Is it Considered Hoarding if You Don't Even Know You Have It?

 I have too much stuff. Stuff that sits in boxes and much of it I forgot I even have. Stuff that collects dust that I know is there, but I never actually get around to using. Stuff that serves no purpose other than to take up space. Stuff I haven't used in years, but I'm always fearful that once I get rid of it I'll suddenly find a need of it. Stuff I don't even want around anymore, but I just don't know how to part with. Stuff upon stuff upon stuff, driving me crazy when I thought much of it would help to keep me sane. 

A lot of the stuff in small boxes was stuff I bought meaning to be souvenirs. But not the kind of souvenirs that helped me to remember fun trips with friends. Most of them were souvenirs I bought thinking they'd make for good things to show off later in life. Ideally to a girlfriend that might one day be my wife and then to young kids that find the whole world fascinating. And of course to friends that are easily impressed and think that me owning a deck of cards with pictures of castles on them makes me some kind of jet-setter. A lot of souvenirs that got put into a box never to be brought back out. 

There's gaming stuff that never gets used. Board games and game systems. I keep telling myself one of these days I'll play those games I spent $50+ for, but I have no idea when I'll ever really have the time again. There's other things to be focused on. Not to mention, and I hate to admit it, but video games rarely entertain me the way the once did. As for the board games, when am I ever going to be the guy that has a regular gaming group, especially one I trust enough to allow into my house? 

There's a 2005 Honda Accord taking up half my driveway. I'm not even sure it runs anymore. I should have sold it years ago when I could have likely got $1k for it. Now I'll likely have to pay someone to haul it away. But even that I'm worried to do. There's this fear something will happen to my Bronco and I'll need the Accord for a backup car, but I know the reality is I would just let myself go further into debt to get a newer vehicle that's reliable. 

I don't dare want to go into my collection of Magic cards that's still growing despite me only getting to play a couple times a month.

My collection of old clothes that I swear I'll fit back into one day takes up more space in my closet than the clothes I do currently fit into. Though honestly I think a lot of the reason I don't get rid of most of them is pure laziness. Well, this weird mixture of laziness and of this feeling that no one wants my old clothes anyways (even the stuff I barely, if ever, wore).  

So many books I'll never read and movies I'll likely never watch again. But I feel the need to hold on to the books just in case. I'm not even sure just in case of what - if I suddenly find myself with the time to read more, I'm going to be playing video games again instead. As for the movies, those along with my CDs are probably the two things I don't feel that bad about hoarding. Streaming services are just getting crappier and crappier as they chase the happiness of their shareholders over that of their customers and I think before too long I'll be happy to have my own movies to watch.

I could probably go on for awhile. Kitchen appliances, exercise equipment (except my treadmill - that does get used), outdoor gear, sports gear, jiu-jitsu DVDs, TV wall mounts (I have three that aren't used!), and so on. So much stuff I just don't need, won't use, and yet can't get rid of. So much stuff reminding me of all I don't have.  

Song of the Day