Becoming Minimalistic

[SimplyMinded]

Blasphemy. How dare you not build a Temple to the Knife Gods? Besides, if the wallpaper makes the walls suck, who would notice if there were knives mounted all over them?

 

[GIRLYmann]

having way too much
of a favorite thing is not going
to end well.
in the long run over indulgence
just wanes personal satisfaction
down to a level where gratification
could become nil.
as one mellows down with age
and perhaps become less compulsive
with the choices made,
one must try to age well
with stuff which compliments
the middle path.
however there is the probability
of this demon we must wrestle with - familiarity breeds contempt .
the zen state is often hard to achieve,
when there is nothing to stop
"wants" from happening.
life is easier when there is
simply no choice left...
happiness is a state of mind.
it cannot be achieve when
its tied to physical objects.

 

[Zulus]

Minimalistic is one knife ONLY
Plastic one, excusively
That's REAL mini thinking

 

[kobold]

 

[Don W]

I used to have just a couple of knives I used. Then I began accumulating more and more. I sold, I traded I gave away knives and still do, but what I did figure was that I was a collector. I have narrowed down my user knives to a small canvas bag of knives, maybe 12 or 15 in there. I mostly carry the same one or 2. The rest of the knives are in my collection. I am working on building a couple displays for the growing collection. I am not opposed to take a knife out of my collection to use, but that is mostly a special circumstance.

 

[Ron Sabbagh]

I was able to minimize my watch collection over years (just as addictive as knives, only more expensive) and I am finally doing that with my knives. Yes..it is a great feeling.

When I start to see myself falling down a rabbit hole of knife lust and cash expenditure, I remember that General Chuck Yeager made it through his entire career with one watch (Rolex GMT) and one knife (Victorinox SAK classic). I will never be in a situation as demanding as the ones Chuck Yeager experienced......and I use that as my mantra.

 

[eveled]

I know a guy who lives in a refrigerator box. He has 1 pair of pants 2 pairs of socks 2 shirts a pair of boots almost nothing else. Very minimalist lifestyle. He’s not that happy.

 

[jackknife]

I was able to minimize my watch collection over years (just as addictive as knives, only more expensive) and I am finally doing that with my knives. Yes..it is a great feeling.

When I start to see myself falling down a rabbit hole of knife lust and cash expenditure, I remember that General Chuck Yeager made it through his entire career with one watch (Rolex GMT) and one knife (Victorinox SAK classic). I will never be in a situation as demanding as the ones Chuck Yeager experienced......and I use that as my mantra.

Actually, Yeager used a Victorinox executive for his EDC knife.

 

[emjay]

I was able to minimize my watch collection over years (just as addictive as knives, only more expensive) and I am finally doing that with my knives. Yes..it is a great feeling.

When I start to see myself falling down a rabbit hole of knife lust and cash expenditure, I remember that General Chuck Yeager made it through his entire career with one watch (Rolex GMT) and one knife (Victorinox SAK classic). I will never be in a situation as demanding as the ones Chuck Yeager experienced......and I use that as my mantra.

Yeah I also got into watches for a short period. It was a short period because I saw how expensive it was getting. Now I only have one watch, a Casio G-Shock that I wear when I go surfing or fishing, otherwise my phone makes a great pocket watch.

 

[sgt1372]

having way too much
of a favorite thing is not going
to end well.
in the long run over indulgence
just wanes personal satisfaction
down to a level where gratification
could become nil.
as one mellows down with age
and perhaps become less compulsive
with the choices made,
one must try to age well
with stuff which compliments
the middle path.
however there is the probability
of this demon we must wrestle with - familiarity breeds contempt .
the zen state is often hard to achieve,
when there is nothing to stop
"wants" from happening.
life is easier when there is
simply no choice left...
happiness is a state of mind.
it cannot be achieve when
its tied to physical objects.

I'm sorry but IMO this is rambling statement is utter nonsense!

