Priceless Treasures

[Stargazer]

Yesterday, as I was unpacking and putting away the few things I'm keeping in preparation for the final move next week into my little full-time rig, I looked around in wonder at what I have kept. I am ordinarily a very practical person, if an item hasn't been used in the past six months, if it doesn't do double duty, it's a goner. And with storage space being so sparse, not much room for extras.

But I didn't think twice about keeping the handmade blanket I picked up in Guatemala, that is worthless in cold weather but it makes me smile when I see it. The crystal ornament collection that was started when my late husband gave me the first one for Christmas many years ago (so special, since usually he gave me practical gifts, and I remember choking up when I opened it--it was so beautiful, and so NOT practical!). The Peruvian animal masks. The framed poster from the first Brazilian carnival I attended (in a US city) and the mask I wore. The bald eagle feather given to me by an Alaskan native. A photo of a lady musher and her team that I met in BC. A kaleidoscope made by my daughter in her high school art class. A shell from a beach I walked in Maine. A plastic cup from a casino in Monte Carlo, given to me by a casino worker because I, from the US, could speak a little of his language.

I lead such a quiet life now, I think. But these things remind me that adventure is always just around the corner. And this move is the beginning of a new one.

What did you keep and why?

 

[Terry]

Not there yet but my wife's grandfather clock and a couple of her porcelain dolls that are an old couple like me and her. She has piles and piles of them dolls but the old couple has always been special. Now when it comes to my tools, I will have to wait till I see what I can carry.

 

[Stargazer]

Definitely the dolls! As for tools, that'll be a tough one.

 

[rokguy]

<EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">I'm glad I don't have any sentimental attachments to this stuff. <BR>Geoff<BR></SPAN></STRONG></EM>

 

[RJCooper]

Treasures I have kept, are simple.&nbsp; An old stop watch my grandfather used to time me with, he etched his name in it.&nbsp; It works better than any digital one on the mark and is roughly 60 years old now.&nbsp; The second thing means nothing to anybody but me and my son.&nbsp; It is a hiking stick/staff I climbing into a waterfall to pull out.&nbsp; Me and him were hiking and looking into the fall.&nbsp; The sun hit the staff and it shined like a gold harp from heaven. My son said, "Dad look at that, it is perfect for a staff."&nbsp; So I dawned the rope and lowered myself into the fall.&nbsp; Pulled it out and carried it soaked for the next three days of our hike.&nbsp; When I got home, I wood birnt into it the name of the fall, the date and we nicked named the staff.&nbsp; It means something to me (father/son bonding).&nbsp; <br><br>To this day whenever he see's it, he recites that days events.&nbsp; That was ten years ago and he was 10, so it must have had an impression on him.&nbsp; He also smiles when he talks about that hiking trip.&nbsp; Cool stuff.

 

[Cambia]

Getting rid of clothes was easy. Tools were a different case. Art supplies excruciatingly difficult. But so far it seems to be working out. Ella

 

[Terry]

Tell me about tools.I have enough mechanic and body tools to open a small shop. I used to rebuild wrecked and otherwise broken cars and trucks for resale. <br>&nbsp; I also have computers and a cutter/plotter for a sign business. Then there are the assorted routers and belt and table sanders for wood signs. <br>&nbsp; Then, there's the heat press and T-shirt business along with the airbrushes for the shirt business that also work well for a temporary tattoo business. Plus a lot of supplies for both the shirt and sign business.<br>&nbsp; Then there are the tripods&nbsp; and green screen stuff for a photograph business that I am thinking I might get rid of. I'll probably keep my DSLR camera. I just don't want to put over a grand into a printer for the photo business but I could change my mind.

 

[HappyOak]

Gosh...after reading thru thise posts...I might have it easier than I think...for me ...no family left...cept my sister in Georgia...everyone else is pushing up daisies...she wants none of what I have and vice versa...so if no one around me want s any of my...things...then I guess I donate it...however...what about all my fotos over the many years..thats a tuff one...I don't plan on leaving on this next journey of life until June 2014...perhaps words from other vandwellers would help...Happy and Oakley<br><br><br><br><br>Beeeee.....what makes your...HEART....singggggggg.....

 

[BC Guy]

If you have a scanner, you can scan in your pictures and save them to a USB drive.&nbsp; Play around with the software settings and see what looks best to you.&nbsp; Some I have saved as JPG, Tiff and PDF.&nbsp; It takes extra room to save in multiple formats, but with today's drives, who cares.<br>If you do not have a scanner, the back-to-school sales should be on now.<br><br>

 

[zemio]

When I moved from my house to my camper (parked in my parents driveway for now) I made a small pile and big pile of all my stuff. The small pile I took in my car of the time, the large pile, including furniture, tv, everything pretty much was left for the auctioneers to remove and sell. It was an uncertain time for me, I needed to be fast and light on my feet and a single small car load seemed sensible. I spent the previous 5 years working for the same auctioneers and in that time I moved more of other peoples junk than you would have thought possible. In all the estate and down sizing pick ups I did, and they were many, I learned one basic and inescapable fact: 95% of everything you own IS...JUST...STUFF! The remaining 5% is the stuff that is you. This is the stuff to keep.

 

[jaguarbird11]

Something I learned along time ago also is that when you give your stuff away, you create a void in the universe.&nbsp; The universe hates voids so it replaces all that stuff you just gave away!&nbsp; Seriously!&nbsp; I have to watch it everytime I give my stuff away, cause I know its coming back at me.<br><br>I have just one small box of Mothers momentos from my Son's childhood.&nbsp; It will not be traveling with me as I want it to stay safe.

 

[HappyOak]

Hey folks....thanks for the updates on getting rid of...STUFF...have decided to get a small storage unit...gosh I hate that....I had a 10 X15 for 4 years at 50$ a month...now have just whats in my home and a 8 X 10 shed in the backyard...anyway...adding all the phrases I know about stuff...if ya haven't used it or even seen it in over a year...its gone...the 5 X 5 storage will house my fotos...(12 large containers)...and some things I hold dear to me...all the rest donate or sell...thanks for your inputs...ill make that effort to NOT fill the vacuum...Happy and Oakley

 

[Stargazer]

So the last of the stuff is gone, keys returned to the landlord, address
changes done. Ta da!

Well, maybe not. This morning, as I'm organizing what's left in my new tiny space, I realized...do I really need four hand towels? Five dish towels? Several dozen tea lights? Several boxes of staples? An empty three ring binder? Nope! So the culling continues!

But the two totes of photos have a new home at my eldest offspring's house. The plan is to get together at Christmas with her sibling, husbands, kiddos, and go through all those photos as a group. How fun that will be! I will keep a few, they will split up the rest, the spouses will learn about them as youngsters, all that jazz! I can't wait!!

 

[jaguarbird11]

Congratulations!

 

[cygvan]

dont recall where i heard this but...take a photo of items that are sentimental but must be let go.