You know the name....ain't a damn thing changed.

[raybear]

I am in the process of preparing to purge. A giant, ethical, gut-wrenching, spiritually cleansing, small-income-generating purge. Not just a few bags of a clothes or a box of books. More. It is only in the planning stages as I've only started committing to the idea in a practical way. Little tests have been happening along the way though.

Last week, Damon mentioned on the phone that he went online to buy a used copy of Pharoah Monche's first CD. It's out of print and hard to find and listed on Amazon used for $50+. A few days later, I decided to list my own well-worn copy of the CD for $40. Today I got the e-mail saying "Sold! Ship now...".

This is a great album. I'm pretty sure I've already uploaded it to my computer (at least a few songs, if not the whole thing), but I will of course be double-checking before I mail it. I will also burn myself a back-up audio copy. I will also burn Damon and audio copy and mail it to him. There is no reason to fret. And yet, it is tempting to hit that refund button. If someone paid $40, maybe it's worth more! Maybe I should wait a year! Maybe I need to keep it because I remember buying it, I remember the numerous nights listening to it, I remember me, it is part of me, I need it. I need it. I feel like I need it. But all that stuff is up in my brain, I don't need the CD. I do need the $40. (Well, I maybe don't even "need" that, but it will be more useful...and my creditors might argue that I do need the money.) I do need to release myself from so many things. Its hard for a reason, I'm changing big defining principles that have been consciously and unconsciously taught and reaffirmed every day of my life. Its also just one CD. I'm having a lot of angst over one CD. But then what will happen is that having my symbolic process once will make it easier for the hundreds of other items I will release from my house and my ownership.

There's an article in the Trib today about how vinyl "is back". Record shops are doing well, new ones are opening up and looking for quality titles. 'Kids' want to look cool and collect LPs. Now is the time to take in my collection, because I know for a fact I have some pieces that will be worth money. Another sign from the universe. I get it. I know what I need to do. Ok. I'll do it.

Just....give me a minute.

Comments

[pidge.livejournal.com]

oh god, that last paragraph makes me sick. i just dropped four HUGE boxes of albums off at the salvation army, and i nearly fainted when i saw them tossing the boxes into a room and then stacking them on top of each other.

and as far as massive purges go, one is already underway here. god, i can't tell you how good it feels to get rid of all this stuff. it's been 2 weeks so far and i've made $50, dropped off about 15 boxes at the thrift store, and am still amazed at how freeing it is.

my grandfather said something to me years ago that echoes in my head whenever i am debating a major cleaning-out. he said "it gets to the point when you don't own your things, they own you." also, i get alot of comfort out of thinking that someone else is putting that stuff to much better use. my rule of thumb is: if i haven't used it in a year, i probably won't use it in another year, and i can replace it, i get rid of it.

anyway, i recommend you go for it!

[sharkysmachine.livejournal.com]

Some douche offered me $$$ for my K-tel compilations! I was like, "WTF, there's mad Michael Zager Band on this thing!" I am guarding my vinyl with my life. I am about to jetison more CDs so I can get a USB record player from fingerhut.

Bravo on the purge. The cash generating purges are so fucking amazing. Also ditching shit is always my idea of fun.

[sharkysmachine.livejournal.com]

Also, I wrote about that book apartment therapy and the author talks about an "outbox". That outbox has changed my life. I edit everyday. Tossing things into the outbox and at the end of the week I send the things on their way.