Maybe this is slightly OT, but this thread got me thinking about the vast differences in how I live and in how my parents live. I posted earlier that we live in a one bedroom apartment in the city, and it works great for us so far. I grew up in a large house and everything that I have lived in since has gotten progressively smaller. My parents, on the other hand (both who are approaching 70 years old) just bought a house that's bigger than anything they ever lived in! I scratched my head on this one, mainly because my mother has more to clean (refuses to use any outside help) and we (as in my brother and I) only go to visit them maybe twice a year at most because it is nine hours drive for both of us. As far as I know, they rarely entertain.
My parents are forever reminding my brother (who lives in a two-bedroom apartment with 4 children) and I that we need to think about getting bigger apartments. It is the topic of almost every conversation! Their minds are literally boggled that we both can make it work. I think a major issue that they have and why they think they need a lot of space is that they are both pack rats. Getting rid of anything (whether it be sold, given away or tossed) sets off some sort of bizarre psychosis in them and they really have a hard time coming to terms with the idea that maybe they don't need all the stuff that they've acquired. I'm not talking about collections and fine furniture here, I'm talking about everything from furniture they find on the street to plastic grocery bags. My mom's most common line is: "It would be a shame to give it away, we may need it some day." While there is some truth to the concept that they may, remotely, need such item some day, what is the cost of keeping that item into perpetuity?
Don't get me wrong, I love my parents, but our life philosophies have diverged.
My parents are forever reminding my brother (who lives in a two-bedroom apartment with 4 children) and I that we need to think about getting bigger apartments. It is the topic of almost every conversation! Their minds are literally boggled that we both can make it work. I think a major issue that they have and why they think they need a lot of space is that they are both pack rats. Getting rid of anything (whether it be sold, given away or tossed) sets off some sort of bizarre psychosis in them and they really have a hard time coming to terms with the idea that maybe they don't need all the stuff that they've acquired. I'm not talking about collections and fine furniture here, I'm talking about everything from furniture they find on the street to plastic grocery bags. My mom's most common line is: "It would be a shame to give it away, we may need it some day." While there is some truth to the concept that they may, remotely, need such item some day, what is the cost of keeping that item into perpetuity?
Don't get me wrong, I love my parents, but our life philosophies have diverged.
