Is it a collection...or is it clutter?

[J Blatz]

I'm working my way through a pretty good book titled "Clutter Busting Your Life" by Brooks Palmer. In the vein of Marie Kondo (and others) the thrust of the book is that all the excess stuff in our lives leads to all manner of psychological/emotional blockages which keep us stuck in repetitive cycles of behavior. Looking around ye olde rocket lair which is also my garage it looks like a maniac has been stuffing those 34" long boxes on shelves for years and years.

Just this last year, I added to the pile-

USR Sonic 3100 2 stage
USR Swarm (this is a very large box)
Estes Pathfinder
OOP Estes kit name I forget paid hella money for
Rocketman Sonic Challenger
Kopter Rockets Pterosaur
LOC Ultimate
Estes Soaring Eagle (built)
And a $500 motor order that I felt good about cuz it wasn't a $1000 motor order.

That's on top of all manner of the stuff that was already there. I have to confess, it's gotten nuttz. Yesterday, I asked my daughter "Am I a messy person?". Before she could reply, my wife chimed in that she had considered setting the garage on fire. And TBH it ain't just rocket stuff....books, cds, same deal. She's been more patient than I deserve.

I think maybe I buy all this stuff because I hate parts of my life and try to compensate by using my relative economic strength to make myself happy. Lots of people do that. I sell cars for a living and if I had a dollar for every time I've seen someone shell out big bucks on a vehicle trying to fill an emotion void I'd order a $1000000 of rocket junk from the good folks at AeroTech and LOC/Precision. Heck, maybe even something special from old Jerry at USR. LOL.

How about you all. Any insights you'd like to share? I see lots of pictures on here of workbenches with TONS of rocket stuff in the background.

 

[David Schwantz]

You ARE a messy person. I think you should have an intervention! I will be the first to volunteer to help out a fellow rocketeer. I will even come to pick up that motor order so you do not have to ship it

 

[dhbarr]

I find myself buying stuff because it's available and at a good cost, but then I end up not having the time I want to work on it. Mostly stopped buying stuff, still haven't made a dent in the pile. At a guess, maybe you just have more money than time.

 

[Antares JS]

When deciding to buy a rocket kit, I usually consider whether I already have something similar and whether I am likely to build it within the next year or two. This has had the fortunate result of the clutter pile consisting of many more built rockets than unbuilt kids.

 

[Grog6]

I am a hoarder. Rockets, computers, and electronic parts I have a rough time tossing out; I only wish I could still solder 0201 components under my microscope.

 

[J Blatz]

You ARE a messy person. I think you should have an intervention! I will be the first to volunteer to help out a fellow rocketeer. I will even come to pick up that motor order so you do not have to ship it

So very kind of you lol.

 

[J Blatz]

I find myself buying stuff because it's available and at a good cost, but then I end up not having the time I want to work on it. Mostly stopped buying stuff, still haven't made a dent in the pile. At a guess, maybe you just have more money than time.

I do have more money than time to be sure. And yeah, like you I tend to buy in bulk when stuff's less expensive.

 

[markschnell]

Well, I see the discussions and the sales on here about selling stuff for someone who either passed away or is too sick or old to take part in rocketry any more. Now, I know I'm not as bad as some here, but I'm no slouch when in comes to acquiring way more than I'll ever have time to build. Here's the thing, when I go, or when I'm no longer able to do this stuff, I know I'll be leaving a huge job to someone to take care of it all. That's not cool, when you think about it. I know I have to start thinking about the long game and what I might be potentially doing to my wife and kids.

 

[dhbarr]

Well, I see the discussions and the sales on here about selling stuff for someone who either passed away or is too sick or old to take part in rocketry any more. Now, I know I'm not as bad as some here, but I'm no slouch when in comes to acquiring way more than I'll ever have time to build. Here's the thing, when I go, or when I'm no longer able to do this stuff, I know I'll be leaving a huge job to someone to take care of it all. That's not cool, when you think about it. I know I have to start thinking about the long game and what I might be potentially doing to my wife and kids.

