Belongings and Competition

[ministry_victim]

The Sunday edition of the Vancouver Province ran a full one page spread on the minimalist lifestyle. Now, if you know me at all, you know that that's something of a mostly unrealized aspiration for me. I have a zen for austerity; a subtle yearning for simplicity, so last night while I was driving the Blue, I made a mental inventory of all of my

Comments

[lookintomyeyes]

My first thought when I read this, (as an outside observer, if you will) was "wow, he doesn't share ownership with the woman the person he's in a relationship with?"

Coupled with your previous post...I can't help but wonder how she would feel reading this? Sounds like you haven't really 'bought in'.

My belongings don't necessarily define me, but they assist in portraying the me I am, want to be, and used to be. You coudl take them away, but they help tell the story of my life, so I like them to be there. You could ask me abotu anything in our apartment, and I'd tell you the story of it. I like it that way. Occaisionaly Ill take a picture (i can use that to tell a story...), and then throw out an item, but in general I'm proud of my selections of 'things' - they were purchased with conscious thought.

[ministry_victim]

Oh, I do. We're together, and we observe these things as "ours." But given the recent difficulties, I suppose I've started unpacking the ours - in preparation for what feels like an eventual pull-away. It's come part and parcel with being willing to work on the relationship, but preparing, at least mentally, for the worst.

Since this post was written, we've made some strides.

Your perspective is an interesting one. It's personal and outside of consumerist logic.