When I was first starting out in the world I had pretty much nothing.  So my father and I engaged in a sort of game.  If he had something that I needed that he never used, I would start an argument for why I should have it rather than he.  In the short hand of these types of arrangements this became known as the “six month rule.”  I was pretty crafty about it and I got my first TV and an old, old set of golf clubs, and a pickup truck through this device.  Once I became established the six month rule was joked about, but it then became more of discussion and critique about consumption and possessions. 

And now this game is teaching me, because I am starting to look around my house and asking myself why ( or if) I have possessions that I only use that infrequently.  My wife helps here as she is all about reducing clutter and employs the six month rule proactively in both our lives.  It is pretty easy to adhere to this reconstituted six month rule with one noticeable exception—my tools and shop—because you never know when you will need that special star screwdriver, pair of sheep shears, or an upholstery hammer.  Seriously.

Bob Ferris (www.newdream.org)

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