It is possible to legally own a lot of stuff but still be cool if you lose most of it.
It doesn't seem to be an issue of legality as much as morality.
Items don't make the man. The man makes the items.
3 shirts, 4 pairs of trousers, meet Japans hardcore minimalists
31–40 of 86 posts
Re: 3 shirts, 4 pairs of trousers, meet Japans hardcore minimalists
#32I always preferred the Toast's version of the whole KonMari spiel:
"Things like “having chairs” is preventing you from living your best life, and also you should throw away any item of clothing you’re not currently wearing. If it’s not on your skin, you don’t really love it, do you?"
http://the-toast.net/2015/02/24/get-rid-clutter-live-abundan...
Re: 3 shirts, 4 pairs of trousers, meet Japans hardcore minimalists
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's a surprisingly high percentage... Here's an article about it, apparently the choice to have a child or not apparently plays pretty heavily into how you feel about it. I think it's cruel to judge people for regretting having a child, they already deal with the guilt of that as well as raising the child. There are all sorts of feels and viewpoints towards the world so I think as long as the parent still does their…
The only percentage that I can find in that article that lists 'unwanted' is 10, and the study is anything but scientific. For most people birth control is about when they will have their children, not whether or not they want children. Having kids is - in mosts parts of the world - still the norm and not having kids the exception. Maybe that will change over time, it is now socially acceptable not to want children w…
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Re: 3 shirts, 4 pairs of trousers, meet Japans hardcore minimalists
#34As much as I like the idea of living with only a few possessions, it strikes me as a constant struggle: where do you put the 50 pack of envelopes you had to buy to send one letter? Are scissors for opening packaging included in his possessions? Nail trimmers? Toiletries? A formal pair of shoes? Do you have to hire all this stuff when you need it, or just keep in a drawer out of sight? And this is what I didn't get ab…
I would say it is not a matter of reducing your stuff to an absolute number, but removing what is really unnecessary and/or redundant, trying to reach a minimum.
Before buying anything, I ask myself "do I really need it? can I live without it?". After living in 12 different places, I was gradually leaving a lot of stuff behind, and I became kind of minimalist in the process, being aware of how much unnecessary extra baggage you carry on your shoulders.
I also think that a minimalist way of life doesn't refer only to things, but also to immaterial stuff like extra fees, subscriptions, debts, mortgages, utility bills, etc. They all add weight to that baggage.
Re: 3 shirts, 4 pairs of trousers, meet Japans hardcore minimalists
#35As much as I like the idea of living with only a few possessions, it strikes me as a constant struggle: where do you put the 50 pack of envelopes you had to buy to send one letter? Are scissors for opening packaging included in his possessions? Nail trimmers? Toiletries? A formal pair of shoes? Do you have to hire all this stuff when you need it, or just keep in a drawer out of sight? And this is what I didn't get ab…
they probably borrow from neighbors...? i definitely run into this problem. i need that _one_ envelope. do i really want to buy 50 to shove the rest into a drawer?
I guess you only have superstores around. I just go to the newsagents and buy one for some cents.
Re: 3 shirts, 4 pairs of trousers, meet Japans hardcore minimalists
#36As much as I like the idea of living with only a few possessions, it strikes me as a constant struggle: where do you put the 50 pack of envelopes you had to buy to send one letter? Are scissors for opening packaging included in his possessions? Nail trimmers? Toiletries? A formal pair of shoes? Do you have to hire all this stuff when you need it, or just keep in a drawer out of sight? And this is what I didn't get ab…
I am no where near these extremes, but I am currently not really settled down (travelling then, living abroad now) and everything I buy I buy with the knowledge that whenever I move again - I should have no issues with throwing/giving it away. Everything I care about I can fit in my backpack.
Re: 3 shirts, 4 pairs of trousers, meet Japans hardcore minimalists
#37As much as I like the idea of living with only a few possessions, it strikes me as a constant struggle: where do you put the 50 pack of envelopes you had to buy to send one letter? Are scissors for opening packaging included in his possessions? Nail trimmers? Toiletries? A formal pair of shoes? Do you have to hire all this stuff when you need it, or just keep in a drawer out of sight? And this is what I didn't get ab…
> where do you put the 50 pack of envelopes
You could combine individual minimalism with communal sharing of seldom-used stuff. I hope technology will make this a little easier as time goes on, if only to combat loneliness in many parts of society.
Re: 3 shirts, 4 pairs of trousers, meet Japans hardcore minimalists
#38As much as I like the idea of living with only a few possessions, it strikes me as a constant struggle: where do you put the 50 pack of envelopes you had to buy to send one letter? Are scissors for opening packaging included in his possessions? Nail trimmers? Toiletries? A formal pair of shoes? Do you have to hire all this stuff when you need it, or just keep in a drawer out of sight? And this is what I didn't get ab…
If you are only sending one letter per year, then maybe you should just buy smaller packs, even if they are little more expensive. On other hand you probably have drawers full of useless stuff. Clean out one for things you need, but not very often, like stamps, letters, tape, scissors, etc.
Nail trimmers can live in your bathroom shelf with your soap and shampoo. Then you only need toilet paper, which should be easy to store in any bathroom.
If you need formal shoes often then storing single extra pair (assuming you just have summer and winter shoes, one pair each) isn't a big deal, but more often than not you need formal shoes so rarely that you might as well rent them for the occasion.
Main idea is to get rid of the stuff that doesn't matter and keep only the stuff that does matter and you get use out of. Sure at the moment sink plunger might not give you joy as a thing, but it sure does when your sink clogs.
Re: 3 shirts, 4 pairs of trousers, meet Japans hardcore minimalists
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
You don't need hiking boots to go on a hike, do you need an evening jacket to go to a dinner? Could you just make do with one suit? I live in a fairly minimalist style. In my experience you trade one set of experiences for another. Personally I prefer the set of experiences I get, they seem more "authentic".
You don't need boots for a stroll in the woods, but I'd hate to think 'that looks like a fun mountain to go up, but it wouldn't be responsible as I may break an ankle in these soft shoes'. And you can turn up at people's parties dressed however you want, but they may not invite you again if you disrespect them by ignoring a reasonable dress code. So yes I see you're trading experiences. Where is the line between mini…
"For traversing steep, rugged terrain you need strong flexible ankles and light, flexible footwear. Doing exercises to strengthen your ankles is better than splinting them in heavy, rigid boots."
- Chris Townsend. Author of "The Backpackers Handbook"
Re: 3 shirts, 4 pairs of trousers, meet Japans hardcore minimalists
#40One thing that this article skates over is that many Japanese apartments - especially in Tokyo - are absolutely tiny and space is really at a Premium.
In the apartment I stayed in, one of the bay windows had been converted into a wardrobe, my washer/dryer was on the balcony outside, and the 'kitchen' consisted of a basin and a camping stove. I wonder how much of this minimalism is borne out of necessity.