Give some thought to your "stuff" - and then think about not having your stuff.

[Stinky The Clown]

We all live somewhere. We all have stuff where we live. We have pots and pans and furniture and televisions and computers and cars and books and coffee makers and electric blankets and a beer bottle collection and Grandma Adele's broach and Dad's college graduation Hamilton watch and your kids' toys and maybe even your old toys from when you were a kid.

It all fits in the place you live. Maybe its tight, but its all there. Its comforting knowing that. Its your home and that stuff makes it particular to you.

Imagine you hit a financial hard patch.

You have to move to a smaller place.

Imagine that you have to give up some of your stuff. It might require some effort, but you can rationalize that its a hidden opportunity to reduce your footprint. To simplify your life. Yeah. That's it. Its a cloud with a silver lining.

Yard sale.

When its over, you have a few bucks in your pocket and less stuff to move to your new digs.

The new neighborhood isn't quite as nice as the last one. Your new residence is smaller. But hey. At least you can afford this. For a while at least.

Its hardest at night, when you're alone with those last few thoughts before the comfort of sleep fully washes over you.

Unemployment runs out. The rent's a few months past due. You sell some stuff. Its gets you by for a while, but you see where that can lead. You get in touch with family or friends. Yeah you'll have to get rid of more stuff, but that's better than homeless, right. You sell stuff on craigslist. You leave some on the curb; that sofa was kinda stained and worn. Never mind that your youngest kid was lovingly nursed on it. Its old.

Wow, that was easy. It all fits into the car and the smallest UHaul. That's much easier than when, years ago, it took a whole Mayflower truck and a hired crew to move you. You lie to yourself saying this is better.

But you know its not. You stifle the tears. Gotta be strong for the kids.

It all comes flooding back, why you and your sister were estranged for all those years. Desperate though you are, maybe it can still work. After all, you're doing the dishes and making her beds every day.

It comes to a head. The kids will be better off with er. Besides, they get along *really* well with their cousins.

You sell the car and buy an older, cheaper, smaller one. You and your life partner load in what you can. What to do with Dad's watch? Leave it? You know he wanted *you* to have it. Not your sister. But it can't take much physical abuse and its easily lost or stolen.

You get where you're going and you sell the car. That money will buy food for a while. And a tent.

Not so bad. The lantern's cheap to operate and how nice of that man in the next tent to invite us to share his cookstove.

What?

Everyone here?

Where can we go? Will we be arrested for hitchiking?






The stuff's pretty much all gone, now. Your belongings fit in a shopping cart that it is illegal to use, and an old suitcase. The old suitcase was with you on that trip to Europe a few years back. Was it really only four years ago? The rest of your stuff is blowing on the winds, lost to you. Just the two of you. Huddling. Man. Its *fucking* cold.






At what point are you dehumanized?




When you lose your stuff?




Or when you lose hope?





Imagine yourself with nothing.






Now think about the people who want to cut the last vestiges of the New Deal and the Great Society. Think of the people bent on "overturning the last 40 years of left wing government."

As.

If.






Can I at least keep this old picture of my dead parents on their 50th anniversary?








I wish I was with them.

[Mimosa]

1. ^ The Best Topic in Months ^

Thank you, Stinky. You have eloquently expressed what many of us are feeling, thinking, but don't have the wordsmith talent to express. *hug*

[Duer 157099]

2. Jesus Christ. You've just described my worst fears

You have it all described exactly as I imagine it happening, too.

When I was young, I wondered about the path one takes to homelessness. Over the years, I've learned that what you describe is exactly the way it is for most who are homeless.

Sigh. There are some heartless bastards running us into the ground.

[Donnachaidh]

3. we've BEEN there already - twice

first was in an earthquake. That was pretty much an act of (place your favorite deity here) so that was easier to deal with. Second time, DH lost his job when it was announced the firm he worked for was going belly up. That was much much harder to deal with - more like a slow descent into hell.

oh yeah -- the company that went *belly up*? Changed their name and was back in business ONE WEEK LATER. Of course, they didn't call back any of the longtime employees -- seems they would be too expensive to re-hire.

