How much do you need to be happy?

I mean, really? 

Take a physical inventory of your life and the objects you own. How many items do you need for survival? How many contribute to your quality of life and happiness?  How many things have you been holding on to for years, and haven't seen in months? 

The answer to this question will be different for everyone who asks it.

Some will find that having collections of books gives a feeling of fulfillment. To some, display shelves stocked with antique bric-a-brac brings joy to look at. Maybe you have a closet filled to the brim and overflowing because you feel that looking good is feeling good. How about boxes of knick knacks that give you a feeling of nostalgia when you rifle through the contents?
I am not saying any of these are bad. Don't panic, I'm not going to tell you to get rid of all of your stuff. I'm right in there with you!
Shelves of books I have already read or never will? Check.

This is our bookshelf. And we've already gotten rid of quite a few!

Stacks of records and CD's, many of which I own because of one single? Got 'em.

Oh CD jewel cases, the bane of any minimalist's existence!

How about DVDs? Over 400 of them last I counted.

Our DVD's are stored in this dresser, plus a few Tupperware tubs and boxes. 

I've got boxes of holiday decorations, toys and collectibles from my childhood, backpacks, and other miscellaneous debris. 
As we begin to talk about what sort of lifestyle we want to lead, we are ever so gradually starting to see that most of these items are completely unnecessary.

 I have enjoyed all of our things. We spent our hard earned money on them because they have brought us joy at one time. 

 But perhaps the seasons have changed. Our fondness for having these material posessions is waning. I cringe at the thought of having to pack all of this up one day to move, only to put it away out of sight for another 3 years.

I'll say it again, this isn't a "throw all your meaningless junk away" post. There are some things that really do add to our experience. Book and records, for instance.

 To me, listening to an album on vinyl is an immersive and interactive experience, and it enriches our appreciation for music. 

Reading a physical book is much more satisfying than any e-reader. Many of these items will travel with us wherever we go, although our collections will be much more condensed.
No one needs that much Herb Alpert, anyway.
Our end goal is to downsize and minimize our posessions to what actually contributes to our quality of life.
Some things make it easy to get rid of. Take CDs and DVDs for example.

 Steaming media has become pretty much all-encompassing, so that you can pretty much watch any movie or listen to any album you want, whenever you want it, between Netflix, iTunes, Hulu, HBO Go, etc.
So here's our homework:
Go through your house. Search the endless nooks and crannies, boxes, shelves and storage areas. Be hard on yourself. Take note of the layer of dust on each box, book and shelf, and ask yourself what you truly need to be happy.  If you haven't looked at it or used it in the last 6 months to a year, chances are you don't need it.