I’ve been fascinated by the term “Self-Storage” for a long time. I would see the signs on the side of the highway as we drove to visit my brother’s family, and I’d wonder, why not just call it “storage?” “Self-storage” sounds so ominous, as if you are being asked to store your soul in a box.
So, of course, I’ve been trying for years to plan out a science fiction story about a society where it’s possible to store your “self,” or parts of yourself, for varying periods of time. Maybe if you wanted to do a task that was disgusting to you, or that seemed immoral, you could store the moral part of yourself temporarily. Or if you were grieving and the pain was preventing you from moving forward with your life, you could store your emotional self for a few years, until you could get your life back on track.
I picture self-storage as something that would be available mostly to people with money. For a smaller fee, maybe, you could remove single strands of thought, like the strands of memory Dumbledore kept in vials and revisited in his pensieve in the Harry Potter books. But those single thoughts would degrade more quickly and be lost more easily.
And then there would be the danger of putting too much of yourself in storage at one time, and becoming someone so completely different that you couldn’t figure out how to return to yourself, or wouldn’t want to.
And what would happen if you couldn’t pay your storage fees? Would your parts be sold to the highest bidder? Or destroyed?
I think people might want to use self-storage to get through something grueling, like medical school or a prison term. Or after experiencing a traumatic event, like rape, or a natural disaster, like a flood or a bad presidency.
Some self-storage places might offer therapy for the reintegration process, but of course that would only be affordable for the premium customers, and there would be a range of prices and qualities of storage available, depending on how much money you could spend. Maybe the cheaper places would use less effective drugs for the processes of removal and reinsertion of the self, or harsher chemicals for the storage of the self, which would make the self degrade more quickly. Some places would have expert self-removers who could do it safely and cleanly and without excess pain, and others would just use a rusty nail, or the equivalent, and leave you to manage the pain on your own.
The dangers would be many, of course, and you’d have to buy self-removal insurance, in case the technology went wrong or a clerical worker lost your “self” or confused it with someone else’s. There could also be side effects, though I don’t know what they would be.
The self-storage story would, of course, be an allegory for the damage we do to our personalities when we try to deny our memories, or our feelings, and do things that we don’t really want to do. Whether we use alcohol or drugs, or dissociation, or workaholism, or denial, or all of these things at once, our often well-meant attempts to separate ourselves from pain have unwanted side effects that can become life altering. But we are still, endlessly, drawn to these behaviors, because without them our pain often makes life unlivable.
I think of the self-storage idea around the Holocaust, both because of the human experimentation the Nazis did on their victims, and because of the ways regular Germans, and so many others, were able to ignore the horror of the concentration camps, and all of the events that led up to the final solution, because they were told to think of Jews, gay people, Gypsies, and the disabled as not truly human. I also think about how the Holocaust survivors had to make it through life after the camps, forced to compartmentalize in order to function in the “normal” world. So many people had to squash their memories, of the horror, and of their lives before the horror, just to survive.
I think of Butterfly, my rescue dog who survived eight years as a puppy mill mama and lived with the resulting medical and psychological wounds for her 4 ¾ years with us until she died. She blossomed and found joy and learned how to live as a real dog, but some parts of her were forever in hiding, unable to heal.
Humans have a hard time accepting the reality of wounds that deep, and are forever looking for ways to remove the memories, and deny the pain, and to pretend life is universally good. But that need for easy answers takes a toll on us, and on society at large. If you put yourself, or your soul, in storage for too long, can you ever get it back?
If you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out my Young Adult novel, Yeshiva Girl, on Amazon. And if you feel called to write a review of the book, on Amazon, or anywhere else, I’d be honored.
Yeshiva Girl is about a Jewish teenager on Long Island, named Isabel, though her father calls her Jezebel. Her father has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with one of his students, which he denies, but Izzy implicitly believes it’s true. As a result of his problems, her father sends her to a co-ed Orthodox yeshiva for tenth grade, out of the blue, and Izzy and her mother can’t figure out how to prevent it. At Yeshiva, though, Izzy finds that religious people are much more complicated than she had expected. Some, like her father, may use religion as a place to hide, but others search for and find comfort, and community, and even enlightenment. The question is, what will Izzy find?
rachelmankowitz 
Well crafted. Thanks.Congrats
Thank you!
I encourage you to write that science-fiction book.
Thank you!
So this would be very different from cryogenic storage, where it’s the whole person. I just wish I had the keys for the bits of me that did disappear. But some tell me it comes back when it’s ‘time’ or when the bits are ‘ready’. What if that never happens? I guess I just wait.
Some people keep searching for those lost parts, and some people work even harder to keep those parts from returning.
Rachel, I agree write the book. I am Harry Potter fun and thia reminds me of how Voldemort stores his soul in the horocruxes
Exactly! Thank you!
Sounds like you’ve got your book outlined already. Well, almost. I would definitely read it! I think it’s a great allegory, and something I would have never thought of.
