Growing up fairly poor, I so wanted so much. Decent, stylish clothes, for one. I never minded hand-me-downs, and cherished what mom sewed for me. I just wanted some really good classic pieces, wool coat, fine skirt, silk blouses, that sort of thing. Or a bit of nice, real, arty jewelry, to wear every day. A canopy bed, but instead of sky blue cotton, with lace and velvet drapery. What I had, but in lush fabric and in the colors I would choose. Nothing packed away, nothing in excess, just durable, day to day richness.
When I lived on my own income, I lavished myself with very cheap earrings and the better drug store lotions. I dreamed of having a huge wad of cash to buy out Pier I Imports. Back when they were much less commercial, more unique, and I bought a lot of dollar paper folding fans there. I still love dithering in consignment shops and new agey bookstores, crusty giftshops and handcrafted clothes stores. I even acknowledge that the prices on some of what most attracts me is probably fair. And I am unmoved to reach for my wallet. Where would I put it, wear it, use it? What I have is enough.
I had the first hint that I had no future as a shopper the year both D and I were working full time, and although we bought a very good futon mattress and threw a (seven year) delayed wedding reception, mostly the money just got socked away. When I could spend what I wanted, mostly, I didn't really want. Not enough to spend that much on it.
With my hours down, and student loans to repay, we are watching the pennies again. Not really hard, although the itch to buy things is there, until I actually go to have a little splurge. Then I discover, there is really not much I want. Earrings are pretty, but not really important. Scrubs at work mean I don't need daily outfits. A slightly larger apartment would be good, eventually, if our circumstances improve long term. I'd like a place for a desk, and maybe a big comfy chair.
Maybe. Nice. Not must, not necessary.
Oh, yes, we did get a blender. We had a place for it, and have used it quite a lot already. It was hugely on sale.
5 comments:
that's wonderful, not to get pushed around by money! So few people manage to keep their feet, it seems.
Nice-looking blender. I've always liked the stainless steel models. I've discovered a love of fruit and plain yogurt smoothies, for which my blender works perfectly.
:)
I was really pleased when someone passed one onto me, but now am balking at finding the space for it. I fear the acquisition of clutter, or at least that which I can't get rid of painlessly and without a sense of unjustifiable waste.
What do you use the blender for? I always liked making real, or soya, which is especially alchemically fun, mayonnaise in them, but wonder if I really need to.
A nice place to be, not to feel the need to keep spending. It says a lot, I think.
I bought a blender, it mainly gets used in the winter for soups.
Dale,
Not to say I don't want to go out an buy stuff, just that when I do, I don't.
Crow,
Plastic, I assure you. Shiny plastic. One of the only cheap ones that got a good rating.
Lucy,
Same as Crow, really. Whatever fresh fruit we can find with ice crushed and orange juice. Gazpacho once, which was nice but not quite what we'd planned.
Trousers,
Looking forward to winter soups.
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