I think I prefer the earthquake. Seriously.

[HillWilliam]

53. We have once and I'm now scared to death we're about to again

We just got our feet back on the ground, got a home, got settled, and started to breathe again.

Oh fuck. Here we go again. I lost my job a little over two weeks ago. I'm the breadwinner in the family. My partner is disabled. G'd, if you're there, are you listening?

I'm quietly panicking, not to show on the outside what I'm feeling on the inside. I remember well what it was like the first time.

[Horse with no Name]

4. Excellent topic.

Now, add a chronic illness into this mix.

Right now, I am in the process of eliminating stuff. I tell myself it is to make things better and I honestly DO want a smaller place. But is the reason that I want a smaller place because I can no longer keep up with the bills without struggling or is it because I can no longer keep up with the work that it takes to maintain it? Which came first?

It is interesting.

I have watched them come for the teachers in our state. They aren't done either. I know my profession isn't far behind. It is how it works.

I am trying to get to where I can subsist on lower wages...before the situation is out of control.
Back to basics. It isn't necessarily a bad thing, but KNOWING we are but a step away from the scenario you illustrate is unsettling.

[Edweird]

11. Wasn't it you that was pointing out how I 'should have been a teacher'

a few years back when I was sharing my firsthand
experience with wage suppression?

[truebrit71]

5. Brilliant. Scary.

Think I need a walk to clear my head of those visuals now...I stay awake at night sometimes worrying about that becoming a reality for me too...Chilling..

[bobbolink]

6. I'm living this, as you know. Yes, the sentimental things, and things that can't be replaced are

heartbreaking.

What is worse though, by magnitudes, is how little other people care.

How little other people even WANT to think about.

Because we homeless people who have next to nothing (pots and pans? HAH!), are simply invisible and of no account. Not just to the teabaggers, but to "progressives" and the Democratic party as a whole.

We are expendable.

What hurts is that even our deaths, the last loss, mean nothing.

[whathappened]

31. why is this happening

we should be going forward , but were in reverse and that gear is stuck bad , what happened to the riches nation in the world b.s. , these rich fookers want it all or nothing , its almost time for the pitch forks and tar and feathers

[bobbolink]

81. Its happening because poverty has been tossed overboard as an issue, by the Dems.

Any time an issue isn't seen as important, it gets worse.

That should be a given.

When is this something that "progressives" will be taking seriously?

[roxiejules]

43. My goal this year

is to get my elected Representatives to help all those who go without adequate housing, supplies of food or health care.



:hi:

[bobbolink]

82. That is a very good goal, and I commend you.

To accomplish it, we need to get a whole lot more people active in this issue.

One or two letters to any given rep doesn't do much, sadly.

This is a numbers game, and poverty and homelessness just isn't sexy, no matter how many people die becasue of it. :cry:

[inenemyterritory]

7. Thanks for the summary

NICELY WORDED!!!!!!!!!!

I am living at a homeless shelter as we speak.

[bobbolink]

10. I am sorry that has happened to you. I hope things improve, and I hope you speak out.

Welcome to DU!!

:bounce: :party: :toast: :party: :bounce:

[roxiejules]

12. I will continue to raise my voice for you and others

and I encourage everyone to do the same. The one thing that should not be on the table is to abandon the poor and vulnerable.


My thoughts are with you -

[Odious justice]

8. To be fair...

If it gets that bad wouldn't there be some sort of situation where we could fight each other for stuff in some sort of "Thunderdome"? While I do like the idea of roaming the country with a picture of my dead parents...I think that most people would use common sense and settle on cannibalisim and home invasion. This is America and we don't like to walk. Not a fan of vegetables either.

[Quantess]

13. Stuff becomes more of a burden when you have nowhere to keep it.

Nobody's going to want that treasured Snoopy collection.

[Odious justice]

14. Hoarder.

[Quantess]

15. Plus, we'll all be too preoccupied about not getting eaten by other campers to care about trinkets.

If they start making comments about your meaty thighs, watch out!

