I need advice

[Wazza12]

Can some readers please help me with this problem.
My wife has told me to get rid of my bushwalking gear. I am 82 years old and cannot do extended walks due to a mis spent youth.
briefly the gear that have collected over 70 years and 10"s of thousands of kilometres is-
3 tents a. 1st Macpac Olympus in Aus. (a year of nights in it)
b. MSR Hubba Hubba (many great walks)
C.Homemade japara tent, made on Mum's sewing machine when I was 16 (cannot part with it now)
2. 5 packs a. Outgear 90 ltr. (30yrs. old)
b. Outgear day pack (30yrs. old)
c. Aarn Load Limo
d.Aarn Natural Exhilaration
e.Small fabric day pack (70yrs. old)
My old Mountain Mule went to heaven several years ago.
3. 5 pairs of boots, 2 pairs in roadworthy condition, 2 pairs now used for gardening.
I put them on occasionally to remind me of epic trips.
I won't mention my wardrobe full of clothes and gear.

I'm told that when it comes to walking I suffer from Plysushkins Syndrome, however I feel quite normal.
Can some readers give me sage advice as to how to handle this problem without causing a family crisis.

[Baeng72]

This has my 'it's a trap!' sense tingling, but I'll bite.
I'm sorry, but if you're 82 and can still walk, even if not extended, you didn't have a misspent youth.
Then again Keith Richards is still alive and he's in that area....
As for hoarding? It's only possessions, throw or gift them, unless they have sentimental value.
Or throw or gift the wife? Unless she too has sentimental value, then you're in a pickle

[Neo]

G'day Wazza

I can't help on the home front without stirring the pot. Do you need the space where your favourite hear resides...

Most of us here possibly enjoy the same side effects of bushwalking. I've only been into it about ten years.

Stay strong, go for a stroll away from buildings

[icefest]

Do you want a listening ear or problem solving:

For the former, I've love to hear some more stories about that tent!

For the latter, highlight the following:



a. 1st Macpac Olympus in Aus. (a year of nights in it)
-------- does it will work?
b. MSR Hubba Hubba (many great walks)
-------- keep as the main tent?, don't need for extended walks.
C.Homemade japara tent, made on Mum's sewing machine when I was 16 (cannot part with it now)
-------- Keep!
2. 5 packs
a. Outgear 90 ltr. (30yrs. old)
-------- can you still use a 90L pack? I'm in my 30's and cant use a 70L pack...
b. Outgear day pack (30yrs. old)
-------- keep one day pack
c. Aarn Load Limo
-------- are they both the same size?
d.Aarn Natural Exhilaration
e.Small fabric day pack (70yrs. old)
-------- historic!
My old Mountain Mule went to heaven several years ago.
3. 5 pairs of boots, 2 pairs in roadworthy condition, 2 pairs now used for gardening.
-------- Leave the gardening one in the shed for gardening?

[Warin]

Take wife on a 'picnic' (1/2 day bushwalk). Use your bushwalking gear and clothing.

[ChrisJHC]

I would consider two options:

1. Cull everything but one set then use it occasionally.

2. Get kids and/or grandkids interested and take them out for very gentle bushwalks or just car camping.

Note that there are no rules that say that bushwalks have to be long and arduous!

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

It's a tough one. All of these things have memories attached to them. It's not just a matter of throwing away a piece of useless rubbish. I'm nowhere near as old as you but have been accused of hoarding too much hiking stuff (all of which was purchased for very sound reasons of course). For what it's worth, here's how I am approaching it:
1. Stuff I no longer need that is still fairly new is given away. I am fortunate in having several younger relatives who are tightwads, and only too happy to receive something, anything for free.
2. Stuff I no longer need that still has some life but is not worth much goes to the op-shop. I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of selling it, so the charity may as well get what they can for it.
3. Stuff that is too old, broken or crappy gets recycled if possible but otherwise goes to the tip.
4. Keep reminding oneself NOT to buy anything else, no matter how light and shiny.

