The art of enough

One of my minimal living Wimpole friends shared his link on Facebook. A very similar sentiment to some of those Adrian used to express, I thought.

https://experiencelife.com/article/the-art-of-enough/

I was amused by the 33 items of clothing in 3 months - I probably don't have much more than 33 items of clothing in total (discounting socks and knickers). I really don't enjoy shopping of any sort and hate 'stuff'.
I hadn't really considered the addictive nature of stuff acquisition. Mostly, the things that I buy are things to aid me in creating other things - sewing, knitting, gardening etc. I suppose I could use an old treadle Singer for sewing but I bought a fairly expensive, good quality machine because it is something that I use all the time. I will have it for many years as it does what I need it to do and I have no desire to upgrade it when something new and more sophisticated comes along.

Ploshkin wrote: Mostly, the things that I buy are things to aid me in creating other things - sewing, knitting, gardening etc.

Snap! The only thing I really want more of is time. I DO enjoy shopping for things that interest me, after planning out a project, and tbh, I don't mind food shopping either. But I always have a list and the week's menus written on the back. I buy what I need.

I guess I have spent most of my adult life managing on just adequate income, so most of the ideas in that article are second nature anyway. And with the impending retirement of the main breadwinner, along with hardly any pension provision, it's not going to stop anytime soon.

For me, it's all about wanting what you've got, rather than getting what you want.

I think that's the Buddhist philosophy, isn't it?
I'm one of those who expects things to last and last and see no point looking for the latest anything if what I have still functions.

When I read Ploshkin's post, I almost commented that most of us on here are probably of the same mind in this, looks like I was right !

The only things I like shopping for are my tools. And then my favourite ones are all second (multi ?) hand. The really favourite ones are those from my grandad, but some are from Tools for Self Reliance, and some ebay. I also like rescuing old tools; I picked up a woodworking plane at a stall at last years bodger's ball - it was so rust covered that the stall holder let me have it for nothing. After a lot of de-rusting, painting and grinding it is now quite useable again. I like the idea that many hands before me have used the same tools to make things, and I hope they'd not be disappointed to know what became of their tools !

I suppose the next stuff down that I sometimes like shopping for are stuff for hobbies. Seeds for the garden, but not much more. I try to avoid the worst of the garden centre tat. And outdoor stuff, but there my view is that it must be the minimum amount of really good stuff. Because (a) you have to carry it all and (b) outdoor gear that leaks or otherwise fails can ruin your whole week.

Clothes shopping is a last resort, once or twice per annum when the socks and jeans are in holes. It usually takes me a stiff drink afterwards to recover from the experience.

I've just had time to read the article (and echo what freebird says, that the one thing I would like more of is time!) Really thought provoking - I like the suggestions at the end of each section.