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100 / one hundred things “You’ve got so much stuff!” ChrisSwallows cries, looking across my room at the wall of boxes, totes and miscellanea that rests there. Of the things he is exclaiming about, over half have a very specific function or purpose when it comes time to move to my spot in Southern Oregon. Food, supplies, material to build my geodesic dome, stuff like that. There is a small section of things off to the side that I’m thinking about putting in storage for a little while but I don’t know yet. That decision has yet to be made, and it’s part of what this post is about. Watching a lot of movies introduces you to a lot of novel, whacky ideas. Sometimes they are based on reality, or something that already exists, but they could just as easily be complete fabrications. You hear about things in movies that sound believable, but are they real or make believe? Sometimes you’ll hear a bit of wisdom that nearly blows your mind, then find out it’s from a Star Trek movie and for some people that lessens its value. Or you hear about a religion, or spiritual way of thinking and then find out it is completely made up, which means if you go out in the world seeking others who might also think and feel the same way you’d be looking for a long time. What is based on reality, and what is purely fantasy is sometimes difficult to discern, but for the most part it doesn’t matter. A good idea or way of thinking doesn’t need to have a worthwhile or mystic origin it just needs to motivate or touch you in some way. Even if it was made up by some writer, you can turn it into a reality simply by adopting it, doing it, believing it, living it. One thing I came across in a movie recently, that I have decided to adopt, is this novel idea that a person should only own 100 / one hundred things. I’m sure the name of the flick will come to me later, but that’s not the point here. I don’t even remember liking the film all that much, so I’m not trying to recommend you watch it, but there was this idea written into it that has stuck with me. A character with a complicated past had decided to simplify his life, detach from society and move off grid. To further de/un complicate, he would only allow himself to own a certain number of things. You know that whole “the things you own, own you” saying? He didn’t want any part of that. If it wasn’t necessary, or didn’t hold serious sentimental value, he would live without it. Looking around my room I can see the things I will absolutely need to survive on my plot in Southern Oregon, and I can also identify those items which I could definitely live without, but would not like it if I had to. Among them are my television and DVD collection, because dammit I love watching movies and can’t wait to do so in the middle of the desert, where there will literally be no sounds to compete with whatever is playing on the screen. I won’t have to turn the volume up hardly at all, and the sporadic thuds and vibrations from passing motorists will not exist. Nobody will be slamming the door to their apartment, or car doors, nor will I hear it when trash day comes and, well, you can guess the kind of noise that brings I’m sure. None of that to compete with, and I can fully immerse myself in a movie in a way I haven’t been able to since I can’t even remember when. Probably when I was a , or even younger. The thought leaves a big smile on my face. There have been times in my life when I was a heavy consumer, and spent nearly every dime I had on things, and stuff. The older I get, the more I want to rid myself of that and feel unburdened. I am going to hate getting rid of 7 / seven boxes of books, because I’ve spent decades collecting them, and hefting them into and out of trucks every time I’ve moved, but most of all because I truly love literature. Not having to move those boxes any more will be nice, to be sure, but the loss will linger for a short time. Then I’ll take stock of my life, and how happy I am, and the fact that I don’t have them will seem insignificant. I will do my best to take just what I need with me when I leave here, and nothing extra, and if that number doesn’t exactly stay under 100 / one hundred I’ll probably make an exception. I’m not joining a religion, after all, and my mortal soul is not at risk. It’s just an idea that I think has some merit, and I want to explore it. And now I am going to go start counting my things…  |
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I know exactly what you mean about lightening the load. I went through every closet and nook I had either throwing out or donating. I had album after album of photos that I got when my Mom died. Not one person in my family will even know who the people were in most of the pictures. I looked through them quickly but I'm afraid they all got thrown away.
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