That Weird Feeling Tossing Gear

I am old, so lightening my gear load feels great! Not moving,  just cleaning out. I’ve given a lot of stuff to our local Scouts group and I hear they’re enjoying it greatly. I gave some things to a lady who was planning to head to the lower 48 and live out of her vehicle. I’ve sold a few things too. Now if I could get my husband to share the joy in clearing the clutter.

How much of the weird feeling has to do with abandoning gear that one associates with a particular time in your life, I wonder.

I used to buy private libraries from estates. Usually, the seller was the son or daughter of parents who’d passed away. The books’ monetary value was relatively trivial, compared to furniture, paintings and the home itself. Still, part of my job was to talk the son or daughter through the whole process. They often had stories to tell about particular books and their importance for their parent, and for them. Actually watching the books hauled away was often very difficult for the seller.

Moving on is hard. On the other hand, new adventures of all sorts await! Further!! as the Merry Pranksters’ bus announced.

I think I may have seen that bus, or at least one like it in Cedarville. 1965 maybe?

I’ve been looking everywhere for my extra stakes. I think I may have given them away 5 years ago. I hope they went to good use.

I have actually been on Further :-D In 1993 or 1994, in Eugene at a Dead show. Lol. They got it running and took it places.

OK, feeling old and all now ;-)

I have to say, I got my husband to get on board with purging. It is so very freeing watching things leave. Some I sell, others I give away – just happy to see it go to new places. This is my one chance to lighten our load, and not end up at 80, with a house full of memories and you can’t move due to it. My MIL just went thru this, and it was very hard as she was the “family memory” keeper of things. Great Grandmas table? Her. The freaky teething rings made of elephant ivory from the Victorian era? Yeah, noooooo wants that!

I know what you mean about shedding gear. We too are moving across country and I’m coming to grips purging gear that seldom gets used anymore. I’ve let go of most of my books but the gear thing is hard, so  the UL mindset helps. I keep telling my self that emptying the gear closet gives me room to try new stuff after we move. My wife is a quilter and they are hoarders so it’s even harder for her!

Also, I found a box labeled “tents” and in it I found a tent I don’t even remember buying. Kirk was “when did you get that?” and I was….no idea. Lol. It was like Christmas I tells you!

I saw Jerry at Golden Gate Park in 74′. It was him and the Jefferson Starship. He introduced the band as the Bonzo Rhythm Band. I found out years later that it was the Dead. I also saw them at the US Festival. However I still remember buying every tent I ever had.

I don’t have trouble  giving away gear to someone who can use  it (in some fashion). My rawhide snowshoes are happily mounted over the fireplace at a friend’s winter cabin at Tahoe. It’s throwing it out or recycling gear that’s hard. Any ideas on useful things to do with 40-year-old technical climbing gear, like pitons, carabiners & slings? I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to try climbing with it! How about my beautiful forged-head, wooden-shafted ice axe?

Hmmm, how about a local theatre group as props?  Or a museum that wants to set up some sort of display?