I don't like piling up objects. Maybe - probably - because I've always moved a lot. Last year I downsized to one suitcase. I only kept memories, even though I feel even that binds me. How did people live when we didn't have photographs? There's something unhealthy that I don't like in that drive to constantly create and keep memories of all important events, as if it's going to hold life from passing and everyone from dying. And you're not even enjoying the moment, stressed out about taking pictures of the moment.
I feel similarly like you when I see people with toy collections and similarly tell myself not to feel judgy wudgy. It's their money and it's none of my business how other people decide to spend, even if it seems much to me. Besides, it helps the economy. There are many people who gain jobs and can feed their families because people spend seemingly too much. If we never spent money on anything other than core needs, entire industries would disappear. Life isn't just core needs anyway, that makes for a very sore life.
I collect and hoard various items that I want to use for crafting. But if it ends up sitting for a while, and I'm doing nothing with it, I will get rid of it. Right now I'm collecting blue glass bottles, I want to make tiki torches, bird feeders and who knows what more. We have one room designated for tools and craft stuff and I purge it from time to time. Husband never starts purges but mostly gets along with me doing it because he likes minimalism too, so it ends up with me taking things out one by one and I end up getting an amen on most of it... Maybe I'll manage to get rid of his VHS tapes "Gone with the wind" next year, I failed this spring again lol, it's not an issue for us since it's only a few items like that that he holds onto.
But when it gets out of hand, it kills the living space. My dad did that with books, to the point where finally stacks of books were in every single room and every single peace of furniture, minus beds. On tables, underneath tables, on chairs, underneath chairs, in closets, on the floor, on the heater, on the balcony, on all shelves, literally everywhere. He has big issues letting go of old items too and it's like he has a 6th Sense, if you throw something his away, per example a pair of shoes from 10-20 years ago that he's not wearing, he will ask where is it the next day. There's nothing you can do; you can either throw it out when he isn't at home and let him get mad later, or just leave it be. He's gotten a bit better in the last years, I think he's learning to treat himself better. And my dad is a mild case of hoarding. But best friend's dad is a really terrible hoarder, a lot worse, bringing all kinds of trash into the house because he'll "need" it, she felt so helpless until she moved out. You can pretty much do nothing when it's a parent. With a spouse, you can discuss and put your foot down to a reasonable extent if it's getting out of hand; or take them to get professional help. I don't think it's even diagnosed where I used to live. But it's definitely an illness that requires a professional. I notice some people deal with grief by hoarding objects.
One day I'd like to make a collection of seashells gather them all by myself and frame it instead of paintings. But since we still rent, I still can't nestle in here and I feel like throwing everything away.
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