Maureen and I spent last night at another football game. The Selma Bears visited our bend in the road for what was touted as a great contest between undefeated league opponents led by two outstanding senior running backs. The game lived up to its billing and the Monarchs won 62-28. I know the score doesn't seem like a great game, but the halftime score was 31-28. After the game a Fresno TV station wanted to interview the Exeter running back, Cameron Loeffler. Cameron wouldn't until the offensive line joined him in front of the camera. Class act from a humble teenager. Too bad we don't see that in more adults.
I've been thinking about my material possessions a bit lately. Maureen and I started a year long fast if you will on new clothing and goods from China. I did a almost week-long fast in college. After a few days I found that my body wasn't hungry, but my eyes and brain said I was. I have seemingly reached a similar point with our commitment. I look, but know I cannot buy. Fortunately no temptation has overtaken me yet.
Also in college I picked up a weird habit. I was a stereotypical poor college student. I lived on about $200 a month, which even in the late Seventies wasn't very much. I picked up the habit of spending Friday afternoon walking the Chico downtown window shopping. I eventually formed a routine of stores I enjoyed strolling through, looking at their wares, but not buying. I had little or no money to spend if I wanted to eat the rest of the month. Occasionally a used record or a used shirt at the Salvation Army or Gates Resale, but nothing big. I would sometimes meet some friends and we would have a cheap dinner or go watch the Eight Avenue String Band. This cultivated in me the skill of knowing what I needed versus what I wanted. I still had the want desire inside because I always had an internal list of things I would buy when I graduated and got a real job.
And after college, I did satisfy some of those desires. But it wasn't as fulfilling as I once thought it would be. I still in the back of my mind said, "I don't need that even though I can buy it." People became more important.
All of this has been composting in my mind and I've been thinking about how I value my wants and needs. The No New Clothes-No China commitment hasn't been hard, yet. I'm thinking it may not be too hard given the experiences that went into my brain compost. But I am also aware that I need to be wary of my hubris.
All that compost also produced some thoughts about the Housing/Mortgage/Bailout this country is dealing with. Doesn't the expensive housing situation seem like another situation where a need, housing, gets twisted into something it isn't, an investment. Instead of buying shelter for shelter's sake, we buy a lifestyle or buy our self-esteem. Similar to transportation. Do we need a SUV, or do we need a Corolla? Or do we need to walk or to bike?
Are we confusing our wants with our needs?
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