The Professor From Gilligan's Island, Einstein and Other Great Men...

[metarzan]

Life is just too complicated in this day and age. Older people still have years of experience based wisdom but technology is almost impossible to keep up with. Every 20 years or so the new generation grows up familiar with things that previous generations struggle with. It is a strange time in world history in which morals are one of the few things that can be passed on to children. So to the topic at hand, wardrobe. What a PITA! Like most people I have racks and drawers of accumulated clothes that really are burdensome and take up way too much of my time. What a drag it is to rummage through, launder and cram away these "clothes" every 3 months when I am down to wearing mismatched socks and going commando. I have threatened to go "uniform" for years but may actually follow through this time. A dozen pairs of identical pants and shorts, a couple dozen white t-shirts, socks, drawers, tennis shoes, boots, dress shoes, sandals and half a dozen short and long sleeved polyester (wrinkle free) shirts. Done. Ahh... Empty areas to put other junk I don't need. Easier to move. One less thing to think about. Keep everything in Amazon wishlist and re-order when the need arises. My yearning is to get rid of almost everything I own, downsize, and become a high quality minimalist. Has anyone else considered similar? Do I come off like a lazy schitzo?
Edit: Corrected capitalization in title, L.

 

[captainprophesy]

uummm yeah... I dont find it that difficult to just grab a pair of jeans a flannel throw on my boots and hit the road :D
But im not one of these guys that takes too much time in wondering what Im wearing.

 

[irishsmoker]

I have 15 pairs of jeans, 20 plain black tshirts, 15 pairs of socks, no underwear. I can be half asleep and get dressed. Mine stems from the military though.

 

[bigboi]

I don't think your crazy, I don't obsess over the clothes I wear. To me as I am starting to get older...I find it is more about comfort than style now. However, every once in a great while I like to get dressed up and go out on the town with my pipe in hand.

 

[metarzan]

Well I am heading out the door to drive to Oklahoma to hit the casino. If my opponents don't make bad calls then my dream will become a reality. I am wearing my lucky unmatched socks so what could go wrong?

 

[dochudson]

I had this problem back when I was working.. I bought 1/2 doz pairs of navy dress pants, bought all white dress shirts, a nice pair of semi casual brown and a nice pair of dressier black shoes. only blue dress socks. I did have a bunch of assorted ties just to vary the look.
I could roll out of bed at 5:30am, shower and be out the door by 6am.

 

[radio807]

My yearning is to get rid of almost everything I own, downsize, and become a high quality minimalist. Has anyone else considered similar?

Yes.

Do I come off like a lazy schitzo?

No.
With maturity and wisdom (notice that I didn't include age) often comes the realization that too many possessions are burdensome. Keep the essentials, plus a few toys and special mementos if they provide you with enjoyment and relaxation. Dump the rest of it. Peace and people are all that matter in the end.

 

[crazypipe]

I just take things to the GooodWill from time to time. ::

 

[philip]

Try living on a 32' sailboat. You'll have to put all the clothes you own into a space about the size of an old-fashioned phone booth. You'll get rid of everything you don't want immediately and everything you don't need shortly after.

 

[englishdave]

I imagine that like most people responding to this thread we have several aspects of metarzan's original post in our own lives.
I still have the leftover fancy clothes from when I needed to wear good suits and such to play the "game". I keep them because it's nice, as bigboi pointed out, to have something to dress up into for special events.
Like irishsmoker, I have a simplicity that comes from my service in the military. A long time ago I started getting rid of a lot of extra "stuff", that just became "shit" that got in the way. Goodwill gets a trip from me twice a year as I retire or thin out my closet.
In reality there isn't very much we need, and most of what we think we need is really just want. I think it was the stoic philosopher Seneca who suggested that one a month we sleep on the floor, drink only water, eat only bread, and wear only our tunic and cloak as way to remind ourselves of what is truly necessary.

 

[dochudson]

In fact, many people reach 55+ and "dump" almost everything and move into an "assisted living facility."
55.. seriously?

 

[rigmedic1]

I subscribe to George Carlin's observation that the more stuff you have, the bigger the house you get, and the bigger the house, the more stuff you get. Minimalists aside, I think most people like to accumulate stuff. I am very sentimental, and have too many memories tied up with my stuff to get rid of it. I am not quite 55 yet, though. ::

 

[profpar]

When I first started teaching I used to always dress with a shirt, tie, suspenders, cardigan sweater, slacks, and shoes. Now my normal dress is a workshirt, colored t-shirt, jeans, rodeo buckle, and boots.
P.s. I am one month shy of 55, and have no intention of moving to assisted living! From my perspective that seems way to early in life. Perhaps 20 years later.

 

[profpar]

Forgot about the cowboy hat and jean jacket

 

[profpar]

rothnh, perhaps you were referring to an adult community, wher the minimal age is 55. Assisted living implies that you have become in need of some assistance. Such need is not the norm at 55!

 

[dochudson]

Correct Pro. I was referring to those adult communities where you have plenty to do at 55+ but as you age and need "assistance," it is there for you and you don't have to move.

you are talking two different things.. retirement communities with a min age and no children.. pools, golf course, tennis, usually in a warm climate. where a lot of 'snow birds' spend the winter. think FL, TX, AZ
assisted living is where you have you own apartment, has a dining hall, game rooms, etc.. and professionals to be sure you are taking care of yourself.
one is not the same as the other.

 

[metarzan]

Back from the casino. Up, down, all over the place but finished even. I guess I am just a victim of the things I own owning me and it bugs me more and more as time goes own. Goodwill is on my short list. Time for some Nosferatu and an eight hour nap.