Hoarding/Junk addiction

[Shran]

I try not to have a bunch of dead stuff just sitting around. It's annoying to move it around outside and inside the shop is even worse, what's the point of having a shop if there's a dead truck taking up a stall and not working on it? Getting a big project to completion is a big motivator to me. Looking back on a few that I did just reinforces that... painting the stepside truck, the '85 that was a total disaster, the $100 '89 that I 4.0 swapped... a dozen or so that got cleaned up & flipped.

There are a lot that I pass on. If I am pretty certain from the beginning that I can't fix it and flip it for a profit, or I know I won't keep it long term, or part it out right away - I generally will let it go. I should have bid on that 1950 Ford dump truck that went for $800 a while back though....sigh

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I try not to have a bunch of dead stuff just sitting around. It's annoying to move it around outside and inside the shop is even worse, what's the point of having a shop if there's a dead truck taking up a stall and not working on it? Getting a big project to completion is a big motivator to me. Looking back on a few that I did just reinforces that... painting the stepside truck, the '85 that was a total disaster, the $100 '89 that I 4.0 swapped... a dozen or so that got cleaned up & flipped.

There are a lot that I pass on. If I am pretty certain from the beginning that I can't fix it and flip it for a profit, or I know I won't keep it long term, or part it out right away - I generally will let it go. I should have bid on that 1950 Ford dump truck that went for $800 a while back though....sigh

My issue with big projects....well any project regardless if its automotive, household, whatever....is i usually give up when i hit a big snag. Probably because i obess about it and end up saying screw it because i have no more brainpower to devote to it. I then walk away and it becomes a "someday" thing.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Case in point....as im buried in junk i found a running, driving, pretty solid 71 F250 for 3500. 390/4sp camper special. Not even really a bumpside guy...but it took all i could not to call on it.

I would offer 2500 and try for 3

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I would offer 2500 and try for 3

Youre making it worse lol

 

[superj]

this is my issue:

I have a problem throwing stuff away. I do not know how many jars and containers i have full of odd screws, nuts , bolts and hardware laying around. Pieces of wire, plug ends. extension cords with the wires exposed. It's an issue. My wife saves jars and boxes.
I too scan marketplace and Ritchie Brothers Looking for some other project. My SIL doesn't help cuz he's constantly sending me images of old trucks, antique project cars and other stuff.
You are not alone.

 

[Snoranger]

I just keep telling my wife and daughter that SOMEDAY ALL THIS WILL BE YOURS to deal with… and I buy more.

 

[Shran]

My issue with big projects....well any project regardless if its automotive, household, whatever....is i usually give up when i hit a big snag. Probably because i obess about it and end up saying screw it because i have no more brainpower to devote to it. I then walk away and it becomes a "someday" thing.

So pick one and promise yourself not to buy anything else until it's done.

Just me personally but like I said getting stuff done is highly motivating. Getting less done and watching projects pile up is depressing.

Also as far as not letting stuff go because people won't give you what you think it's worth: not sure what to tell you there. It'll be worth nothing if it rots away into the ground. I like giving cool people great deals on stuff because I know they'll appreciate it. I can spot low balling idiots from a mile away, they can eat shit & die. So there is some middle ground... I'm not really attached to anything I have, I know my time is limited so everything I have will either end up with my wife, my kids, someone else, or scrap but I'm gonna enjoy it until I can't. And like I said part of that enjoyment is seeing someone else enjoy it.

 

[Blmpkn]

Wife doesnt understand either do other family or friends...but i figured some of you guys might.

@Rick W gets it.. you just gotta get yourself your own shed of miracles and you'll be golden lol. I'm sure MOST of us get it though really.. especially with vehicles and parts and stuff. We're all gear heads.. kinda just goes along with the territory. Some people collect spoons.. some people collect stamps.. some people wind up collecting 20 tons of vehicles

I like Robbie's way of thinking about it though..

"Curator Of Unrecognized Treasures".

As long as the "hoard" isn't something that would be featured on the show hoarder's.. you know.. whole inside of the house stacked floor to ceiling with actual junk.. safety hazard concerning egress in case of a fire.. health hazard due to animal waste or whatever.. your fine. You definitely gotta throw out that damn fan though

Naturally.. real & true hoarding is a psychological thing. The majority of folks I know in-person who are/were SERIOUS hoarders either had parents that lived through the Great depression.. or they themselves just grew up super poor.

It's kinda like... "Knowing the value of a dollar"... but obviously concerning non-monetary stuff. Buying stuff you don't necessarily NEED immideately just because it's a good deal CAN pay off bigtime.. but its also a slippery slope that can just as quickly lead to a totally overwhelming negative situation.

 

[Rick W]

@Rick W gets it.. you just gotta get yourself your own shed of miracles and you'll be golden lol. I'm sure MOST of us get it though really.. especially with vehicles and parts and stuff. We're all gear heads.. kinda just goes along with the territory. Some people collect spoons.. some people collect stamps.. some people wind up collecting 20 tons of vehicles

I like Robbie's way of thinking about it though..




