Catch up here – 8th House: Goods Of The Dead.
Moving on with my goods of the dead theme, like I said, I’ve had cause to shop for all kinds of things once I moved here. This was not unexpected.
My husband I planned to move here, eight years ago. Matter of fact, we came up with a document, outlining our joint goals…and we signed it. He’s got a Scorpio Moon, by the way. So while we knew we were going to be in the old house awhile, we also knew it would not be forever.
Consequently, we stopped investing in any kind of furniture or decor for the old house. Instead we saved our money. Eight years is a long time!
This was a long move. We started throwing things out eight months before we left. When it came to packing, I realized it made no sense to pack my dilapidated pots and pans. I did not go without any upgrades for eight years so that I could go without upgrades! So when we landed here, it was with the bare minimum.
When we bought the house, I bought some furniture from the seller. They were downsizing and the woman had a great eye. I bought her dining room table and her china cabinet for one thing. This meant I needed “china”, which is where I’m going with this.
It turns out, china is very cheap here. People are drowning in it. It’s falling out of cabinets, and stacked in their sheds and garages. You can get complete service for twelve around here for somewhere between $75-$225. It’s laughable when compared to ebay or Replacements.com. You can buy china here cheaper than you can buy dishes at Walmart and this is what got me thinking.
First, people don’t care about china anymore. Tastes have changed. It’s like classical music. It will never go out style completely, but interest is very low right now. The industry has been struggling for decades. Church isn’t the only thing people quit going to!
Something like china used to hold it’s value. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be worth pennies on the dollar in the future, if it has any value at all and I’ll tell you why.
People who like china (in droves) are dying out. They are dying in droves. And people who think their parents stuff like this has value – they’re in for a rude shock.
People aren’t really having babies anymore, at least in the US. I’ve written about this before. My Woman’s Club women (75 – 100 years old) had eight kids on average. No one had fewer than six. Some had twelve. Compare that to the average family size today.
Less people means fewer buyers. So what about all these goods left behind? Who is going to buy them?
Then think about the population that is still having children. Is “china” their thing? I don’t think so.
I flashed on this image of all these material goods, prized at one time but now worthless, simply because there is no one to use them.
Think of all the shoes and the purses we have in our closets. Back up a dump truck, yanno?
This got me thinking about what has real value in thus day and age.
What do you think is valuable…and will remain so in twenty of thirty years?
Skip to Family Trends…
I can only speak for myself. I’ve been selling at eBay since 2008 and have had terrible luck lately. No one wants signed first edition books. I had better luck when I was selling dishes and designer bags, gifts from my ex mother-in-law, a hoarder. People will always buy books, art and jewelry. People will always be dazzled by designer labels. The only possessions of mine that I truly value are my photographs, letters and a few books. I haven’t owned plates in years. I have plastic bowls, plastic cups and flatware from Dollar Tree.
I think that jewelery and precious stones will always have buyers. I have the Sun in my 8th house and I just learned how to live with bare minimum stuff. I didn’t think I could do this 6 months ago. It gave me panic attacks back then.
It’s good to be here Elsa:)
Thank you for all your work!
Value?
It seems a lot of people are into immediate value these days.
I’d say a house and land with water have value.
All the rest, jewelry, cars, objects without real use, designer stuff, not essential, therefore worthless.
Probably having communication (hardware, software & access) is a good idea.
With a house you are (sometimes) sheltered, with land you can grow your food. without water, you’re dead, or dependant on those who have it.
Sounds like survival mode … well, it is!!!!
Value…
I think jewelry will always have a value, if not for anything more than the materials it is made of. But you’re right, things have changed a lot.
In areas of California, water right now is of high value. When we first moved here, it was the time of season where there are literally less than 10 rentals on the market, so rental property was of value.
When my mother’s partner’s grandmother died (the woman who actually raised her), within an hour of her passing, her extended family came in and raided the house and took everything of value.
I know things I value may not be valued by others. I have thought about this, when I die, who would want what, if anything. I have a lot of books…? I have a little jewelry, but I’ve never been one to really wear much outside of my wedding rings.
I have hair from my eldest daughter’s first haircut…I have special baby items from each of my girls that I can’t stand to part with because they have so much value to me.
There will always be universally valued things– air, clean water, land, food, shelter, and probably the next newest gadget, lol. But I also agree with what Goldie said, value is intrinsically personal. I’ve learned in the past year (and after much accumulation to the contrary!!) that I simply don’t value stuff –in fact, I’ve let so much of it go in the 6 months, it’s a wonder there is still anything leftover, lol.