Oy. So much work!!! I need Cricket to write it for me.
That could probably be arranged, LOL!
Wow, there’s your book and it will be great, honestly all of the levels of thought and reflection underneath the storage story is outstanding! It would give readers so much to ponder and be so helpful. Take it right to audiobooks as well, I can’t wait to hear it! Write your book, I am looking forward to this huge success.
Thank you!
You are welcome, funny… but I am STILL thinking about this book of yours, hoping it has a bit of mystery and likable characters that are a bit edgy, and have a history behind them and a unity with each other in some way…brings them together… Ha! any way, hope you give a consider, I have a gut feeling about this ha ha 😊 really love your posts!
I’m looking forward to read that book
Thank you!
This is a story I’d like to read. Such insight about how we compartmentalize our emotions keep going.
Thank you!
This would be one very interesting book, Rachel. I will consider this the teaser.
Thank you!
When are you writing this story now that you’ve worked out the system?! I did not know or remember that about Butterfly. Poor baby. Thank you for giving her some happy years.
Thank you!
And how does one get to that Self-Storage? By You-Haul, of course. The sequel.
Ha!
Interesting comparison. My family is actually in a self-storage business so I ask them what it meant. My dad says, it is self-storage because the tenant has the leisure to store their stuff anytime. They can come and go. If the tenant can’t pay we will take possession of the stuff and auction it. Most of the times, the people store junk stuff and if they can’t pay, they just let it go.
That’s one way to avoid becoming a hoarder; hoard of site and then, when you’ve forgotten where you stored it, it’s gone.
I agree with previous comments that you should write this Self Storage fiction. There is a panoply of possible outcomes and characters.
I can try. Thank you!
I like the idea of self storage to leap in time. Maybe, wake up for a year and sleep for 50 and see how things really turn out.
Like Rip Van Winkle? I don’t remember how that story turned out.
I hope I could find a copy of your Yeshiva Girl.
I’m with everyone else. I can’t wait for you to publish this book!
Thank you!
Very interesting idea. Sometimes I feel like it would be nice to just take a week off.
It would!
Rachel, your novel sounds absolutely riveting! Congrats on completing the writing project and publishing–BRAVO!
Thank you!
You’re sincerely welcome 🙂 Blessings to you ❤
Such an interesting premise. Perhaps you’ll write a book about someone who self-stores aspects of themself over time.
Thank you! I will try.
We actually have a storage unit – and there are so many books in that place we could open our own library. I think of it as the place I put stuff I no longer really need but can’t bear to give up. I don’t know if you could put that in your book – but if you can, use it! What parts of ourselves do we cling to even though we no longer need them?
And which parts do we get rid of too soon?
I’d like to think I could go to storage and get 4 year old me who trusted everyone and thought the world was a happy place every minute out and just be her for a day again Or 16 year old me and tell her to hang in there, the future will be better than you can imagine. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
That would be wonderful!!!!!
What an intriguing concept! So many human emotions, dilemmas, challenges and triumphs you could explore. I truly hope you keep considering and refining this idea as it would make for a wonderful and impactful story. Go for it!
Thank you!
Wow, your mind never ceases to amaze and surprise. I suppose this is what people who can compartmentalize do. I have tried to put parts of myself in storage for the pandemic and this administration. I suppose it would be better to try to live life whole, but it’s hard.
It’s very hard to stay whole in the current situation, and some people are so good at compartmentalizing that they would never need self storage, but for the rest of us…
You have a brilliant imagination. Please write that story!
Thank you so much!
❤ Butterfly ❤
❤️
That is so deep! When I pass those storage places, I often make the joke, “Look, you can store yourself there,” but I never thought of anything so profound. Thank you for this post.
Thank you!
It already sounds like a work in progress, Rachel.
As for the actual ‘Self Storage’, they get you to do all the work, and charge you too much!
Best wishes, Pete.
Ha!
The concept of “self storage” is fascinating. It would make a good book and perhaps a sequel.
Oh boy!
That was truly interesting. Good thing we can’t store our souls for the world would be a horrible place.
Hmm.
That sounds like a profound and heartbreaking premise for a story – I think you would write it well!
I can try! Thank you!
Great post! And you’ve worked out an intriguing idea for a book. Wow!
Thank you!
Many people put themselves in self storage everyday, without even realizing it. I think feeling and acknowledging our fears and pain is how we grow. Stay well Rachel. Allan
You too!
Rachel, having way too much attic in our house, we keep too many things. Periodically, we will find things we forgot about, so it is like shopping in our own house. To me self-storage is an expensive way to hoard. Think about it, you are paying someone to keep stuff you may never need. I recognize this oversimplifies it, as storage for short term needs makes more sense, yet like our attic, saving too much stuff means out of sight, out of mind. Keith
But there’s something magical about finding treasures you didn’t know you had. The secret is to check in periodically.
