Of property and possessions

I gave away all my possessions (except certain books and clothes). Which wasn't much but more than I had actually realised. My room is now for the most part empty - a few shelves are still waiting to be picked up by those who said they would be happy to have them, two boxes full of paper rubbish are waiting for the paper bin downstairs to be empty, and a hill of clothes are calling for my attention to be sorted out and packed either in my rucksack, in a box for the winter, or in bag to be carried to the Freebox at the Bethanien, where other people can use them.

On Friday morning, I sent an email round to 30 people in my address book, hoping that some would need some of my stuff and actually be able to pick it up within a day and a half. I hoped, but didn't necessarily believe it would work. But it did.

I gave away my bed and mattress, my two armchairs, my sofa, my shelves, my desk, my lamps, my plants and all sorts of titbits. The only thing I'd originally bought was my bed and one set of shelves - the rest had come into my hands randomly - an armchair from Kev, another found on the street, a sofa taken from friends who didn't want it anymore, shelves given by friends, other shelves that had accompanied me from France.
Giving and taking - Staying in my room while people take it apart and take away what they want. There is a fine difference in the behaviour of takers that either makes me perfectly comfortable and happy about them taking my stuff or slightly displeased.
Take for instance A+C, who are opening a cultural cafe soon, or K+B, who are starting up their solar engineer office: they looked at the list I emailed, saw they could use some of the stuff, came round, looked at what they knew they needed, took it. And I was very happy to know I was helping them set up their projects.
Similarly, M came and was absolutely enthusiastic about my teapot and my little table, and I felt happy that my teapot would be in her hands for a while.

Now take young G, who came because he needed a mattress - and left with all sorts of plants, office material, CD shelves, lamps and all sorts of other titbits. He stood in my room and acted like a child in a toyshop where everything's free. He grabbed everything with shiny eyes, then held it happily, then realised he probably didn't need it and put it back. Hesitated. Took it again. Back. Again. Back. And eventually, the thing would wander onto the little hill that had started accumulating near the door. I felt he was taking a lot of things mainly because he could and because it was there - and that, I didn't enjoy, because I didn't have the feeling he actually needed or really wanted the stuff in question.
I otherwise like him very much though, so I didn't mind that much. In any case, I wanted everything to leave my room anyway, so I was pleased for every item to disappear.

Giving my stuff away also allowed me to meet up with people I hadn't seen in a long time and wouldn't have taken the time to meet up with before I left. We chatted, sitting on my floor, and caught up a little with one another. It was good.
And as it was, most of the stuff went on Friday already. Those who called on Saturday were interested precisely in what still hadn't been taken away. The randomness of it all always seems to work for me.

I was originally planning on leaving for the farm today, but I ended up spending the whole day sorting out papers. I refused to let myself be stressed out, so I took my time, and eventually realised I couldn't do everything I wanted and still catch the last train. So tomorrow it is that I'll be leaving.