As much as I like the idea of living with only a few possessions, it strikes me as a constant struggle: where do you put the 50 pack of envelopes you had to buy to send one letter? Are scissors for opening packaging included in his possessions? Nail trimmers? Toiletries? A formal pair of shoes? Do you have to hire all this stuff when you need it, or just keep in a drawer out of sight? And this is what I didn't get about the KonMari method either: a formal suit doesn't "bring me joy" any more than a sink plunger, but both are necessary. How are minimalists able to get away without this cloud of objects following them?
I always preferred the Toast's version of the whole KonMari spiel:<p>"Things like “having chairs” is preventing you from living your best life, and also you should throw away any item of clothing you’re not currently wearing. If it’s not on your skin, you don’t really love it, do you?"<p><a href="http://the-toast.net/2015/02/24/get-rid-clutter-live-abundantly/" rel="nofollow">http://the-toast.net/2015/02/24/get-rid-clutter-live-abundan...</a>
I am not really a minimalist intentionally, but I'd guess that at least by amount spent I rank near the very bottom of HN posters. Over the last 3 years I have averaged about $300-400 USD per month, which includes rent and a yearly visa. I don't own a phone and I have no air conditioning, hot water, television, etc. I bike or walk everywhere -- no car or moto. I do own a computer and a 12$ per month internet connection, a set of speakers, a table, a home-made standing desk, and a mattress. My wife / room mate has a few things too, but she is similarly minimal. We share books and colored pencils, but beyond that it's just assorted small items. Even with our relatively small number of possessions though, moving apartments still seems daunting.
As a tech nomad, minimalism wasn't quite optional in my case, and it's really not that hard to get rid of stuff if you put your mind into it.<p>What I have problem minimizing is the amount of gadgetry. I use a phablet for phone and tablet tasks, and a notebook as a workstation which is connected to extra monitors, storage and such when in an office. While it may not sound as much, I think I could get away with less. If someone was to release a tablet comparable to Surface 4 Pro but smaller and with Thunderbolt (i.e. supporting external graphics) I'd ditch my whole setup in a heartbeat.
This is great, except for tools. I can't imagine living without enough tools to accomplish most tasks that I am faced with. This means having everything from a soldering iron and shrink tube, to a table-saw. I just can't imagine wanting to build something and not being able to do it. In fact, I see a tig welder in my future for that very reason. I know quite a few people who are completely reliant on others for something as simple as replacing the wax seal under a toilet. I don't want to join those people.
Kind of emblematic of our Generation Rent. If you're never going to own property, there's no reason to accumulate stuff that will burden your next move...<p>Having so few clothes isn't a good idea, because it's not a full washer load. You're doing more laundry than you need to, and you don't have an alternative if you get them ripped or dirty. It makes more sense to have 10 shirts and 2 pairs of pants. If you can afford it, fine wool and synthetic fabrics are more durable, quick drying and travel friendly than cotton.<p>I (somewhat nomadic; 3 continent moves so far) don't practise any kind of conscious minimalism, but here's my rule: if I haven't used it in a year, out it goes. That means I've thrown out or sold some nice things, but I don't accumulate crap. It also means I'm more careful about buying in the first place. I don't own books; that's what pdfs are for.<p>Travel minimalism is another thing. If you spend lots of time traveling you also learn to pack for one single carry-on bag. I recommend turning sets of clothes and underwear into neat little one-day burritos: <a href="https://huckberry.com/journal/posts/how-to-skivvy-roll" rel="nofollow">https://huckberry.com/journal/posts/how-to-skivvy-roll</a>
One thing that this article skates over is that many Japanese apartments - especially in Tokyo - are absolutely tiny and space is really at a Premium.<p>In the apartment I stayed in, one of the bay windows had been converted into a wardrobe, my washer/dryer was on the balcony outside, and the 'kitchen' consisted of a basin and a camping stove. I wonder how much of this minimalism is borne out of necessity.
Traveling often has forced me to adopt this approach. I do not miss the days where I owned much more. Slimming down your possessions to a couple of suitcases worth is liberating, to say the least. Incidentally, I also live in Japan, but most apartments I have visited here are very cluttered.
I love the concept and have long toyed with the idea of getting rid of stuff even though I already have slimmed down my possessions.<p>Personally I try to avoid purchasing anything that I'm not going to need at least 3 times.
The West is following Japan in so many ways, I suppose because they had their financial crisis before us.
Herbivore men, minimalist living, collapsing fertility rates, we are turning Japanese.