[tavalon]

49. If we're talking cannibalism,

I would prefer the marbling on the top 2 percenters.

[tavalon]

55. Meanie

[freshwest]

28. It's still April Fool's Day until tomorrow...

[Hannah Bell]

30. -100

[DeadEyeDyck]

35. kinda kool

bout how many sandwiches would your flesh make?

[Stinky The Clown]

9. See here: Just a few miles from the White House. Literally. Watch the video at the link.

http://wusa9.com/news/article/144439/158/Homeless-Camp-Shut-Down-In-Dale-City

The government of Dale City, Virginia, which is almost certainly reflective of the majority of its citizens, is one of the most hateful I know of. These are the same people that enacted a whole range of Jan Brewer type laws to make it intolerable for Hispanic people - legal or otherwise.

[Tashca]

16. Powerful

I had to let you know how powerful your OP was to me.

recommend

[Scuba]

17. I've been poor before, I'll probably be poor again. I'll survive, and be just as happy. n/t

[Ignis]

18. K&R.

Hopefully this OP won't be classified as "throw-away," because it's very good.

[Kip Humphrey]

19. I de-stuffed twice in my life and, honestly, it was very liberating. I'll de-stuff 2 more times...

when I retire, and when I die. I'm looking forward to the one, not so much the other.

[freshwest]

29. Several times now, and planning to more. Now I call my simplification practicing Feng Shui.

Nothing matters but what's alive. The dead stuff will kill you.

Sometimes I truly grieve that I had to spend the proceeds of two homes on medical care for my home, and can't have a yard now.

It makes me feel insecure and disconnected from the Earth. Sometimes I can't read other people's gardening stuff, I'm so good at that, know so much.

Let come what comes. Nothing lasts. Leaves in the wind.

[marions ghost]

72. All stuff exacts a price--it's true

:hug: but I understand your sense of loss. Can't you do some gardening at another location?

[Mariana]

34. We're doing that now, and I agree

that it feels great...

when it's something you CHOOSE to do. That is my situation now. I look upon it as making the choice to spend time, money and energy doing stuff rather than having stuff.

When you HAVE to sell off your stuff in order to stay alive, it's not the same at all. I've been in that situation, too, many years ago, and it SUCKED.

[freshwest]

36. A lot of people of a 'certain age' have a lot of stuff they're hoarding because of emotional issues.

I can really tell the difference in how I think and feel when my little place is getting cluttered. So I choose to get rid of things. It feels great, and I'm also making sure that no more things get added.

This can get complicated when you have family. Sometimes they expect you to stay in a former place in time that you no longer want or need to be. They don't want you or the house or any of that to change for their own sense of security. They want to be able to go home again even if you've moved on mentally.

If I had my way, I'd live in one of those Tiny Houses where everything does second duty for the freedom of not being a slave to stuff. Paraphrasing Thoreau, he said that property or possessions end up owning us. I would like to achieve that state of zen, haha, where he was, but there are compromises that have to be made.

Thanks for the reply and good simplifying. Makes more room in your head more than anywhere else to embrace new challenges and be open for future possibilities, as yet unknowable.

.

[northernlights]

51. I've already de-stuffed more than once

and I agree it's liberating. I'll be de-stuffing again if and when I manage to sell my current place. And I will be downsizing, but that was part of my 7-year plan...maybe why it's not working and I'm forced to continue in a house that was more than I wanted when I bought it and couldn't find what I did want. I knew even the moment I walked in the door with the keys in my hand that I would be as happy in a shack or trailer, I just needed my own, private space.

It's the slow, painful downslide, not knowing where bottom is, and loss of privacy and peace that I find the most painful.

Really what matters most are the living, breathing family (for me, fur and featherkids). Even there, I am downsizing via attrition. As long as I can keep us all well-fed and roof over heads to the end, that will be enough. I gave up all the grand dreams a long time ago.

[blueamy66]

54. I cannot "de-stuff".....

too many memories

I have no immediate family left....I only have "things"...I often wander throughout my house and look at my pictures and my "stuff".

