May 11, 2012: Post 132, Day 132

May 11, 2012

Daily Comment

I have too much stuff. I'm one of those people George Carlin was talking about in his famous "Stuff" routine. I have more of it than fits in my home.

What should I do with the excess possessions I have in my life? At this point, they all have some value, either sentimental, practical or material. It is a question I have to answer, and there is a given time-frame to answer it.

Since I am planning to leave the country in 2016, all my possessions will become excess - for a considerable amount of time, I will be traveling, looking for a permanent place to settle down, and I can't have more than a couple of suitcases with me. 

The most difficult to dispose of are those things that have all three virtues: They are practical, have personal meaning to me, and are valuable. Like my musical instruments. I have far too many. All are high-quality. I have 7 basses, 2 acoustic guitars, two bass amplifier rigs, and a sax. Only 3 of the basses see regular use, 2 more see occasional use, and two have been played only a couple of times since I moved back to New York. The bass rigs are both wonderful, the better, newer, and more valuable one is the only one I ever use now. The guitars are rarely played. I've never played the sax, I bought it for my son, who abandoned it for guitar.

The obvious solution, of course, is to sell them, but I have a problem with that, because I feel I should get something like their fair value.  Their market value, which is based on demand, is a fraction of that. Some people would say that fair value is market value, and they may be right. Not helpful, but right. My collection consists almost entirely of oddball basses - the most 'straight' bass I have never gets played, and that is part of the problem.

I actually gave away one of my basses a few months ago. I just felt there was someone who wanted it, and appreciated it, and would play it more than me. Since this person had no money, it seemed like the right thing to do. I do enjoy doing the right thing, you know.

I put one amp rig - the obvious choice from this list, as I haven't used it since I got the new one - up for sale on Craigslist. Zero buyer's interest, even though I priced it very low. Too exotic for this small market. 

More difficult is things I have that are useful, but in general, cannot be resold, like kitchen goods. I have wonderful pots and pans, and some small appliances. But in this case, outside of a yard sale, I don't know how these find a new home.

In the coming years, I will be asking all my friends and family what of mine they need, or could use, and gifting it to them. I will keep trying to sell what I can.

Finally, whatever's left will be donated or trashed, no matter what the value.

Point is, I have a 2-bedroom apartment's worth of stuff (and only a one-bedroom apartment). Pretty much all of it has to go.

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        197.4 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    200.4 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 3.0 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

In general, I don't like to have two protein shakes in a day. I think food is meant to be eaten, not just ingested. 

Food Log

Breakfast

Kale smoothie: kale, almond milk, an egg, vanilla whey protein powder (36g protein), vanilla, cinnamon, stevia-inulin blend. 

Lunch
At the New Ling-Ling Buffet and Mongolian Grill.

Clockwise from 7 o'clock: Stir-fry of Chicken, cabbage, sprouts, mushrooms, broccoli, and snow peas; kimchi; salad with hard-boiled eggs and blue cheese dressing; wasabi and pickled ginger. Not shown: chicken satay, sausage.

Dinner

Celery and baby carrots with home-made mayonnaise, and a chocolate protein shake (almond milk, whey protein powder (24g protein), cocoa powder, stevia-inulin blend).

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:   22 oz,   Water:115+ oz

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