A Year in Stuff

I knew a man in his low 30s – single, of course – who said that he never wanted to own anything more than could fit in his car. He considered possessions as traps, a type of deceptive quicksand. “More possessions, less freedom,” he said. “Objects are anchors.”

Possessions sap space, need attention and if valuable, are laden with expenses, such as insurance and other protective measures. I even knew a man who refused to own a car and went everywhere by taxi (today he would use Uber). “It’s so much easier and cheaper,” he said. “No need to buy gasoline, make repairs or buy insurance. No charges for garage space or parking. No traffic violations or risk of accidents.” These were hard arguments to refute. ...

Yet, while objects may burden us, our possessions also shine a light on our humanity, taste and values, provide insight on what drives our choices and...