It's a phobia.. I've drifted away from being a packrat over the last few years. Moving to France convinced me that I could live quite happily with what I could
fit into a large suitcase.
My worst offense is probably books. I have many boxes of books, and should I eventually move back to France it's highly unlikely they'll move with me (unless I ship them by sea).
I don't yet know where my next job will be.. I have interviews in Connecticut, Seattle, and San Francisco. Any of the three would be interesting and challenging, but in the mean time I need to clear out of my apartment (where they are charging a usurious rent).
So I'm taking the opportunity to filter and sort my "stuff" - which kind of owns me. I'll have to pay about $120/mo to store my "stuff" so it's well worth figuring out if it is worth keeping.
Sometimes I think I should just have a fire sale - or a bonfire. I haven't quite decided, but every time I move the decision to junk it all comes closer.
Really, all I need is my laptop, my watches, my photo gear and some clothes. Most everything else is superfluous.
One of my good friends in college, Rico Tudor, one of the original white hat hackers, used to move around with a duffle bag containing his worldly possessions.
Today, just today, I think I wish I were he.
One more day of packing left.
Posted by artandscience at December 30, 2005 12:23 PM