Shut up and buy

[threemeninaboat]

Boiled down, in order, we NEED: oxygen, water, food, shelter, clothing, etc...
I try not to consume. We don't keep up with the Joneses. Our cars are driven until they die, begging for mercy as they creep up that last hill. Objects that make our lives easier do not last forever. Things break, catch fire, fall apart, become unrepairable.
It just seems like something different needs to be replaced weekly.
The vacuum is dying. I'm not sure more duct tape is helping.
John's car is off to the shop, oddly aging less gracefully than mine.
I am out of milk and cream and celery.
The downstairs bathroom window is broken.
Macintosh season is nearly over. Then I will eat????

People used to have two sets of clothes, one for "good" and one for everyday.
There was a time before cars, but buggies and horses have the breakdowns too (even bicycles).

Sherpa needed:
When I was 17 I carried my ID and a bit of cash. Chad gave me a wallet so I could have my cash and library card in one place.
At 18 I added a set of keys.
23 and on call I got a cell phone and pager.
The pager only lasted a few months.
25 added an ipod.
26 and I need my chapstick and water jug. I think I have developed a mild case of sjogren's syndrome. Without chapstick, I am miserable. Lotion is currently located in all three cars and most rooms of the house. If I dry out any more lotion might have to get shoved into my pockets as well.
With the water jug, I can no longer fit everything in my pockets. I need a purse.

Comments

[beaq.livejournal.com]

One thing that worked a bit for me for a while was to have a purse sized thing, and a tiny tiny bag that has my "life" in it. It can fit my pocket or on a string, and it has: atm card, a little cash, photo id, car key, chapstick. Maybe an AAA card. Not even my phone or pocketknife go in -- basically, anything that I would absolutely need if I put everything else down and walked off and got lost in a relatively civilized place, pared down to the elements I wouldn't even feel as extra weight. And then try to keep that on me at all times, and never, ever lose sight of it. And then everything else can go in the purse. And I can lose the purse and my life will suck, or I can leave the damn thing behind because I'm so sick of it all, but I'll always have the barest essentials.

One of which is chapstick.


I did make room for the iPod for a while, only because it would be such a financial burden to replace it and because it made such a difference in my life that I couldn't risk it leaving my person. And that was almost too heavy to accept. The phone definitely didn't make it. Water's important, but it's a purse/car item.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

I made you a purse! Out of fine stainless steel!

[lacrimation.livejournal.com]

When are you gonna fix me a braclet of of stainless steel?

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

I should'a brought pliers/wrench down when I visited. Need to have you and bracelet in close proximity to me. Hence: either you come here or I go there, and this time we have less distraction so's we get a chance to talk n fix bracelets.

[lacrimation.livejournal.com]

I brought it to you that one time. Remember?

[ziz]

...catch fire...

...are set on fire...

[maribou]

...are etched beyond usability by acid ...

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

FYI, I've taken to telling people, especially my girlfriend, that they "CANNOT steal my car."

[ziz]

Useful things learned and passed on!

I sent you an email to what I hope is your email address. If you don't get it, will you send me your email? =P

[maribou]

I've been carrying a backpack pretty much since I turned thirteen. Be your own Sherpa!

(I will concede I sometimes pare down to a purse. But not often.)

[zyzzyva23.livejournal.com]

One of the few things that pissed me off about living here (aside from the cost) is that you cannot go anywhere without a bag. Not if you don't wanna freeze, at least. The weather's simply too variable to go out for more than fifteen min without packing an extra layer.

[zyzzyva23.livejournal.com]

...so, of course, having to carry the extra layer means you're gonna have a bag already. And as long as you've got the bag...

[lacrimation.livejournal.com]

I too am addicted to chapstick. Have been since i was little. I have a little bag i carry w/ me now. But, only to work.

[ilmarinen.livejournal.com]

I struggle with this as my instincts is to want to have everything I could need handy. This is a good deal of my stress I get about traveling.

I've gone through phases of having a little and having a lot with me at any given time. I've gone through phases of fanny packs (yes, I know), backpacks (school), man-purses (I liked the idea of a bag with me, but in practice, ugh) and coats-of-many-pockets (still like that, but weight distribution is a problem, and not good in the summer).

I've always kept my wallet down to a minimum--never understood folks who can carry 1"+ thick wallets. One of the reasons I hate customer loyalty cards, etc. I mostly just refuse to use them. Pisses me off.

I keep waiting for technology to make this work better but without being evil. Somehow I doubt that will happen soon.

-B.