Next time I update my will I'll leave all the rocketry stuff to the local club.

EDIT: I suppose I ought to leave the blacksmithing stuff to SCABA/ABANA as well.

 

[J Blatz]

Well, I see the discussions and the sales on here about selling stuff for someone who either passed away or is too sick or old to take part in rocketry any more. Now, I know I'm not as bad as some here, but I'm no slouch when in comes to acquiring way more than I'll ever have time to build. Here's the thing, when I go, or when I'm no longer able to do this stuff, I know I'll be leaving a huge job to someone to take care of it all. That's not cool, when you think about it. I know I have to start thinking about the long game and what I might be potentially doing to my wife and kids.

Yeah man, I've seen scenes where someone croaks and there's like hundreds of motors and kits. I suppose the kits can just be thrown away (a shame) but the motors, especially composites, should be disposed of properly.

My wife would have no clue what to do in this case. Thankfully my brother is very knowledgable and and could help, but not everyone has someone nearby that could handle the mess. Thankfully I'm only 47, so likely I've got years left to play with my cool rocket toys. Just maybe not so many of the silly things.

 

[J Blatz]

Next time I update my will I'll leave all the rocketry stuff to the local club.

I see a few people do that. Very cool, and also a simple solution.

 

[Donnager]

Well, I see the discussions and the sales on here about selling stuff for someone who either passed away or is too sick or old to take part in rocketry any more. Now, I know I'm not as bad as some here, but I'm no slouch when in comes to acquiring way more than I'll ever have time to build. Here's the thing, when I go, or when I'm no longer able to do this stuff, I know I'll be leaving a huge job to someone to take care of it all. That's not cool, when you think about it. I know I have to start thinking about the long game and what I might be potentially doing to my wife and kids.

Yeah, kind of in the same boat. I've been needing to toss or give away a good many "distraction" rockets, that have either flown and I've lost interest, have flown and are damaged, or have some unique characteristic that makes them less fun for me to fly (recovery packing room, available motor sizes, etc.....).

At 53, I will say that fine motor skills in my fingers aren't what they once were, but that is not a problem, yet.

I used to believe I would putter around and work on stuff when I retired--metalwork, woodworking, gunsmithing, wiring/electronics, auto restoration/engine building, etc.... I'm not certain that any of these will be good options in 15-20 years and may have to think in other directions.

 

[hobie1dog]

Seeing excessive amounts of material items that will never be used leads to further depression in my life. Since losing my health 9 years ago, I've downsized to the point of having all my personal possessions in a 13x14 bedroom, and there's still 15 items on my "things to sell" list. Things that will never get used are rather worthless. Like the Fight Club quotes: " The things you own, end up owning you" and " we work at jobs we hate, just to buy more crap we don't need"

 

[kuririn]

How about you all. Any insights you'd like to share? I see lots of pictures on here of workbenches with TONS of rocket stuff in the background.


Seems perfectly normal to me.

 

[tsmith1315]

In my best Yosemite Sam voice:

I ain’t a-listenin’ to this. I got all the rocket stuff I could get my hands on, and I’m a-gonna get me some more.

 

[les]

Collection OR Clutter?
Why not BOTH????

Do I have too many? Maybe
Do I continue to buy more? YES!

 

[hobie1dog]

I really would like to go on my rant about selfishness, but I need to remain silent.

 

[Steven]

Where it concerns hobby clutter, I either give it away or just chuck it.

 

[Blast it Tom!]

In my view it's a collection.
In my wife's view, it's clutter.

 

[markschnell]

About my post #8 above. I didn't mean to come across as holier than thou. These are just things I need to consider and I wasn't trying to rain on anyone else's parade. I'm certainly not good about this stuff and LOVE to buy and build rockets.

The problem is – Buying rockets is like gaining weight - It's so much easier to buy them than build and launch them.

 

[KenECoyote]

I come from a family of hoarders. Being the least "hoardy" of the lot is my bragging point.

