One man’s treasure is another person’s junk

By John Fragodt, Sports Reporter

It’s amazing how some things seem to gain value over time, while other things seem to go from valuable to almost worthless.  My wife and I have been purging our “stuff” for the past 4-5 years as we moved out of our home of 3,500 square feet and into our lake cabin of less than half that size.

I’ll admit I have a tough time throwing stuff out and so, I had accumulated boxes and boxes of “stuff” that I figure would be worth lots of money in the future.

However, I’ve also seen enough estate sales where one box of “stuff” is sold for a dollar or two, and sometimes even given away.  I did not want my stuff to become like that, and no one wants to put their kids or grandkids through having to go through the “stuff” after their parents or grandparents had passed away.

And so, we’ve been busy giving our “stuff” away, selling some things, throwing away others and basically, trying to figure out the best way to deal with the remaining “stuff”.

Included in my stuff was an old wood cabinet I made in high school woods’ class.  I was so proud of it (I got an ‘A’) and I used it in college and in our basement at home for many years as a stereo cabinet with the stereo on top and the records inside.  

When it was time to move to the cabin, it joined the other possible-throwaways because my wife couldn’t find a place for it in our new cabin.  I guess she didn’t have the attachment to it like I did.

I tried my hardest to give it away to my kids, but there were no takers.  I asked my wife if it would be worth it to sell it.  She said no.  I asked her if it was worth it to put it at the end of the road for someone to just take for free.  She said no again.

And so, I left it outside as the wood started to dry up wither away, thinking my wife would change her mind and ask me to bring it inside to put in the den.  Those words never came.  Every time I walked by it outside, I remembered what a great cabinet it was and how valuable it was to me in high school and college.  At one time in my life, it was one of my most valuable possessions (that’s sad, isn’t it?).

Well, I’ve gotten over the initial reaction and in a week or two, after it’s withered away some more, I’ll disassemble it and add it to a fire.  Just another example of not letting yourself get too attached to your “stuff”.

Yes, I’ve been a collector for a long time.  I’ve collected key chains, shot glasses and mugs; of course, my wife has had me throw out all of those things by now.  But, I’ve also collected frisbees and Beanie Babies, among other things, and those will be even harder for me to get rid of when the time comes.  

In fact, they might have to wait for the kids and grandkids to go through . . . when the time comes.

Even though I think most of the Beanie Babies are worth money if I wait long enough, they might, instead, become worthless and possibly go for a buck a box at an estate sale.  Cause remember, one man’s treasure is another person’s junk.  And here, I thought it was always the other way around.