I have packed and moved ten times in the past 25 years; two houses and eight apartments across four states. I know a thing or two about stuff. In every one of those moves—or nearly—I’ve purged boxes, closets, totes, and cupboards. I’ve thinned out and pared down, sometimes ruthlessly and sometimes judiciously. And yet, more stuff fills in the spaces—and then some.

But how much stuff do we need? The answer depends on your interpretation of “need.” I like my things. Much of it I liked more when I purchased it than I care about it now, but I must have purchased it all for a reason. And not only was the stuff purchased, but kept. Maybe it’s on display. Maybe it’s in a closet or a drawer or a cupboard. It takes up space. Do I need any of it?

I am about to start a new chapter in my life and find myself packing again. What should I take with me into this new chapter? There is a strong temptation to box most of it up and “store” it. But what would I be storing it for? Do the things I’d set aside serve any purpose other than owning them? There might be some things of value. Ebay could help answer some of the question, but there is still a great deal of stuff that would remain.

Will I ever go looking for the things I store? Will I ever search for the things I put in boxes and stacked in a garage? I have a dear friend who lost, or had to get rid of, nearly everything because of hurricane damage. He said that he really hasn’t missed most of it. He’s never gone looking for the things he no longer has.

And that lends gravity to the other possibility I’ve considered. Just get rid of it. Minus those things I could recoup some money from through online auctions or a yard sale, is there are reason to keep all this stuff? If it’s otherwise bound for storage and unlikely to be sought after in the future, does it need to take up space anywhere? It’s a little sad to think of all my things in a landfill, but I could give much of this stuff away.

But I bought the stuff for a reason. I spent money on it. How can I just throw it away? There’s a kind of guilt attached to the idea of just purging things again. But the money is spent, and keeping the items I spent it on doesn’t make me any richer. I covered my walls and shelves with things I like to look at, things that make me smile or bring back a fond memory, but do they truly bring me joy? Or are they weights? Is my life fuller with them or simpler without them?

We attach memories to things; memories of events, of people, of places. Another dear friend posted a story on social media about an item she came across while helping her grandmother sort through things to prepare for a move. It was a small item, but full of fond memories. And that gave me pause too. “Things are things but memories are forever.” Do I keep the stuff because of the memories attached to it?

When the shelves are packed and I’m starting at the empty spaces, am I letting those memories go, sacrificing them so I’m not bothered by the accumulation of things? Am I getting rid of reminders of parts of my life for the convenience of not having to pack and move all the stuff again? When everything else is gone, aren’t memories all we have? And if I get rid of the things that remind me of the journey I’ve taken to get to this point in my life, will the memories fade too?

It’s going to require careful consideration and a bit of shrewdness to decide what stays and what goes; what comes with me or gets stored, and what is simply tossed out or given away. It’s an emotionally charged task and one I’ve struggled with all week, but it’s a task that needs done.

My instinct is to shed most of it. A new chapter doesn’t need old things. And I’m not talking about family heirlooms, but stuff. The shelves are full. The closets are full. The garage is brimming with full boxes and totes, but is my life any fuller for it? Is there a place for it all in the next chapter? Is getting rid of all this stuff an insult to the memories or a release from the weight of the past?

In the end, I suspect I’ll take a lot photos and leave a lot of stuff behind. I’ll always like my things. I’m sure I’ll acquire plenty more as the years march on. But I’ve also always envied a more spartan life; simplicity. Money is better spent on experiences than things. Shelves don’t need to be full for a life to be full. And, as the adage goes, “you can’t take it with you.”

What about you? What about all the stuff you’ve gathered? Do you ever want to just get rid of it all? Have you done that? If you’ve ever moved and had to sift through everything you own, how did you decide? Leave your answer in the comments. Thank you.

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