I hadn't thought of it this way before, but I guess I now collect books. Or I try to. When we decided to move to DC last winter, I had to put a hold on my book buying because who knew how tiny of a place we would live in? I still snuck a few in here and there, but not as many as usual. And now we have a place to live, and it's not tiny, but definitely not well-equipped for 4 1/2 large shelves of books. And I've found myself wondering if I can part with some, or even all, of our book collection......I just can't do it.
The more I think about it, the more unthinkable it becomes. Which ones do I choose? How do I narrow down my selection when I love every single one of them? I can't possibly get rid of so many good old friends.
When I try to think rationally (which is, admittedly, a bit difficult for me where books are considered), I must ask myself if it is really logical to cart around such a heavy and cumbersome collection. And then the answer is generally a hearty NO. Our moving truck was literally 1/3 books/shelves (1/4 kitchen things, 1/4 camping things, and the rest miscellaneous). We could have gotten a smaller truck and our apartment would definitely be roomier without them. I suppose I could leave them in storage, but what's the point of having books if you can never see, find, or read them?
At this point, we're definitely going to keep all our books; they're already unpacked and have a place. But I wonder what to do the next time we move. What then, I say?
Part of this may be my compulsion to purge my house of all unnecessary things. I hate clutter and I usually throw things out to the point that I regret it later (the perfect Alice in Wonderland costume-dress from DI comes to mind every Halloween since 2002). I hate when people see my things and blurt out "Wow! You have a lot of stuff!" I don't have stuff, thank you. I have lots and lots of books. And quite a few kitchen things that make tasty food that I plan to feed you.
I'd like to be able to pack up and move at a moment's notice and just leave everything I own behind. If I were to become a vagabond and travel around the world or just move overseas like I'm always hoping, I'd be ok with storing my books for a while. Maybe I'll become detached enough to get rid of them. Maybe I'll get to that point one day. But right now, they're just too close to my heart.
6 comments:
it is perfectly logical NOT to get rid of your books. you love them and need them and therefore you should keep them. and when you go off vagabonding, you can put them in a storage unit or a friend's basement, and then they'll be there to greet you upon your return, like old friends.
Zillah, I was hoping you would say exactly that.
I love your thoughts. I used to collect many more things...and after marrying Ernesto (Chileans don't normally have so much stuff) I learned that I couldn't keep everything I wanted to...at least and have a happy husband...so...I try to not buy more...rather borrow/rent from friends/library/redbox...and if I love love love something that isn't big...then I sometimes buy it. My problem is holding on to baby clothes and toys...thinking it will get use again...but that is totally beyond my control...so it drives me crazy. Most things in life I can replace...but I don't want to if there is still a use there...and we don't have much money to replace. Thus...life. I also think about what I would do if we moved every couple of years to different countries.
I am like you about books, I just don't have quite as many. It's a veritable dilemma.
A great book collection in an asset, don't be ashamed to haul those books cross country!
Jamieson and I are both book addicts. We have tons, but that's what we like. We don't have tons of other stuff, so I think it is okay. Just seeing books on my shelfs makes me happy. Don't get rid of them. If you ever decide too, I'll just "keep" them for you. At my house. Same with that wedding dress. What are you reading these days anyway?
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