I'm 71 and expect to live at least another 20 years (and probably more based on my genetics).

I am content w/myself and my life but I have never "mellowed" nor do I want to do so.

Nor do I want to choose the "middle" course, which just sounds completely BORING to me.

And who needs/wants to achieve a "zen state" (whatever the "F" that is) if that leads you to a place where there is "simply no choice left" . . .

That sounds to me like DEATH (or the state of demetia and Alzheimer's that my mother achieved before her death at age 101).

And while I "like" the things that I own, I do not "covet" them and would not feel less of a person if I did not own them.

However, there are certain things that everyone "needs" to exist and to function in life -- like a house, furniture, kitchen appliances, a TV, a phone, wifi, a car and the basic necessities that make life easier and more managable -- to which most of us are directly tied to.

While collecting things -- like the knives, firearms, LPs, books, DVDs, artwork and extra cars that I own -- is a non-essential "hobby" . . .

It gives me something to do in retirement. It occupies my time. It makes use of my mind, which is something very important for "elderly" people like me to do to avoid the ravages of time.

And most importantly, the "things" that I collect give me ENJOYMENT -- like when I listen to music, watch a DVD, read a book, look at my artwork, shoot my firearms, drive my cars and use or just look at my knives. Therefore, collecting "things" will be something that I will do until I die.

So, enough of such nonsense.

End of rant. LOL!!!

BTW, among other educational degrees that I've earned, I have a Masters in Psychology and I don't even own a watch.

Double LOL!

 

[Bastler]

I know a guy who lives in a refrigerator box. He has 1 pair of pants 2 pairs of socks 2 shirts a pair of boots almost nothing else. Very minimalist lifestyle. He’s not that happy.

I knew a guy like that once. He lived in a tent on the railroad right of way and could carry everything he owned. He chose that lifestyle and was more content than anyone I've met. He always carried a Buck 110, come to think of it.

 

[GIRLYmann]

thank you for sharing your thoughts sgt1372.
though not a revelation
and all to familiar i see
indeed, many do not question the
purpose of life because there is
no one universally agreed answer to define our existence.
other than we have to live through it and make best of whatever the situation.
for some, life must be lived
with a purpose.
while others, unable to cope with the complexities of life, wallow in tbeir "fate" and stay forever numbed accepting "their condition" and doing nothing.
to the material man who lives in
a man-made world of material convenience, his calling to life
would revolve around money
and all the possibilities it brings.
on the flip side, there exist man,
not part of the market economy
or modernity; with a different set of complexities equally beset with the basic challenges of survival at that.
the goal is the same, to find ways to live out a happy life comfortably.
both with emotional rsponces to hardship and suffering universally shared.
however, we react with different levels of stimulation.
appearences can be deceiving;
take the "poor man" wishing to be better off like "rich folks".
all this whilst the man who thinks he has it all
is steadily growing restless in search of newer experiences beyond what which is easily available.
we are all searching for ways to be happy.
just as when we laugh at the expense of others,
and would most likely be offended
if the tables were turned.
we are hurting ourselves by
becoming blind to what real happiness entails.
understandably being at such a matured age,
also means having developed
fixed ways to what fits one's outlook in life best.
nothing wrong with that.
inevitably though, there will come a time
when a new phase in life beckons.
and we would have to cross that bridge when it does.
nothing comes easy with change.
and real change must come from within.
thus to impose change upon others is but an exercise of futility.
afterall ignorance is bliss ;-)

 