Our office is full of "stuff".....sports stuff and memories and Dad's AA stuff and pictures....my favorite room in the house. I sit in my leather chair and just look around at my stuff.

I miss my parents and my brother sooo much...cannot get rid of the "stuff".

[tavalon]

56. I think you missed the point of this OP

[bobbolink]

83. You are exactly right. Affluent people cannot seem to hear the pain.

[hunter]

20. You put your stuff in storage, hoping for better times.

Better times don't come. You've got no way to retrieve your stuff, or any place to put your stuff if you could, you can't pay the storage, and they auction off your stuff.

[Quantess]

33. Yeah, but storage space costs rent money.

Is it all REALLY worth paying rent money just to keep it?
Easy come, easy go, I say.

In general. But I do understand that there are a few really precious things that are hard to let go...

[Raksha]

78. I lost the contents of two storage lockers that way

after I lost my house to foreclosure in 1999. Some of the stuff was either junk or easily replaced like furniture and appliances, but some was irreplaceable. We didn't have time to sort it after we lost the house, so we just kind of threw it all in there. I thought I would go back later and go through it, but even getting my the storage locker and back was difficult because I didn't have a car.

Eventually I lost everything when I could no longer pay the storage rental, even some of my old my journals and the notebooks containing my poems. What I still have and what I don't have of my old writing depends entirely on which box it happened to be in. Literally.

I am facing the same situation again and I HAVE to start going through my stuff again and getting rid of as much as possible. I'm still putting it off, even though I've been here before and know exactly how bad it can get.

[Bunny]

21. I worry about it every day.

[Canuckistanian]

22. Oh shit

I just realized that I don't have any electric blankets.

Thanks, Stinky. You're the best.

[Bluerthanblue]

23. so well said,

:grouphug:

rec'd

[SoCalDem]

24. We knew a family in New Mexico who left all their "stuff"

The woman was a friend though our son & she never said much about her family life.. All we knew was that they lived in a very small house.

She called me just before her phone was disconnected & said.. "We have to leave, and wanted to know if you wanted any of our books & things"..

We went to their house & they were already gone..

They left the back door unlocked, so we went in to rescue some books.. They had left all their furniture too, and most of the kids' clothes & toys.... and their diplomas still hanging on the wall.

We never knew where they ended up..just that he had lost his job, and they were chucking it all & took only what would fit in their old station wagon:(

My friend & I called GoodWill & they took the "stuff" away..minus a bicycle & some really nice books they had..

[glinda]

42. Our neighbors left everything in their house and took the kids and dogs. Some people came and threw

everything into a dumpster.
It was so strange thinking that only a few months back, the kids and the dogs were running in the yard and playing. Now there is an empty house and yard.

[Scottybeamer70]

25. You're right about all of it

but the older I get, the more I realize how worthless "stuff" is. I am now living with friends, or I would
be under a bridge somewhere, or worse. Worked until I was 70 plus....but don't get enough on SS to rent an
apartment, and can't get subsidized housing because I don't have "good credit". Thank goodness for my friends,
the few I have left. At my age, I've outlived all of family, and most friends. Not sure what they meant by
the "golden years". I'm just thankful that I have a roof over my head and food to eat. Not much else seems
to matter anymore.

[liberal life]

26. we must demand our government turn the millions of empty foreclosed homes into low income housing

WE have to demand they shut up about Social security being the cause of the debt, so we have to cut poor people off even more.

They shouldn't have touched the Social Security trust fund, but WTH are they complaining about, without it they wouldn't have had their slush fund to hand out to their buddies the corporations in tax cuts.

WE have to get in their faces and DEMAND they start helping the millions of poor people they created with their policies, namely NAFTA and the WTO. And we need to DEMAND they fix all of the social safety nets that Reagan worked to destroy.

