After the wonderful feeling from donating tons of old clothes in December, we decided to repeat in February. Believe it or not, we found enough (more!) clothes to fit five normal-sized garbage bags. And while this was not the eight “giant” garbage bags we donated in December, we still got rid of a lot of stuff we don’t need.

We use a foundation that comes to our house and picks up the bags. I repeat: we don’t have to drive anywhere; we put the bags out and they are gone by the end of the day. There’s probably a foundation in your area that will take your stuff away. Try it!

I tend to be a sentimental pack rat. My wife is not. I am learning that it’s nice to purge. Our happiness should not come through the things we own unless they enable an activity that makes us happy. Reading, writing, lifting weights, hiking, being outside, and spending time with those I care about make me happy. A pair of cheap, ugly $20 slacks I bought in college that might fit if I lost 20 pounds? No happiness there. “Dress shoes” I bought for $40 and look like a worn jock strap? Not giving me life fulfillment. So while you won’t see me ever tossing my hunting gear out, I am learning that less can be more. And, you know what? I can’t envision any one piece of clothing that I donated in December. That tells me I did not really care about that stuff at all.

The flip side of all this is I find myself rarely buying things now. When I buy a book, it’s an experience. When I buy a hunting license, it’s for the calm reflection time I spend in the tree or ground blind. My gym membership? An investment in my health. A park pass? Covers exploring all over our state.

We vote with our pocketbooks. Who and what are you supporting?