You do bring up a great point, but allow me to provide my perspective...

My brother lives in my deceased parents' old house and he's addicted to flea markets. He has a goat path to the sofa and a hole through stuff to see the TV. There's also roaches (TONS of them) and dirt everywhere... some scenes I simply can't describe because it's way too disgusting.

My sister needs advance notice before giving anyone a ride since she needs to clear things out of her car to make room due to all the manuals, paperwork and junk. Her makeup mirror used daily has a 1/4" thick layer of dust.

Both siblings have bathroom mirrors coated in sprayed toothpaste. (Ironically when I was young and complained to them about it, both ganged up on me saying it was my doing... huh?)

I do enjoy having lots of stuff...work hard, play hard! But I'm also not too attached them and plan to sell them in retirement to fund more fun.

Yes, I have sold my stuff (was an eBay PowerSeller once) and when I was fired in 2020, I sold a LOT of stuff, which was a great test. I don't mind someone who wants my stuff more and is paying me more for it. Some of the values are obscene. I sold one of my $20 TLP kits for $300.

Unlike my siblings, I am cleaner and I do try to keep living areas clean and clear. Plus every once in a while I'll declutter and reorganize. My bathroom mirrors are very clean.

On the other hand, I really love rockets. The designs are amazing and the launches can be breathtaking. Many often go OPP.

I put my heart and hard work into most of my builds and it makes me proud to show it to others. How much is that worth?

Plus I don't go to bars (very rarely drink alcohol), I don't gamble, I don't do drugs. Those things don't add clutter, but can ruin you!

 

[hobie1dog]

Here's the thing, when I go, or when I'm no longer able to do this stuff, I know I'll be leaving a huge job to someone to take care of it all. That's not cool, when you think about it. I know I have to start thinking about the long game and what I might be potentially doing to my wife and kids.

I made an earlier post to say again I was going to refrain from going on a rant about selfishness, but the people that are friends of mine who are big-time hoarders and collectors, they simply never think about their spouses or other family members that are going to be stuck with a Monumental task of trying to get rid of all of your stuff. been there, done that ,several times with both sets of parents. when all the siblings get together and they ask each other do you want his stuff ? and they all look at each other and go,, that was his stuff,... I don't have any interest in it and a lot of times it gets thrown into a dumpster.
I like my wife and kids way too much to leave them with a large amount of material possessions that makes them feel guilty when they throw it away, or give it to Goodwill. .. knowing that it was important to me but they don't want to be burdened with trying to have to sell it and get money out of it. Which is a process which sometimes takes several years to get rid of ,if you have a lot of "stuff"

 

[KenECoyote]

Well, I see the discussions and the sales on here about selling stuff for someone who either passed away or is too sick or old to take part in rocketry any more. Now, I know I'm not as bad as some here, but I'm no slouch when in comes to acquiring way more than I'll ever have time to build. Here's the thing, when I go, or when I'm no longer able to do this stuff, I know I'll be leaving a huge job to someone to take care of it all. That's not cool, when you think about it. I know I have to start thinking about the long game and what I might be potentially doing to my wife and kids.

I made an earlier post to say again I was going to refrain from going on a rant about selfishness, but the people that are friends of mine who are big-time hoarders and collectors, they simply never think about their spouses or other family members that are going to be stuck with a Monumental task of trying to get rid of all of your stuff. been there, done that ,several times with both sets of parents. when all the siblings get together and they ask each other do you want his stuff ? and they all look at each other and go,, that was his stuff,... I don't have any interest in it and a lot of times it gets thrown into a dumpster.
I like my wife and kids way too much to leave them with a large amount of material possessions that makes them feel guilty when they throw it away, or give it to Goodwill. .. knowing that it was important to me but they don't want to be burdened with trying to have to sell it and get money out of it. Which is a process which sometimes takes several years to get rid of ,if you have a lot of "stuff"

Great points for everyone to consider.

I've spoken to my wife several times about this and how to handle my collections if something were to happen to me.

I've also instructed my daughter and taught her how to sell items.

