Comments on: The Fine Art of Decumulation http://www.pleasantrevolution.net/2005/10/03/the-fine-art-of-decumulation/ tools, soundrack, thoughts, and images for a pleasant revolution Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:09:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Old Guy http://www.pleasantrevolution.net/2005/10/03/the-fine-art-of-decumulation/#comment-72 Old Guy Fri, 21 Apr 2006 19:48:58 +0000 http://www18.a2hosting.com/~pleasant/2005/10/03/the-fine-art-of-decumulation/#comment-72 Who was it that said: " You can only posess so many material things because at some point they will posess you."? How many folks are tethered to a job because of house, car, boat, etc etc payments? Who was it that said:
” You can only posess so many material things because at some point they will posess you.”? How many folks are tethered to a job because of house, car, boat, etc etc payments?

]]> By: Anna http://www.pleasantrevolution.net/2005/10/03/the-fine-art-of-decumulation/#comment-71 Anna Thu, 06 Oct 2005 15:47:21 +0000 http://www18.a2hosting.com/~pleasant/2005/10/03/the-fine-art-of-decumulation/#comment-71 I’ve heard myself complain that stuff has a way of accumulating. Note the careful absence of an active player in that sentence? Rephrase: I have a way of accumulating stuff. Despite attempts to live lightly, stuff gathers around me. Damn, there it is again! I mean, I gather stuff around me. A few personal culprits: Not taking the time to see ‘stuff’ for what it really is, not simply the visible object, but a long, sordid process. Highly recommended on topic: <a href="http://www.northwestwatch.org/publications/stuff.asp" rel="nofollow">Stuff: The Secret Lives of Everyday Things.</a> Skimping. When purchase is necessary, pays to spend the extra $ for quality, most crap is designed for a short “cradle to grave” lifespan. For glimpse at a better way, check out: <a href="http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm" rel="nofollow">Cradle to Cradle</a> Not thinking ahead. So I’ll succumb to late night purchase of individually wrapped sponges from Albertsons, cuz its across the street and the only place open at midnight and dirty dishes are overflowing and…. All that being said, important to remember when to chill out. In earlier post (What do diapers and airplanes have in common?) KC recommends <a href="http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?imagefield.x=0&kn=consumers+guide+to+effective+environmental+choices&imagefield.y=0" rel="nofollow">The Consumers Guide to Effective Environmental Choices</a> rating eco-impacts of our daily decisions. I’ve found myself paralyzed in-store, object in hand, furiously debating purchase pros and cons until I leave, mentally exhausted, only to return days later because I really did need it. Coulda spent that guilt energy on a bike ride! I’ve heard myself complain that stuff has a way of accumulating. Note the careful absence of an active player in that sentence?

Rephrase: I have a way of accumulating stuff.

Despite attempts to live lightly, stuff gathers around me. Damn, there it is again! I mean, I gather stuff around me. A few personal culprits:

Not taking the time to see ‘stuff’ for what it really is, not simply the visible object, but a long, sordid process. Highly recommended on topic: Stuff: The Secret Lives of Everyday Things.

Skimping. When purchase is necessary, pays to spend the extra $ for quality, most crap is designed for a short “cradle to grave” lifespan. For glimpse at a better way, check out: Cradle to Cradle

Not thinking ahead. So I’ll succumb to late night purchase of individually wrapped sponges from Albertsons, cuz its across the street and the only place open at midnight and dirty dishes are overflowing and….

All that being said, important to remember when to chill out. In earlier post (What do diapers and airplanes have in common?) KC recommends The Consumers Guide to Effective Environmental Choices rating eco-impacts of our daily decisions. I’ve found myself paralyzed in-store, object in hand, furiously debating purchase pros and cons until I leave, mentally exhausted, only to return days later because I really did need it. Coulda spent that guilt energy on a bike ride!

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