Things

After a recent medium-ish quake, I decided it was time for another shakedown on Things. I stripped out a bunch of clothes I knew I would never wear, and pulled out a couple hundred books I knew I would never read again, and took a pass through kitchen clutter and things in cupboards that I, at least, could get rid of. (The spouse tends to hold onto stuff.)

Sorting through my stuff makes me aware of stuff everywhere. People’s garage sales, thrift stores, neighbors moving—carting load after load...