Take the Home Tour . . . or Don’t

You buy a new home and fill it with stuff. Then what? Then you invite over everyone you know and force them to “take the tour,” which requires them to comment on how clever and shiny the various objects you have accumulated are. The downside is you’re required to return the favor when that person buys a new home and fills it with their own stuff.

Once you’ve been on both sides of this human ritual enough times, you realize how ridiculous the whole thing is. No one cares about your stuff. People care about their own stuff. If you really want to impress someone, buy your new house, fill it with your stuff–but then let everyone you know off the hook. Don’t post photos, don’t give tours. Don’t say you like “entertaining” when what you really mean is you like showing people your stuff. Ask yourself this: How might your household change if you knew that only the people actually living in that household would ever use and appreciate it?