In my second half-century of life few things are easier to do than getting rid of crap I don’t need. After moving residences a total of twelve times in my adult life I view possessions I don’t use on a daily basis as a complete burden.
Around the start of 2026 I started liquidating all the stuff I don’t need on eBay. Just yesterday I listed my 1961 Selmer Bb Clarinet on eBay (Here’s the ad). I played my original clarinet in stage, marching, and jazz bands from the sixth grade until my junior year in high school. It was a beginner resin-body instrument that my parents paid off in installments from Coyle Music in Columbus.
It wasn’t until I reached my 40’s that I could afford a professional-quality instrument. This Selmer Series 9 is French-made and it’s a fairly well-known model and it rekindled my desire to play. It was referred to as a "Big Bore" clarinet. It was one of a few vintage Selmer Paris models (mostly from the mid-20th century) that featured a larger-than-average bore diameter. This larger interior volume produces a bigger, fuller, darker, and more powerful sound with greater projection and easier response in the altissimo register compared to narrower-bore clarinets. It was, and still is, sought after by jazz musicians for its ability to be heard over trumpets and saxes. It’s an absolute joy to play and was a dream come true to own.
Somehow time moved on, life happened, and I started playing the guitar more and the clarinet less and less. I realized the other day that after moving into this new house in the autumn of 2024 it hadn’t been out of the case once since we moved in. It was then I decided to set it free to allow the next person to enjoy it.
The instant I clicked "List Item" on eBay I felt a wave of relief to know I'd be shedding one more thing I didn't use. That's how I know it was the right decision.
I don't know if this happens in other parts of the world but Americans are, particularly, bad about hoarding things they don't need and/or no longer have a use for. There's a good reason that Public Storage businesses are continually listed as the least risky business to start in the US. People want their overabundance of stuff out of sight so much that they'll pay a hefty monthly fee to make it "disappear".
I just watched the relatives of a deceased neighbor across the street spend a solid two months moving things out of the house readying it for the real estate market. It was nearly inconceivable how many truckloads of stuff they loaded up and carted away. It reminded me of watching those dozens of clowns pile out of the tiny car in the circus.
After moving twelve times, average of once every 2-3 years, I'm always looking to lighten my load. The only question left in my mind is—What's next?
Breaking up isn't hard to do.
All for now. Enjoy your weekend and thanks so much for reading.