I've also given pointers on how to handle things if neither has the time, ability or desire to (ex. hire a service or part timer to sell, Edit Add: open bidding lots on eBay starting at $1 with no reserve, donate to local rocket club, give to TRFers, etc.).

Finally, once I retire (maybe in a few years?), I plan to label items with what I paid, assign stock numbers and create a spreadsheet.

That is if I don't build everything first!

 

[hobie1dog]

since all of my possessions are in a 13x14 bedroom, I have gone through it wall by wall and written down pretty much everything that is in the room. I have it down to people's names to contact and see if they want items, or things to sell and get money out of. The beautiful part about my situation is, as my body keeps destroying the nerves and my respiratory system keeps going downhill, I will have likely have time in advance, in knowing how much longer I have left. so when I get to that point, I will have everything in that room gone through so that when I'm laying in bed getting ready to be intubated, and to say goodbye to this cruel world, everything should be empty in the room, and then my wife has absolutely nothing to be burdened with.
Most people and I emphasize most, believe that they will live to be 100, and when they have something happen that's catastrophic in their life, like a major cardiac failure, stroke, car wreck, stage 4 cancer, or a number of other things that causes them to be instantly disabled to the point they will never be able to pursue their current Hobbies ever again, then they realize that they have spent the best years of their life working for "Stuff"

 

[Sooner Boomer]

For me, it's how well it's organized. Organized, neat rows or specific order - collection.


Just thrown together, clutter.


My book collection could be seen as both. I ran out of room a long time ago, so there is both neat, orderly separation by author, and stuff just stuck where there's room (and no, no pictures!).

 

[Pappy]

clutter should be defined as something displacing the volume of a more useful and/or desired item. empty box=clutter, box full of rockets=awesome sauce

 

[prfesser]

Consider writing a "Okay, I'm dead, now what?" letter to spouse/offspring/whomever. Specifics on bank or retirement accounts, life insurance, passwords, directions for disposal of anything valuable from hobbies or other activities, suggested obituary, burial instructions (cardboard box, incinerate me, put some of my ashes in an hourglass*** so she can make me run any time she wants. ), service if desired (maybe a celebration-of-life with ethanol), etc.

***Geniece always said she would do this to her mother. She did; got a tiny hourglass on a necklace.

 

[dhbarr]

Consider writing a "Okay, I'm dead, now what?" letter to spouse/offspring/whomever. Specifics on bank or retirement accounts, life insurance, passwords, directions for disposal of anything valuable from hobbies or other activities, suggested obituary, burial instructions (cardboard box, incinerate me, put some of my ashes in an hourglass*** so she can make me run any time she wants. ), service if desired (maybe a celebration-of-life with ethanol), etc.

***Geniece always said she would do this to her mother. She did; got a tiny hourglass on a necklace.

It's just an old beer carton that says cardboard+diesel in carpenter pencil.

 

[Donnager]

I have a dump trailer, usually used for clean-up and scrap hauling. All my personal rocket detritus, and honestly, my hand tools, can probably be removed in two trips (possibly only one) to the landfill, and will probably be a lot less trouble than looking for value in my hobby junk. For fun money, my wife'll be better served selling my firearms/ammunition, and anything else that may be in the safe.

I would have a couple of boxes you may not want to burn, though, it would be exciting if you did.

Business assets and liabilities, are another ball of hair.

Consider writing a "Okay, I'm dead, now what?" letter to spouse/offspring/whomever. Specifics on bank or retirement accounts, life insurance, passwords, directions for disposal of anything valuable from hobbies or other activities, suggested obituary, burial instructions (cardboard box, incinerate me, put some of my ashes in an hourglass*** so she can make me run any time she wants. ), service if desired (maybe a celebration-of-life with ethanol), etc.

***Geniece always said she would do this to her mother. She did; got a tiny hourglass on a necklace.

Any time I make an effort in this direction, the first response is "what's wrong", not, "that would be a good idea". I may have to make a (very simple) treasure hunt out of it.