Breaking Up Isn't Hard To Do
In my second half-century of life few things are easier to do than getting rid of crap I don’t need. After moving residences a total of twelve times in my adult life I view possessions I don’t use on a daily basis as a complete burden.
Around the start of 2026 I started liquidating all the stuff I don’t need on eBay. Just yesterday I listed my 1961 Selmer Bb Clarinet on eBay (Here’s the ad). I played my original clarinet in stage, marching, and jazz bands from the sixth grade until my junior year in high school. It was a beginner resin-body instrument that my parents paid off in installments from Coyle Music in Columbus.
It wasn’t until I reached my 40’s that I could afford a professional-quality instrument. This Selmer Series 9 is French-made and it’s a fairly well-known model and it rekindled my desire to play. It was referred to as a "Big Bore" clarinet. It was one of a few vintage Selmer Paris models (mostly from the mid-20th century) that featured a larger-than-average bore diameter. This larger interior volume produces a bigger, fuller, darker, and more powerful sound with greater projection and easier response in the altissimo register compared to narrower-bore clarinets. It was, and still is, sought after by jazz musicians for its ability to be heard over trumpets and saxes. It’s an absolute joy to play and was a dream come true to own.
Somehow time moved on, life happened, and I started playing the guitar more and the clarinet less and less. I realized the other day that after moving into this new house in the autumn of 2024 it hadn’t been out of the case once since we moved in. It was then I decided to set it free to allow the next person to enjoy it.
The instant I clicked "List Item" on eBay I felt a wave of relief to know I'd be shedding one more thing I didn't use. That's how I know it was the right decision.
I don't know if this happens in other parts of the world but Americans are, particularly, bad about hoarding things they don't need and/or no longer have a use for. There's a good reason that Public Storage businesses are continually listed as the least risky business to start in the US. People want their overabundance of stuff out of sight so much that they'll pay a hefty monthly fee to make it "disappear".
I just watched the relatives of a deceased neighbor across the street spend a solid two months moving things out of the house readying it for the real estate market. It was nearly inconceivable how many truckloads of stuff they loaded up and carted away. It reminded me of watching those dozens of clowns pile out of the tiny car in the circus.
After moving twelve times, average of once every 2-3 years, I'm always looking to lighten my load. The only question left in my mind is—What's next?
Breaking up isn't hard to do.
All for now. Enjoy your weekend and thanks so much for reading.
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Going through the process of moving my wife's parents it is pretty clear how much junk we hold onto. My wife is pretty good about not keeping stuff (to my annoyance sometimes),but in the end, I think it is a good thing. There have only been a couple of times I ended up needing something she had gotten rid of.
Moving is a good reminder! I used to keep things for, mainly, sentimental reasons but after having moved so many times I've made up my mind that doing that is only punishing myself. : )
It is great how liberating it feels to let go of things that no longer serve us, like your beautiful Selmer clarinet :)
Very true! I wish the pictures would have loaded but PeakD still isn't allowing me to do it.
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Very true, I never used public storage, but I do tend to accumulate stuff at home. My wife is opposite, she is always getting rid of stuff...
We made the mistake of renting a public storage unit when we were staging our first house to sell. We ended up keeping the unit from 2014 until around 2022 and the rent went from $80/month to almost $300/month by the time we ended the contract. It's such a scam. A very lucrative business though.
I am one of those who believe that what we do not need, our neighbors might need. With that idea, I give away or donate many things per month or per year. You do not know the number of people who are happy with an old cell phone, some used shoes, an out-of-fashion jacket. So next time you are going to get rid of good and well-kept things, put them in a box with my name and I will gladly receive it here, in Venezuela. Hahaha. I send you a hug 🫂