Attached To Possessions

[nailit]

How ridiculous is it to get attached to 'things'?
Ive mentioned on here before that my book collection is my pride and joy. However Ive decided to thin it out as I'm no longer collecting, but hoarding. Recently sold a few hundred paperbacks that will never get read again to a local dealer, got a few more hundred up for sale on the internet (as a bulk buy) Still got others boxed up ready for sorting/sale when I get around to it. Ive still got a fair collection in my bookcases, most that I want to keep but others which will go eventually.
However, I'm actually feeling sad that my collection is disappearing.
*WHY* do humans get so attached to things?
Have you ever got rid of something that's made you feel a bit forlorn doing so?
Thanks.

[HansUrbancka]

I've reached the stage of thinking that, if you have something which you haven't looked at or used in the last three years. do you really need to keep it. However, I often still keep items 'just in case'.

Hans.

[nailit]

Ive used my book collection as an example, but the real question has been just WHY do humans feel the need to hoard?
What purpose does it serve? If it was food or clothing I could understand it (from an evolutioniary point of view)...

[DTCwordfan]

we've bought it, been given or lent it, so use it and if you don't, keep it as you may need it at some point. Actually, nailit, if you push the buttons, there are usually some deeper drivers such as 'he cheated on me and I'm going to spend his money on whatever, this resulting in hoarding bordering on a OCD.

[Tilly2]

That reminds me of this, DTC.

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williammor158643.html

[Cloverjo]

I've got so much stuff that is worthless but I can't bear to throw away, including my ZX Spectrum which is broken, some dried out oil paints that a friend bought me and a broken amber necklace that belonged to my granny. Among loads of other things.

I really don't want to be lugging all this stuff with me wherever I move to, so that's why I'm trying not to hoard any more things.

[david small]

I had a massive collection of classical music LPs. All gone.
Also got rid of hundreds of PCGames. Still miss them.
Diminished my library, but , just cannot part with lots of them. I’ll go first....

[david small]

We possess to confirm our identity. We own things, and things own us.

[Cloverjo]

Sometimes I wish I could just pack up all my stuff and move with one suitcase, but once I got to my new cave home in Spain (or wherever) I'd want my lovely books and bags of stuff to sort out and put somewhere I'd never look at again.

It's all about memories, Nailit.