Well, I didn't think this buying fast would be so boring. For the month of August, anyway, I did not buy anything new, nor second-hand, nor recycled. I just didn't need anything, and I didn't want anything. It wasn't that I valiantly wrestled temptation to the ground, victoriously refusing to buy. I wasn't even tempted. Even though I spent a week at the beach...
Oh, wait. I did buy a house-warming gift, a wedding present and a small hand-thrown bowl at the Rehoboth Art League's annual summer fair. The presents have been dutifully given away. The bowl is in my cupboard. (To put it in perspective, it is four inches in diameter, and it went to support a needy artist. But yes, I bought something new.)
And while we are at it, I did buy school books for my son; and 2 re-used books for me. But I am torn here: according to the rules, consumables are exempt from the fast. So the question is: are books consumables? Are they different from going to the movies? or downloading audio books from the public library? I leave this to the jury to decide.
If I had younger children, I clearly would have lots more to confess. So it is important to acknowledge that my stage in life (with a passable if fading wardrobe and grown kids) enables me to limit my purchases in ways others cannot.
Still, I much rather enjoyed spending my time doing things other than shopping.
I know the controversy that often arises around arguments to reduce our purchases: the economy needs stimulation and that comes best from consumer purchasers (with government stimulus packages being a powerful but costly substitute). I continue to believe, however, that as we pursue the elixir of a sustainable economy, a component of that will need to be reduced consumption. We need economists to show us how we can both reduce our stuff and stimulate progress.
And we need to make room for those things that truly fill our spirits, and not have those needs crowded out by objects that pretend to satisfy us.
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