True. We fixed a wooden filing cabinet the other day and found three printer ink cartridges, one of which I was about to order. It was found money. Keith
Wow what a great post and concept. Science fiction, thought provoking and the sweet adorable Butterfly all Wrapped up in one. I would read that book. I would also read a book about Butterfly who I recall from your posts was such a cutie pie and sweet lovable girl.
She was a miracle!
Your article amazed me. Love your butterfly ❤
Thank you!
I really enjoyed reading this Rachel. Some really inteteresting and thought provoking thoughts.
Thank you!
It is a very interesting idea. Self-storage. Sometimes we all need this escape: just to be with ourselves, clear our mind, listen to ourselves, find the path or merely sleep and recharge. Yes! I would voit for Self-storage!
Thank you for your thoughts!
A novel novel coming our way.
Ha! I will try!
I actually love the idea. I would drop off all my problems. Do you think maybe God is our self-storage?
I guess it depends on how carefully we choose what to drop off.
Thank you for the delicate and thought-provoking essay.
Thank you for reading!
Awesome post! And the puppy is so cute! ❤
Thank you!
You have a great imagination Rachel! ❤
Thank you!
I love your story idea. Please write it.
I can try! Thank you!
What a great post, Rachel! You write it, I’ll review it. It sounds like a fascinating storyline.
Thank you!
My Beloved Human says this is very thought-provoking. Me, I live mostly in the present, remembering only how to get a treat or that squirrels are fun to chase or that food is required whenever my tummy says so…
My girls agree with you. There’s so much going on in each moment that they don’t have room for thinking about what came before (except after grooming or vet visits, that requires some grudge keeping).
This is a great premise for a short story or a book. I like that a re-interpretation of a commonplace service was the inspiration. That reminds me a bit of Philip K. Dick’s practice.
You’ve already considered so many possible angles. I think that you’ll need multiple characters to explore them. Happy writing!
Thank you!
I think that’s a great idea for a short story…or an episode of Black Mirror. I think we all do a little of it to some degree, especially where trauma is involved, self-compartmentalization, maybe?
Absolutely!
I think I have many little compartments of self storage, so I am more intrigued with the actual process that dissociation and even D.I.D. use to do this. Not as interested in the sci fi aspect, but very taken with using “self storage” as a metaphor. Thanks.
Thank you!
Your idea reminded me of Johnny Mnemonic. Where you would store yourself while your brain was used as a “cargo” container for other “stuff”.
That’s even freakier! Do you have a choice about the cargo you take on?
Well, if you are a carrier then you carry what they pay you for. So I suppose you don’t have to be a courier.
From Wiki: “Johnny (Reeves) is a “mnemonic courier” with a data storage device implanted in his brain, allowing him to discreetly carry information too sensitive to transfer across the Net, the virtual-reality equivalent of the Internet. While lucrative, the implant has cost Johnny his childhood memories, and he seeks to have the implant removed to regain his memories” I vaguely remember his brain being in jeopardy because he was trying to transport TOO much information . . . but that could have been another movie. There are movies where they “take out” your memories to make room . . . and store your memories and then there are some that suppress (compress) your memories to make room for other information. I often get my movies mixed up since, sometimes they seem so similar to me. With science fiction (or, as I call it science PREDICTION) they can do whatever they want so it gets crazy!
Oh my goodness!
I have often pondered on the notion of extreme de-cluttering, and perhaps the fact that people are doing it to rid themselves of unwanted associations and memories. I love the sound of your book idea, and I do hope you will write it!
Thank you!
Hi Rachel, I’ve been mulling over this idea for a day or two because I think it’s brilliant. I love the idea sending a bit of ourselves away for repair or healing but I do wonder what the rejoin might involve. One thing that I don’t think was clarified in the Harry Potter books was the nature of the contents of the perceive. Were they copies of memories or had the memory been removed from their original host? We know that the brain has emourmous plasticity and so it won’t be the same ‘fit’ when the memories, experiences or thoughts are returned. In addition, who or should that be how are their edges defined? What happens to a crucial piece of information that is an integral part of a traumatic experience that is then removed for storage, healing or examination? I think there is a great deal to ponder on here and you’ve definitely hit on a winner! L 🙂 x
Thank you!!!!!!
This is a lot to process. I’m sure most of us have some parts we’d like to delete forever, rather than store. In the true sense of the word, I deplore not only the acres of land that self-storage takes up around here, but the fact people are so attached to worldly items that they leave them for years–and then many forget. If you haven’t used the items in your storage, let them go to a good home. I have thought often about survivors at concentration camps being rescued, seeing Allied troops and being so grateful to be free and clean and fed. But their minds were never the same, and many could not function. Isn’t it like our troops overseas? More of them die by suicide than by enemy hands. The brain is a frightening thing. I know mine certainly keeps me up for HOURS nearly every night. It would be so nice to just open up one tab at a time, instead of trying to live with dozens constantly open.
That would be so much better!