There are 2 exceptions - my old Rossi hiking boots (well beyond repair), and my 40 year old H-frame pack with the broken frame are still in the cupboard, with strict instruction that they are to be buried with me.

[Moondog55]

I'll bite; being in a very similar place myself.
I'm writing all my stuff into my will so the kids have to sort it out.
Some of the "Stuff" I accumulated decades ago has appreciated so much it's possible worth a small fortune with luck

[Son of a Beach]

I had to google Plyushkin Syndrome. I suspect there are a few other bushwalkers who suffer from this malady, which I guess becomes more of an issue with age. All the best with it.

[crollsurf]

I'd do a deal.
Me: You throw out all your photos and I'll throw out all my camping gear.
Her: I can't do that, there's a lifetime of memories in those photos.
Me: What were you saying before about camping gear, I forgot.

[Biggles]

Sounds like the second coming of one Paddy Pallin. And you know what he did: he started a retail empire. Or so the story goes...

Never heard of Plyushkin's Syndrome until I saw this post (and I'm even less convinced it is a real 'affliction' at any level). A succinct way of describing an ever-growing collection of stuff big and small, stuff that you enjoy personally as well as use, would be simply GAS — Gear Acquisition Syndrome: photographers have it. Cyclists have it. Climbers have it. Even the Emirates pilot on my recent flight had GAS: he has 44 — 'and more coming' — scale models of Emirates 787-9 Dreamliners in his house (pssst: he told me he wasn't married...)

So... Your wife tells you to get rid of your bushwalking gear. Seriously?
Depriving you of the things you enjoy and have created memories over 70 years (82 is a great innings, and not one to throw in the towel by doing nothing), almost to the end of WWII? It might be hypothetical, but what does the missus have that could be described as demonstrative of hoarding — tea pots, knitting needles, slippers or batteries? If a wife said to me to get rid of all the stuff I have for bushwalking (photography, cycling, scootering and climbing equipment), (fortunately, I have resisted the disaster of getting married on multiple occasions!) he/she would be the first to go up on FleaBay! I'm not one to be lectured by great or small, and I would think at 82 you can stand up and hold your side of the argument.

Your stuff is your stuff. You decide what happens. You could dabble in listing items on eBay — I'm sure there would be interest in a few items.

[rcaffin]

Hi Wazza

You think you have Ply's syndrome? You have a long way to go!
Tents: 7 (+ green Japara Paddy A-frame)
Packs: 9 (could be more ...)
Stoves: 12+ (inc the ones I make)
Quilts etc: 8
Joggers: dunno, lots
Skis: 5 modern pr + 6 ancient
Climbing gear: 5, 6 or 7 full ropes.
Wet suits and Lilos
etc
Granted, most of this is shared with my wife, but even so, that is a lot of storage space!
Fortunately, my wife does not want me to dispose of them.

Now, to your problem. Day walks, half day walks, walks with children (OK, grandchildren or beyond). Do NOT stop walking: it may be what is keeping you alive. So tell your wife that too!

Cheers
Roger
(1 hr - 1.5 hr walk/jog/run every morning. Farm work when available.)

[Wazza12]

Roger
I am not far behind you, things permanent on loan to family and friends.
2 tents, 3 sleeping bags, 2 stoves, 2 bikes, 2 sets of skis, sundry gear etc.etc.
My old A frame has gone missing.
Wazza

[puredingo]

You wanna see how many surfboards I’ve got!! I always hang onto the last model because I’ll “definitely“ ride it again…I never do. And I’m too lazy to sell so they line my flats walls like watchful retired soldiers.

Lots of walking gear also but at least that does get a go in the rotation of seasons.

[north-north-west]

You're all daring me to list the photographic gear, aren't you? Not a good idea, even if we don't have a word limit on posts.
Then there's the diving gear (only six tanks of varying sizes, three two-piece wetsuits, a drysuit with polartec longjohn, three regulators plus spare parts, two BCs, four masks, two large guideline reels ... ) that takes up quarter of the storage space in one shed, and all the walking gear.

But I am not in the least obsessive, no sirreee.

[Tortoise]

oops