Desiring to Desire
For some time, on and off, I’ve had these unfulfilled desires for a number of consumer items—a new yoga mat, an upgrade to my Airport, a color laser printer, Iggy Pop tickets—and I think I’m just going to go ahead and fulfill them all.
I realize that having these things won’t make me a happier or better person, but at least I’ll be able to stop coveting them and can save some time I currently waste surfing online stores and making wish lists.
Having had to spend money on things I’d prefer not to—taxes and insurance—I’m thinking I may as well spend some on things I want, even though my life is essentially fine without them.
In making these purchases, I’m basically exchanging numbers on bank statements for tangible items and while I certainly get a measure of satisfaction in seeing particular numbers on those statements, I’m pretty sure I will be more gratified by having a less slippery surface on which to do sun salutations, a faster, more reliable internet connection, a way to print out all my 327 word essays, and a memory of the world’s scrawniest rock star in concert.
I remember my mom saying that the only reason to have money was to make your life more comfortable, more secure, or more beautiful; she thought my dad sometimes lost sight of that and kept his purse strings tied a bit too tight.
I’m somewhere in the middle; I think I do share my dad’s worries about having the rainy day fund, but I basically agree with my mom: you can’t take it with you, so you may as well enjoy it while you can.
Of course, I want to be secure in my old age (especially given its proximity) and I’d like to leave something for the kid, but frankly, if the estate is down to what I’m planning on spending for these few things, it’s essentially gone, anyway.
I realize that having these things won’t make me a happier or better person, but at least I’ll be able to stop coveting them and can save some time I currently waste surfing online stores and making wish lists.
Having had to spend money on things I’d prefer not to—taxes and insurance—I’m thinking I may as well spend some on things I want, even though my life is essentially fine without them.
In making these purchases, I’m basically exchanging numbers on bank statements for tangible items and while I certainly get a measure of satisfaction in seeing particular numbers on those statements, I’m pretty sure I will be more gratified by having a less slippery surface on which to do sun salutations, a faster, more reliable internet connection, a way to print out all my 327 word essays, and a memory of the world’s scrawniest rock star in concert.
I remember my mom saying that the only reason to have money was to make your life more comfortable, more secure, or more beautiful; she thought my dad sometimes lost sight of that and kept his purse strings tied a bit too tight.
I’m somewhere in the middle; I think I do share my dad’s worries about having the rainy day fund, but I basically agree with my mom: you can’t take it with you, so you may as well enjoy it while you can.
Of course, I want to be secure in my old age (especially given its proximity) and I’d like to leave something for the kid, but frankly, if the estate is down to what I’m planning on spending for these few things, it’s essentially gone, anyway.
posted by Professor Dave at 8:32 PM
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