I keep from late 90's a database of all stuff I own, bought and sold. Things from electronics (with full serial number and date of purchase, sell) to Pens and pencils.<p>I have no idea why I still keep doing this, but it's handy for insurance.
> 12,795 photos of 12,795 objects<p>In 2001 Artist Michael Landy catalogued then publicly destroyed (in an old department store on Londons Oxford Street) all of his 7,227 possessions.<p><a href="https://www.artangel.org.uk/project/break-down/" rel="nofollow">https://www.artangel.org.uk/project/break-down/</a>
Reminds me of this video [1] by self proclaimed Minimalist Matt D’Avella who also counted all their possessions.<p>Fun stats:<p>- Between him and his wife, they had 1600~ items<p>- The average American has 300,000 items in their house [2]<p>[1] <a href="https://youtu.be/BB8o8-EdZY0" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/BB8o8-EdZY0</a>
[2] <a href="https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2014-mar-21-la-he-keeping-stuff-20140322-story.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2014-mar-21-la-he-keep...</a>
I’ve had two occasions in the past year where I needed to document everything. In both, I went room to room photographing everything.<p>The first was was right before we moved from one state to another, about 12 hours away. Luckily we sold a lot of stuff (mainly on FB marketplace), which took literally about a year—you never know how much stuff you’ve accumulated until you move. And 20 plus years is a lot, with raising 2 kids. I took initial of everything, especially before we let people come through house when it was for sale.<p>Then,6 months after being in the new house, there’s a wildfire within a few miles ( we live in national forest area of Colorado), and we are in the evacuation zone. So I’m frantically going around photographing room to room while the rest of the family grabs the important stuff like phones, tablets and laptops. And other essentials. Didn’t expect that, so now I’m working on cataloging everything.
In the 90's my family went on a (rare) vacation out-of-state. My parents gave me a camcorder and told me to record everything in the house in case of robbery/fire etc. I meticulously went around to every room in our house and not only recorded video but supplied what I surely thought at the time ... was hilarious commentary.<p>I REALLY wish I had that video today. While mundane at the time I would have loved to have seen my childhood home, and all our possessions now 30 years later.<p>When I take photos now, I focus on people (not scenery) but this has me suspect there's enrichment to be had by documenting the "things" in your life.
Quite often the easier way to be a minimalist is to get a small apartment. Nothing activates your brain as necessity. Most things I own are extremely practical, like spoons or pants, or I have a emotional attachment to them, like friends presents or items from my childhood. Even with that I still have way more items than this photographer.<p>One last note, it also helps me to save money. Stuff that I like but I still do not buy because I want my apartment clutter free.
You have to set rules.<p>Does a Lego set count as one item or 752 items + box, instructions + bags?<p>Or 1 keychain vs keyring + tchotchke + keys?<p>How many items is a bicycle?
I love this. Thanks for sharing Currently doing it with objet.cc<p>I don't do this as an inventory for insurance or even 'the final count' of my stuff, but to save the stories / anecdotes attached to my most beloved items. An example here: <a href="https://objet.cc/kev/travel-chess-board" rel="nofollow">https://objet.cc/kev/travel-chess-board</a><p>It makes me reflect on what I truly care about [re: physical things]; which dramatically increases my awareness when I intent to buy something new. Where does that 'desire' come from? Why should I buy this? Why that one instead of that one? etc.
One of the fun things about Tick Tick Boom is that Jonathon Larson videotaped his apartment in quite a lot of detail for insurance purposes, so the cinematic recreation is incredibly accurate, down to the individual books on the shelves.
Somewhat related: <i>The 100 Thing Challenge</i><p><a href="https://zenhabits.net/minimalist-fun-the-100-things-challenge/" rel="nofollow">https://zenhabits.net/minimalist-fun-the-100-things-challeng...</a><p>I think it's worth reflecting on the amount of possessions one owns and considering whether having fewer would make one's life better. 100 may be too few to have, but aiming for fewer than one has may be an improvement for many people's mental state.
In the 90's there was an artsy site linked from Bud.com (which should take you back...) of a dude that was in the process of scanning everything he owned. This was back when merely hosting high-rez images was sort of an ordeal.
reminds me of delicious library back in the day. it was really useful when lending dvds to friends!<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delicious_Library" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delicious_Library</a>
I see a stand for a Macbook but no Macbook itself. The social commentary is on point. Truly art.<p>(There is an old busted iPhone, but I'm willing to call it old enough that she does, indeed, own it since it's too old for Apple to repair themselves.)