[shane45-1911]

thank you for sharing your thoughts sgt1372.
though not a revelation
and all to familiar i see
indeed, many do not question the
purpose of life because there is
no one universally agreed answer to define our existence.
other than we have to live through it and make best of whatever the situation.
for some, life must be lived
with a purpose.
while others, unable to cope with the complexities of life, wallow in tbeir "fate" and stay forever numbed accepting "their condition" and doing nothing.
to the material man who lives in
a man-made world of material convenience, his calling to life
would revolve around money
and all the possibilities it brings.
on the flip side, there exist man,
not part of the market economy
or modernity; with a different set of complexities equally beset with the basic challenges of survival at that.
the goal is the same, to find ways to live out a happy life comfortably.
both with emotional rsponces to hardship and suffering universally shared.
however, we react with different levels of stimulation.
appearences can be deceiving;
take the "poor man" wishing to be better off like "rich folks".
all this whilst the man who thinks he has it all
is steadily growing restless in search of newer experiences beyond what which is easily available.
we are all searching for ways to be happy.
just as when we laugh at the expense of others,
and would most likely be offended
if the tables were turned.
we are hurting ourselves by
becoming blind to what real happiness entails.
understandably being at such a matured age,
also means having developed
fixed ways to what fits one's outlook in life best.
nothing wrong with that.
inevitably though, there will come a time
when a new phase in life beckons.
and we would have to cross that bridge when it does.
nothing comes easy with change.
and real change must come from within.
thus to impose change upon others is but an exercise of futility.
afterall ignorance is bliss ;-)

Very John Lennon-esque.

 

[Fred Sanford]

I'm there. My income hasn't gone up with inflation and the cost of living. Due to that, I cannot have a surplus of knives. Anything I don't use, I have to sell.

I'm thankful for what I do have, and for my life and family. Things are simply worse than they were 10 years ago.

 

[Ron Sabbagh]

Actually, Yeager used a Victorinox executive for his EDC knife.

Thanks for the clarification. I recall it was a simple SAK. Couldn’t remember if it was the classic or executive. Nonetheless, a fine example of minimalism

 

[Ron Sabbagh]

thank you for sharing your thoughts sgt1372.
though not a revelation
and all to familiar i see
indeed, many do not question the
purpose of life because there is
no one universally agreed answer to define our existence.
other than we have to live through it and make best of whatever the situation.
for some, life must be lived
with a purpose.
while others, unable to cope with the complexities of life, wallow in tbeir "fate" and stay forever numbed accepting "their condition" and doing nothing.
to the material man who lives in
a man-made world of material convenience, his calling to life
would revolve around money
and all the possibilities it brings.
on the flip side, there exist man,
not part of the market economy
or modernity; with a different set of complexities equally beset with the basic challenges of survival at that.
the goal is the same, to find ways to live out a happy life comfortably.
both with emotional rsponces to hardship and suffering universally shared.
however, we react with different levels of stimulation.
appearences can be deceiving;
take the "poor man" wishing to be better off like "rich folks".
all this whilst the man who thinks he has it all
is steadily growing restless in search of newer experiences beyond what which is easily available.
we are all searching for ways to be happy.
just as when we laugh at the expense of others,
and would most likely be offended
if the tables were turned.
we are hurting ourselves by
becoming blind to what real happiness entails.
understandably being at such a matured age,
also means having developed
fixed ways to what fits one's outlook in life best.
nothing wrong with that.
inevitably though, there will come a time
when a new phase in life beckons.
and we would have to cross that bridge when it does.
nothing comes easy with change.
and real change must come from within.
thus to impose change upon others is but an exercise of futility.
afterall ignorance is bliss ;-)

View attachment 1706014

 

[TRfromMT]

I am, as of this week, completely pared all the way down to a single PM2. I have a few remaining fixed blades (not a fixed blade user, at all), but just the one folder.

I am not sure I am ok with this minimal level of minimalism yet.

Sold off everything to fund a motorcycle, which I am excited about, but dang... the knife drawer looks pretty barren with one lonely folder in there.

 

[Rupestris]

Here's your moment of zen.

Can you be a car enthusiast and own just one car?

 

[P.C.E.]

Here's your moment of zen.

Can you be a car enthusiast and own just one car?

Yes. But if you're able to have more, I absolutely would.

 

[GIRLYmann]