I do, however, value freedom (8th house ruler in 5th and in Sag) friendships, learning, books (Venus in Gemini in 11th), space to breathe in solitude (Jupiter in 12th) and most importantly, my family unit and our home (Venus rules 4th) I’ve also allowed my children to partake in discussions about inheritance. What do they really want? It’s been painful to find out how little of it they want but liberating that we can label what is whose and what is what. So I don’t want to burden them. With funeral arrangements, debt, sibling fights, confusing language in the will, and all the nonsense that can take place after a parents’ death (which is difficult in its own), I mainly value leaving them peace of mind. Enough money to make sure they’re taken care of it, some family heirlooms, and hopefully, more good memories than bad to carry with them. 😛
Aries is on the cusp of my eighth house and its ruler Mars is in my first House. I have Mars in Libra which is on my second house cusp. So I’m a poor astrologer but I thought the 2nd house is concerned with possessions. With Libra on the cusp and a four planet stellium in Libra I am concerned about fairness in my own value and others’ value. I’ve written before of my floundering marriage. My husband is holding on and I want to let go but I am being undone by my desire to be fair.
Just being undone right now.
I lived in the same apartment for 38 years so you can imagine the crap I accumulated. Most of it was put away in a closet or boxes so I forgot all about it. That’s the stuff that’s very easy to part with because you immediately realize that if you haven’t looked at it or used it for years, you certainly don’t need it. About two years ago, I moved to a new apartment and a new area and, before moving, I took the opportunity to rid myself of crap that I didn’t need. It was a freeing experience. I didn’t sell anything because I just wanted all this stuff to be gone as quickly as possible. So I either threw it out, gave it away, or donated it to Goodwill. I even paid Junkluggers to come and pick up the large furniture that I wanted to be rid of. It felt so good to unload “things” because it takes a burden off of you that feels like a physical burden has been lifted. You actually feel lighter. The interesting thing about getting rid of “stuff” is that most of the time, you don’t miss any of it. I’m with the other folks who said that photos are the most valuable thing to hold onto, or maybe a gift from someone who meant a lot to you. Other than that, I can do without quite a lot of things that I once thought I needed. And I’m going to try to unload even MORE stuff because I want to live a minimalist kind of life.
Freedom (Sag). Love (Libra Venus). Lightness at times, time to dream and handling stress (this all sort of reflects my natal Jupiter in Libra too which is balanced by a heavy hardworking realistic Virgo stellium. Ability to give and work and communicate (placements of my Virgo planets). Otherwise, books, art, shelter, computer stuff and those pots and dishes. Flowers!
I have moved a lot and I always give things away and pare down, and have less and less. I love the lightness of the way that feels.
We prefer experiences to “stuff” and we buy a few good things (new or antique or Craig’s list finds) that last and that is that. We have an eye so our home looks great and a mix of current and classic yet again, simple and we aren’t decorating or buying things for years.
20 to 30 years: I think there are some people who will always crave and worship “stuff” because the world is big and multicultural and even during the Dark Ages, or Puritanical times other cultures were around worshiping things and creating them. Some cultures have fewer kids (Germany, Italy, Japan) and others may choose to have more. You never know. We swing from Victorian clutter to 50s modernism to ethnic/Western/Bohemeian NYC to Martha Stewart’s “all the THINGS!” to Pottery Barn homogeny to sleek empty contemporary and now back to sort of “MY things MY way” — I actually think this will have less to do with birth rate, and more to do with people feeling lost and fearful and alone and on edge, and looking to burrow into a haven with familiar safe things or things that represent a world we long for that seems safer, less violent or tenuous.
I have noticed that everyone has their precious things, whatever they may be.
I go to one part of the country and feel life is simplifying — I go elsewhere and I see young shoppers buying everything they can.
Elsa’s Question: What do you think is valuable…and will remain so in twenty of thirty years?
I’ve always believed things are only worth what someone else is willing to pay for them. Things that were important 30 years ago aren’t now. I have no china, no silver, no crystal. Those things aren’t important to me.
In another 30 years I won’t be here to care. Land, shelter, and food will be things of value as they sustain life.
my mother and grandparents Always believed “land, property and material goods” to pass down to your family. On my father’s side, it was lots of land, acres, orchard groves, and on my mother’s side, there was also a tidy inheritance my mother received. that movie, “gone with the wind,” is kind of that reflection, of what is important, when scarlett holds the piece of tara land; although, honestly, dont want to lie, cheat or kill (the way she said it) but i understand why she said it (survival in the time of war).
hmm but to pass down spiritual, moral values are the most important, my mother Always said to me, be good, stay on the straight and narrow path. so yes, good values should be passed down.