As long as the "hoard" isn't something that would be featured on the show hoarder's.. you know.. whole inside of the house stacked floor to ceiling with actual junk.. safety hazard concerning egress in case of a fire.. health hazard due to animal waste or whatever.. your fine. You definitely gotta throw out that damn fan though

Naturally.. real & true hoarding is a psychological thing. The majority of folks I know in-person who are/were SERIOUS hoarders either had parents that lived through the Great depression.. or they themselves just grew up super poor.

It's kinda like... "Knowing the value of a dollar"... but obviously concerning non-monetary stuff. Buying stuff you don't necessarily NEED immideately just because it's a good deal CAN pay off bigtime.. but its also a slippery slope that can just as quickly lead to a totally overwhelming negative situation.

Thanks for the honorable mention. Maybe when TRS organizes events, a few of us could put on seminars on how to build and organize a proper shed of miracles or junkyard (or a combined enterprise). We could figure out a system of education credits, and different levels of certification. I would be happy to be the namesake of the “Krap Keepers Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Maybe we should start a thread on what the requirements and certifications could be. Let me also offer that the certificates of achievement should have @Jim Oaks picture on them as well as a picture of @bobbywalter ’s first gen.

And an afterthought: those of us who aren’t restricted from living too close to schools and such could start a preschool and grammar school program

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I do have a school bus full of treasure!

 

[Blmpkn]

And an afterthought: those of us who aren’t restricted from living too close to schools and such could start a preschool and grammar school program

I spit out an entire mouthful of pistachio's reading this, thanks for making me waste like 4 bucks lol.

I do have a school bus full of treasure!

Is the treasure clear liquid in little glass vials or is it real tiny colorful bits of paper?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

So pick one and promise yourself not to buy anything else until it's done.

Just me personally but like I said getting stuff done is highly motivating. Getting less done and watching projects pile up is depressing.

Also as far as not letting stuff go because people won't give you what you think it's worth: not sure what to tell you there. It'll be worth nothing if it rots away into the ground. I like giving cool people great deals on stuff because I know they'll appreciate it. I can spot low balling idiots from a mile away, they can eat shit & die. So there is some middle ground... I'm not really attached to anything I have, I know my time is limited so everything I have will either end up with my wife, my kids, someone else, or scrap but I'm gonna enjoy it until I can't. And like I said part of that enjoyment is seeing someone else enjoy it.

Thats another issue i get attached to things. I dont mind selling to people i feel like will apperciate it...like...going to a good home type thing. Thats why i let my 97 F250 go for a good price...it was a young girl looking for her first truck to haul her horses and stuff around with...and her BF came and they showed up in a very restored 92 that he did himself...so i knew i wasnt selling it to someone who was just gonna go bash trees or something with it.

Ill be first to admit i have motivation issues and self disipline issues. Once i get going on something i generally see it through...but if i hit something i cant figure out....and in the course of figuring it out i get exhausted with it...thats when the trouble starts

 

[rusty ol ranger]

@Rick W gets it.. you just gotta get yourself your own shed of miracles and you'll be golden lol. I'm sure MOST of us get it though really.. especially with vehicles and parts and stuff. We're all gear heads.. kinda just goes along with the territory. Some people collect spoons.. some people collect stamps.. some people wind up collecting 20 tons of vehicles

I like Robbie's way of thinking about it though..




As long as the "hoard" isn't something that would be featured on the show hoarder's.. you know.. whole inside of the house stacked floor to ceiling with actual junk.. safety hazard concerning egress in case of a fire.. health hazard due to animal waste or whatever.. your fine. You definitely gotta throw out that damn fan though

Naturally.. real & true hoarding is a psychological thing. The majority of folks I know in-person who are/were SERIOUS hoarders either had parents that lived through the Great depression.. or they themselves just grew up super poor.

It's kinda like... "Knowing the value of a dollar"... but obviously concerning non-monetary stuff. Buying stuff you don't necessarily NEED immideately just because it's a good deal CAN pay off bigtime.. but its also a slippery slope that can just as quickly lead to a totally overwhelming negative situation.

No....ive watched hoarders and its no where near that bad.

I think alot of mine stems from nostlagia...it bleeds into every part of my life. Getting older and coming to terms with the way things are is hard as hell for me. I think thats why im so picky about certain things on my older vehicles...i want it as close to a time capsule as possible. So i can crawl in it and pretend its 40 years ago again.

 

[RobbieD]

Getting older and coming to terms with the way things are is hard as hell for me. I think thats why im so picky about certain things on my older vehicles...

That IS the way it is.

i want it as close to a time capsule as possible. So i can crawl in it and pretend its 40 years ago again.

And there ain't nuthin' wrong with that!


In fact, if you can crawl in deep enough, it is 40 years ago . . .

Getting old sucks a big one; anything that I can find, that makes me feel better about things, is a good thing.


I'll just let my executors clean up all of the shit, in order to get their cut.

 

[Roert42]

I have an idea.

We’ll start a support group for people with too many unfinished projects.

A few times a year we’ll get 5 or 6 of us to all take off work for a week. We’ll go to someone’s house and try and finish as many projects as we can in the week.


The inaugural meeting will be at Rusty’s house. We’ll see how many of his old cars we can get road legal and running in a week. In return he’ll let us sleep in his barn and feed us two hot meals a day.