I have had enough of these heartless assholes!



http://fucorporatemedia.com/

[handmade34]

27. been there!!

living in a tent with 3 kids... it is freeing ...and incredibly painful. I know people that still live with that pain...

this is why I continue to fight

[Autumn Colors]

32. I feel as if I'm about to start this slide

My house is getting foreclosed and I'm getting rid of things ... ebay, freecycle, library, Goodwill. Next will be the part about moving to a small apt. but I know my profession is becoming obsolete (medical transcription) because of technology and what the much of what's left gets outsourced to India. I'm almost 50. Hoping to find some other way of making a living while I've still got my business (what's left of it). If not, then I'm guessing those other steps are ahead of me, too.

Sad part is that in 2009, the people in the house on one side of mine abandoned it and it sat empty for about 9 months. One day, they put out their garbage and recycling cans and never came back. Someone bought the house at the end of 2009 and tried to flip it (they never lived in it), but it sat there for almost another year empty - it was JUST sold a couple weeks ago.

Three months ago, the people in the house on the OTHER side of mine left -- there's a foreclosure sign in the front of it. I think they were renters, though. They left all kinds of stuff in the driveway -- toys, bikes, a desk...

When looking at real estate listings to find a rental, I saw that the house across the street from me is in pre-foreclosure ... just like me. This is so sad. I live on a dead end street that only has about a dozen houses and 4 of them have or probably will be foreclosed.

Maybe I should learn to build one of these:
http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/gypsy-wagon-workshop/

To all who are there now or heading that way ... :grouphug:

[marions ghost]

73. Can you retool and become certified to code

diagnostic procedures for insurance billing?

I would try to stay in a medical support job.

[Keith Bee]

37. I really miss George Carlin!

:-(

[freshwest]

38. Don't miss him, his spirit remains. Say hi to him here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac

[mn9driver]

39. I'm halfway there.

But I don't mind the journey. After all, it is just "stuff".

[bertman]

40. Thanks for that enlightening and sobering journey, Stinky. Rec.

[glinda]

41. I think this is the best thing you have written.

[BzaDem]

44. K&R.

[Raine]

45. Very sad

beautifully written ... THANK YOU. :thumbsup:

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. 
[link:www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html|Click
here] to review the message board rules.

[Lasher]

47. There but for fortune, go you or I

You or I

[tavalon]

48. I've been watching this happen to my ex-husband.

It breaks my heart. I'm helping as much as I can and if necessary, I will take him in but I can't take in his wife (well, come to think of it, if necessary, I actually can. Let bygones be bygones) and the four cats can't come because of allergies and my small animal killing pooch (it's really his only vice but it's a bad one).

Thing is, I was married to this man and I suspect he is too proud.to go that far. I worry that I will read about them in the news, ya know? He keeps sending these really optimistic emails but I know it's bullshit.

I'm the main breadwinner in my family and am blessedly unionized. I want to go to work elsewhere but then I lose my seniority and so I make the best of it and remind myself to be grateful.

[rpannier]

50. There's no way I could rec this enough

It may be the best thing written on DU ever

[tavalon]

58. It may well be

I agree.

[TxVietVet]

52. Organize and mobilize. Get the message out.

If you don't, you're stuff is gone and you can't move in with Mom and Dad, because their stuff is gone too.

Do you want the conservanazis to destroy everything you've worked for all your life?

Progressive voices need to be heard. Get it out on the airwaves.

[rhett o rick]

57. r & k

[tblue37]

59. When I moved to a much smaller apartment in 2001, my two young-adult

kids couldn't understand why I kept crying as I sorted through keepsakes from their childhood to decide which ones I could bear to discard.

[Le Taz Hot]

60. Powerful.

Thank you. :hug:

[northoftheborder]

61. A question for Stinky the Clown

Would you mind if I printed out your post and sent it to my rich Republican Congressman? I wouldn't put your name, or where it came from.

Is this allowable under DU rules?

[Stinky The Clown]

64. I would honored if you do that.

I am aware of no rules against it.

