Keeping Things We Never Use

Why are you still keeping this?

We give all kinds of reasons why there’s no room to move around in our apartments, because of things we haven’t used in years. There’s no home office anymore because we don’t use those desks, high tower office chairs and printers. Why do we still keep them?

The laptop is a no fixed address tool we use indoors and outdoors: coffee shops and kitchen tables. Don’t even mention basements. They are a fire hazard and you need helmets to venture down there in case one of those boxes sigh, and fall on cans of paints.

Industrial areas in most cities have long storage structures that look like centipedes. That’s where we store things we think we’ll use again, but haven’t used for three years. Storage companies make money while we struggle to make up our minds.

Why are you still keeping this?

Identity. Things identify who we think we are. You left Vancouver for better prospects in Toronto and there’s no indication you can go back, but you still have a boat. In storage, in Vancouver.

We also keep things on the hope that their value will go up in the future. It’s highly unlikely because they are not land. We also keep them for sentimental reasons. Timmy, who is now a venture capitalist, might love seeing his old baby clothes, kept in a brown suitcase.

Don’t let big Timmy sue you, his parents.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.