Most of my treasures — inherited and cheaply acquired china, crystal, silver, vintage rugs, lamps, art, 30 boxes of books, clothes, photos, a few antiques — have been in storage for four years, traveled coast to coast and back, ridiculous expense, but too sentimental to part with. If I ever find and settle into my permanent home (soon, please!), I hope to finally take delivery and unpack and stay put in my cozy nest!
I wish I was there with a pick up truck to buy up as much cheap old unwanted china I could get my hands on!
Cancer ascendant here, I love to break up old china with tile nippers and arrange the pieces on a new canvas, such as a wooden balsa bird house that the craft stores sell or a large basin such as old fashioned water pitchers rest in.
Anyway, using strong adhesive I place the china in a pattern and fill it in with grout after it dries. Sponging away the grout off the surface reveals a beautiful “Spanish tile” like pattern. It’s hard work, but such a gorgeous result. I make bird baths, bird houses and mirror frames. The old porcelain china is my favorite to use, I look at the patterns like a quilter looks at old fabric patterns and colors.
It’s a beautiful way to make something old new again, and old china often holds it’s color and pattern nicely thru the grouting process. Nipping the handles off old vegetable servers and teacups and reusing them in projects gives a cool result too. Great for a birdhouse perch or 3D effects on birdbaths. The funnest part is the reactions of people who see them for the first time. Very popular and very touchable art for sure!
My first encounter with broken china art was about 25 years ago in LA — a picture frame of plaster with teacups imbedded — so cool! Later saw a few bistro table and butler tray table tops using flatter pieces under clear epoxy, also cool.
Chances are you can salvage plenty of broken china from thrift shops and Salvation Army stores — just go in and ask them to save up the broken items in a box for you to pick up every month or so. Then you won’t have to actually destroy any pieces that are still functional.
This is an interesting thing I have dishes that I use now for everyday in the 70’s growing up my mother bought this set as did my Nanna and my Aunt. At the time and through my upbringing they were our fancy dishes for special occasions and holidays. My mom started using them as her everyday dishes in the late nineties. I got them when she died in 2007 and they are my everyday dishes. I had my family over for the 4th of July and when I handed my Dad a plate he smiled and said “I know these plates” he was still associating them with holiday. They have held up beautifully though there is no longer a complete set and I have been considering getting new. My problem is that I don’t think I could part with them, and it seems silly to pack them away somewhere. I don’t know what I’ll do but I may very well keep using them until the last piece reaches the end of its natural life. I am typically not attached to things like this but these plates have a strong hold on my heartstrings.
ajm1008, perhaps you can replace the missing pieces (Replacements.com) or even find a whole matching set on eBay — put them all together so there will never be a “last piece” — let the memories live on and keep your heartstrings happy.
Thank you for the suggestion it is a good one and something I have considered. I contacted my aunt today and asked her about Nanna’s set she didn’t have them any longer. It was a popular pattern in production from the late 60’s through first of the 80’s so I can find replacement pieces if I decide to but that is not really my style. The attachment for me is not about the pattern or even the nostalgia around the pattern it is the history with these particular items. I have wonderful memories of family holidays and special occasions celebration meals eaten off these exact plates. I also believe that everything has it’s life and when it is done it is done. Honor and treasure it for what it has brought into my life and release it to make room for new things to come. When I get down to the last piece I will take it our of regular use and display it somewhere in my kitchen most likely.
Slight correction. There is not “less people” because folks are having smaller families. In fact our global population has grown 7 times the size it was “back in the olden days” when folks were having 8 to 12 kids. We’re growing exponential and sending other animal species into extinction by encroaching into their habitats with our cookie cutter housing developments and roads. The families are getting smaller because the gross overpopulation problems means wages are being divided among a larger labor pool and, thus, smaller pay per person. Smaller pay per person means less resources for each household. We are having less children because we have less resources. It’s an incorrect assumption to say that there are less people. You can google overpopulation and read about it. We’ve never, in the history of mankind, had this many people on earth %-) lol
I should have specified, I am talking about the US. I thought of it, but try to be concise.
Also, the baby boomers are a huge bubble. We will die off in the next 20-30 years.
I agree with those who said land will be worth something for years to come. And a home made of good materials rather than the cheap stuff they just throw up. Otherwise I don’t know, but it will probably be fad-based.
As for kids, I wish I could have more! Trying to convince my husband another would be wonderful, but our baby is keeping us up a lot, so he’s not on board. Yet…. 😉