Are you a hoarder?
- Thread starter jymbee
- Start date
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Some people just can't let go. On the TV show "American Pickers" they'll find some out-of-the-way property where the owner has said he (almost always a "he") has a lot of "stuff" and he's willing to sell some of it. Upon arrival they're led to a very large, 2-story barn PACKED with all manner of tools, cars, motorcycles, signs, machinery-- you name it. Sometimes there's also a garage, several out buildings, some storage containers and even their house-- all of which are similarly stuffed.
They'll then ask the owner what's in that container in the back and he says it hasn't been opened in over twenty years and he's long since forgotten. They cut the lock, climb over heaping piles of stuff, dig down in the back and come up with something like an old sign.
Holding it up: "What would you take for this?" The reply: "Oh nooo... I couldn't sell that". Really??
Usually no matter what oddball item they find the owner knows the story of everything there-- when/where they got it. And often the emotional attachment at some level is just too strong to part with it.
They'll then ask the owner what's in that container in the back and he says it hasn't been opened in over twenty years and he's long since forgotten. They cut the lock, climb over heaping piles of stuff, dig down in the back and come up with something like an old sign.
Holding it up: "What would you take for this?" The reply: "Oh nooo... I couldn't sell that". Really??
Usually no matter what oddball item they find the owner knows the story of everything there-- when/where they got it. And often the emotional attachment at some level is just too strong to part with it.
DABSGT
Veteran Member
And what is worse is finding it only after buying a new one,
I believe I'm rapidly becoming one. I constantly search Craigslist and Estatesales.net looking for places to find a bargain. Not necessarily anything I need, just a bargain. I can't seem to say NO to new cans of spray paint for $.50 or some pieces of angle iron or other steel. I've had some help getting it organized by buying steel shelves for the machinery shed and barn. When I see a gas or diesel container by the side of the road, I stop for it. Usually only save the spout and cap, then toss the plastic can in the recycle bin. I already have a decent number of them (full of fuel for the THREE lawn mowers and TWO chippers and TWO leaf vacuums in storage. (3 chain saws, too: one never used other than to start it occasionally). I don't just have ONE vintage farm windmill, I have EIGHT of them. I've also saved all 5 laptop computers that I ever owned (Never know when you'll have to review Windows 3.1 or search a floppy disk looking for those pictures of the kids. I own a small car and a truck and just purchased ANOTHER small car, same model newer build with really low mileage for its age. I have 4 dogs (a DOG HOARDER even ???). I've started admiring different tractors, too. A Nice old JD4430 with a cab would look nice in the shed. Of coarse, I need that like I need a hole in my head).
On a positive note, I've started to sell some stuff on eBay. It's stuff I don't Marry, as they say. I don't want it, don't need it but paid very little for it and sell it for over $100 (tools, clothing, even play horseshoes. I bought a huge sandblaster for a steal. I clean up the horseshoes, paint them and sell them (shipping extra). Do you know that you can sell a single horseshoe for about 1/2 of what you would make selling all 4 plus the stakes ? How does that work ??
Did I mention I have THREE portable home generators (a pto Winpower, a Honda EU6500IS and a brand new 2000w something bought at a closeout ? I have three MANfridgerators stocked with my favorite beverages stashed in the garage, the shed and the barn. (Food is in the house version)
Help, I'm gonna have a really great estate sale when I go out the door head first. And I'm getting better. Took a load of used iron to the scrapper ($40 worth) and won't save wood boards anymore. They dry out and split when nailing them to something.
Anybody need a barometer or a clock ? I have a whole room full of them....
Yikes, I just realized I have over a hundred bluebird houses out on the fence posts. Retirement is a good thing !
On a positive note, I've started to sell some stuff on eBay. It's stuff I don't Marry, as they say. I don't want it, don't need it but paid very little for it and sell it for over $100 (tools, clothing, even play horseshoes. I bought a huge sandblaster for a steal. I clean up the horseshoes, paint them and sell them (shipping extra). Do you know that you can sell a single horseshoe for about 1/2 of what you would make selling all 4 plus the stakes ? How does that work ??
Did I mention I have THREE portable home generators (a pto Winpower, a Honda EU6500IS and a brand new 2000w something bought at a closeout ? I have three MANfridgerators stocked with my favorite beverages stashed in the garage, the shed and the barn. (Food is in the house version)
Help, I'm gonna have a really great estate sale when I go out the door head first. And I'm getting better. Took a load of used iron to the scrapper ($40 worth) and won't save wood boards anymore. They dry out and split when nailing them to something.
Anybody need a barometer or a clock ? I have a whole room full of them....
Yikes, I just realized I have over a hundred bluebird houses out on the fence posts. Retirement is a good thing !
dave1949
Super Star Member
I don't keep a lot of stuff.
I have a $139 Walmart Murray 22" push mower that I haven't used for three years and hope to never use. A Winco 2000 watt portable generator with a Briggs engine that was my Dad's from the early 70's I think. It works but the power is probably not a nice clean sine wave and it's heavy enough to be a boat anchor. A small chainsaw with a bad bar oil pump that has quite a bit of use on it and not really worth fixing but too good to get rid of. All of those have running motors that I turn over now and then to keep them free, but I really have no use for those things.
It is amazing how much stuff is in the garage that really is needed and used around a rural place.
I have a $139 Walmart Murray 22" push mower that I haven't used for three years and hope to never use. A Winco 2000 watt portable generator with a Briggs engine that was my Dad's from the early 70's I think. It works but the power is probably not a nice clean sine wave and it's heavy enough to be a boat anchor. A small chainsaw with a bad bar oil pump that has quite a bit of use on it and not really worth fixing but too good to get rid of. All of those have running motors that I turn over now and then to keep them free, but I really have no use for those things.
It is amazing how much stuff is in the garage that really is needed and used around a rural place.
