Collecting is an interesting phenomenon.
At some point we are really passionate about something – enough to gather as much as we can, or perhaps the best that we can afford, of a certain item.
Sometimes collections just sort of happen as old items are retired and replaced by new ones, but the older ones still stick around. Often, there’s a sentimental reason why the old one has earned its place in the house.
I’ve mentioned some of my collections a few times, usually related to boards of some sort – surf, snow, skate. Put together, my collection of boards is pretty impressive! Nothing museum quality, and certainly some people have gone much further down the rabbit hole.
But not bad nonetheless.
Can a true minimalist have a bunch of old boards laying around? Technically speaking, probably not.
I have been working on slimming it down. Within the collection are boards that I have attachment to and ones that I use, and then there’s the freeloaders that are just bulk.
Those freeloaders have to go.
When a collection takes on a life of its own.
I’ve noticed something interesting going on with another seemingly innocuous collection I have going on.
This one takes up less space, but is beginning to take on a life of its own!
Bottle openers.
Bottle openers are fun and they can be a cool part of the social experience of cracking open a beer (or a root beer with the kiddos).
It’s always interesting to see which one people go for.
I like the one my brother got me with the Craftsman screwdriver handle. It’s hanging by the beer fridge out in the garage (Beer fridge, seriously? I know! More on that later).
The lucador that puts my bottle cap in a headlock always makes me smile.
Beer. Smiles. Those are good things!
So what do I mean by ‘taking on a life of its own’?
Well, I no longer actually buy any of these openers myself. Actually, I can’t remember the last time I did!
They just arrive.
The word is out. Doug collects bottle openers.
I get them as gifts, I get them when people just drop by. They show up in the mail.
Am I fortunate to have friends and family that think of me enough to bring me a gift? Of course!
Is it my collection anymore? Not really. But I’m holding on to it, paying its rent.
Anyone else have this going on?
So, now I have this collection that I’m really not that interested in anymore, but it keeps growing.
Moving towards a minimalist lifestyle requires a reassessment of these collections.
What do they mean to you? What do they represent? Are you still passionate about them?
I feel that there are stages to addressing these collections.
- Deciding that you have collected as much as you need, or aren’t passionate about it anymore.
- Informing everyone that you just aren’t into that anymore, or at least don’t need any more.
- Curating the collection down to the really good stuff (there’s bound to be some fluff in there).
- Deciding whether or not to keep it at all.
Deciding that I have collected as much as I need.
I certainly have more than enough bottle openers. A true minimalist would just have one.
Informing everyone that the collecting is over.
A very good friend of mine came over with a bottle opener for me a few weeks ago. He brought it to let me know that he was thinking of me, but also informed me that he wasn’t super excited about the opener so was on the lookout for something better.
Two more openers!
At a different time, we were talking about houses and kids as we often do, and the battle to keep things within some level of sanity.
I mentioned cleaning out, decluttering, and taking on a more minimalist mindset. I mentioned that I’ve been selling gear and really trying being more careful about what comes into the house – cutting off the inbound flow.
It was a great time to mention, ‘you know, I’m really done with just collecting things – like the bottle openers.’
He got me one, and I’m grateful. I don’t need another.
We really only need one to share a few beers, and that’s the best part anyway.
Curating the collection down
There was a time when I purposefully set out to find good bottle openers to add to the collection, especially when I was traveling.
Opening a beer with this rugby player bottle opener from New Zealand? Awesome memories flood back in.
However, this meant that I also sometimes bought openers just because I was traveling, regardless of what I found was really that great.
The chotski opener from the Hong Kong airport? I get nothing, so I never use it. In fact, that thing makes me a bit mad.
It has to go.
If you aren’t ready to take the collection down to one, or none, at least take it down to the really good stuff.
Deciding whether or not to keep it at all.
The final and most ultimate step to getting rid of collections is just to say goodbye – pulling off that band-aid and move on with your life!
Obviously some things are going to fit easier into this category than others. The easy ones can go first. Maybe others get curated down while you think about it.
Minimalist: Sort of…
I figure if I’m at least sort of minimalist, I’m moving in the right direction. Stop the inflow, cull the herd, and keep that one great bottle opener for sharing beers with friends!