[northoftheborder]

68. My congressman is very wealthy; he doesn't make headlines....

.....by making inflammatory headlines such as some; but he votes straight down the line with most of their regressive proposed bills. I wish he would read something like this. I sometimes wonder if people like him have any idea how people really are forced to live, by circumstances totally outside their control, but within the control of our government policy. Probably would just get piled up along with all his other letters, if read, only by aides. I have called his local office and spoken with his staff, who at least listen to you.I

[ThatsMyBarack]

62. That can happen to ANY of us.

99% of us are NOT immune to it.

[russspeakeasy]

63. Thank you Stinky. You have been watching me haven't you?

Food, meds, or the utility bill? 

[caseymoz]

65. I suggest that you and others like you,

Go directly to Washington, camp there during the night, and spend your time protesting and lobbying during the day. Or alternately, go to your state capital and do this. Don't let yourself be invisible to the politicians that are enabling or actively doing this.

[KarenS]

66. oh,,,,

:cry:


This is so incredibly sad.

[mdmc]

67. Everyone out of their tents - time to campaign for the DLC!

2012 is here more or less..

[northoftheborder]

69. Hah. The DLC has been disbanded, under a new name, not that that means anything.

[tavalon]

74. But to those of us who hate them, and we are legion,

they will forever be the DLC. Three letters that encapsulate the worst of "our" party.

[mdmc]

87. yup

[mdmc]

70. I live in pain, paycheck to paycheck

I won't be able to move my stuff out of my apartment - I need to move before next winter - my heat in my flat is broke..

So I am one slip and fall from losing my ability to work - no work no pay - no pay no rent - no rent = living in car..

Just one small paycheck away from living in the car..

[malaise]

71. Great post

Meanwhile the rich get richer

[guitar man]

75. This is the best post I've read here in a long time

Been there, done that, late 1980s. They can worship that sonofabitch Reagan all they want but the motherfucker can rot in hell as far as I'm concerned. :grr:

Luckily I was single, it was just me that went through it. After I got married and we bought this little house, I worked my ass into the ground to pay it off, took every scrap of side work I could get to accomplish it, the old "make hay while the sun shines" thing. Burned a 15 year mortgage in a little under 8 years and I refuse to borrow a dime against it.

My wife didn't get why I was so adamant about paying it off until I sat her down and told her about the time I spent without a home. We are very fortunate to be in the place we are now, even though we don't make very much money.

My heart goes out to those struggling out there and if you need a place to pitch a tent in Tulsa, I've got 3/4 acre here :hug:

[Raksha]

76. K & R -Thank you for giving such an eloquent voice to our fears...

both those of us who have been there, and those who haven't but who know it's there waiting for them...no matter how hard we try not to look at it, no matter how hard they we to distance ourselves.

Well, how does it feel
To be on your own,
With no direction home,
Like a complete unknown,
Like a rolling stone.

There's a reason that song is such a perennial favorite.

[cliffordu]

77. Ain't so bad when you become callous to the fucking food stamp interview.

The rest of it becomes a logical descent into that perfect hell.

[polichick]

79. What's really scary is knowing that those who want to unravel the safety net...

...really and truly don't give a shit what happens to others - they have a million reasons/excuses why their demise is their own fault and has nothing to do with the wealthy or Republican policies.

k&r

[kedrys]

80. K&R

And if I hadn't left the U.S., that's roughly where I'd be, I'm convinced of it.

When I de-stuff, I donate everything that's still usable so it can do some good instead of throwing the stuff in the trash. We are, after all, our brothers' keepers.

Thank you, Stinky, for writing this powerful piece.

[eeyore98]

84. "hidden opportunity to reduce your footprint"

Yeah, that's exactly what I've been telling myself as I go through my house and set aside things that have resale value online. It's all for the best, right? After all, this house is less than 1000 sq ft, and I always breathe easier after freeing up more floor space.

Only it's all bullshit, isn't it? I'm selling our stuff to help keep us afloat for another month or two, hoping better times are coming before I have nothing no more small items worth selling, because next on the chopping block will be the car, then the house...

[tavalon]

86. Welcome to DU eeyore98

I'm sorry it's during such a difficult time.

[Catherina]

85. damn. Too late to recommend. n/t