyway I thank them but I wish they had not.

Re: Why I don't want stuff

#120

Post by grecy »

VLM wrote: post #10
grecy wrote: post #7

My family has taken to giving "expereiences" rather than "stuff" because we prefer to live with less stuff. So we'll get each other cooking classes, surfing lessons, bungee jumping, skydiving, etc. etc.

Birthday Dinner. Either very fancy home cooked, or go out to a very nice restaurant. Its fun.

Home cooked every time - everyone in the kitchen pitching in - best family time there is!
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