The Trouble with Souvenirs
I was recently organizing kitchenware at our local Restore (Habitat for Humanity) and I mentally went through a list of things to pass on when on vacation. I can’t tell you how many shot glasses I sorted through, mugs and little decorative plates with states on them. As we prepare to make our annual trip to meet some friends at a National Park, it was perfect timing.
I know that when we’re on vacation, we want to bring something back something to help us remember the trip, but there are other ways to keep the memories. Years ago Universal Studios had an I Love Lucy museum area. I bought a mug there that I used until all of the hearts faded off. It was a fun way to remember the trip and my favorite show. I would collect mugs from different places, but none of them ever compared. My mug from Puerto Vallarta couldn’t go in the microwave, so it wasn’t practical for me. The mugs from the ABC store in Hawaii were just so tiny, I had to refill them constantly. My son brought me back a mug from Las Vegas and it wasn’t dishwasher safe. (Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that until I ran it through the dishwasher) You can only use so many mugs.
It’s so hard to resist the urge to buy trinkets, but I really give them some thought now. Part of the de-cluttering process is maintenance. That means we have to carefully weigh purchases we bring into the house. All of those souvenirs not only cost money, but also take up space and energy in our homes. That Lucy mug was well worth the purchase price and earned its keep for sure. The Mickey Mouse jean jacket/dress sort of thing, not so much. It was fun in Disneyland, but not something I wore after our vacation.
I am a super sentimental person, so I definitely want reminders of our trips, but I definitely put a lot more consideration into things nowadays. For years, I’ve collected ornaments. I absolutely love pulling out the ornaments and seeing different places, times and seasons of life. It makes for a fun holiday tradition. They don’t take up a lot of space and are easily stored, but I still get the tangible memory. If I come across a good hat or beanie, I’ll grab those. Once again, they don’t take up a lot of space and they are things that I actually use on a consistent basis and they always bring back memories.
Journals would probably be my favorite. I bought a National Park passport to collect stamps as we make our way to different parks. It doesn’t take up a lot of space and is the perfect way for remember the vacation, but also glance at future spots I want to see.
Also think of the environment. I know we want to bring back trinkets for friends and family, but really give those some thought as well. Think of my organizing at ReStore. Too often that stuff ends up in a landfill. Maybe grab some chocolate covered macadamia nuts from Hawaii, a bottle of vanilla from Mexico or a bag of coffee for gifts. Things they can consume are more likely to get used up and less likely to end up in a landfill.
Stay tuned with what I bring back from the Grand Canyon.