Survey #248—Full Response from CHRISTINE
| Pronouns | She/her |
|---|---|
| When you hear the word “minimalism” used to describe a lifestyle, what do you think of? | I do not think minimalism actually exists in reality. It only exists, online, or in print, as a popular gimmick . The only real life people, I know, who might call themselves minimalists, truthfully are not. Even they will admit , that while they have one space where they live minimally, they also have off site storage units, their storage in other people's homes (relatives, friends, neighbors ). And some "minimalists" have 2 or 3 residences,, (vacation homes) so they can live minimally in one home, and store their excess stuff in other residences. And my "minimalist" friends are always shopping to replace the things they got rid of. They do not "store" holiday decor, but they just keep buying new decor every year, to replace the stuff they gave away. My friend moved into a tiny house, to live more minimally. it is now packed with needed things, , she rents storage units for things she also needs, she is storing things at relatives houses, and has bought a second residence where she mainly lives. I think a better goal in to live more simply... with less stuff. But that does pretend to mean with almost no stuff. I do not see how a minimalists can own and keep up a home. It takes a lot of supplies to keep a house in repair. A lot of supplies to maintain cars, raise children., and even some supplies to enjoy life with crafts, hobbies like gardening, sewing. And as we all get older... a lot of medical supplies and equipments for new medical conditions. That is why I listen to Gayle, as a professional in this area. She helps us, in the real world....not an idealistic world... to lighten the load... where it makes common sense. |
| “The things you own end up owning you.”* To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? How is it relevant to your stuff? | Another popular minimalist slogan is ....."the thing is not ...the person." . I completely disagree with that. My beloved father was cremated, and the ashes were scattered, so there is not even a cemetery to go to"visit" him. But he gave me an antique school bell (the kind that you ring by hand". the day I graduated from college with a degree in education. I have photos of my father on the wall, but I can "touch" the hand bell. And it is something physical I can pass on the my grandchildren,, who never knew him. Photos are only 2 dimensions, and work in a different part of the brain, than an object. |
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