I read an article on Yahoo this morning saying that people in poverty are now living in the size homes that the middle class lived in 20 years ago. Basically saying that what we think we need to be satisfied keeps growing.
I'd add a link to the article, but due to unbearably slow internet service at the KOA, I gave up. Apparently I need decent wifi to be happy, but I think that's totally reasonable.
I like to think that I have lived a pretty simple life and haven't gotten too deeply caught up in the accumulation of stuff, but even in our limited space, there's too much. When you look at every square inch and wonder at the best use of the space even the purchase of a colander becomes questionable.
When we left our house in Ada, we either gave away or left 90% of our kitchen things. We kept a couple good pans and knives and some mugs. Thankfully the people we bought the MH from left dishes, silverware, pans and a toaster.
Recently we placed an order with Amazon and the question came up as to whether we really needed a collapsible colander. A regular colander would never be worthy of the space it would take up, but a collapsible one could be easily stored. But did we really need it? We've made due for over six months using a large strainer thing-a-ma-jig with a handle. It's usually a two person operation, but it's not like Chris is out working in the garage when I need to strain some pasta or I'm upstairs soaking in the tub when he needs help.
For some reason, deciding that we don't need a colander made me feel good. We don't need no stinkin' colander.
I'm sure most of you have colanders in all shapes and sizes and that's fine. It's not about the colander, it's about deciding for ourselves what we really need.
In other news...I have spinach dip on my keyboard so must stop now to clean up.
This is actually a topic I've though a lot about. As Americans our standard of living has risen a lot --and so has our expectations of what we need. Very few families have only one car anymore--and that used to be the norm. And look at what'sin the most basic models--A/C; CD players; power windows, door, bluetooth & sun roofs in many models. And what's under the hood isn't the same either
ReplyDeleteEverybody--unless you are actually homeless and living on the street--has a television. And probably a microwave and a cell phone.
The middle class have BIG TVs, multiple TVs, DVRs, computers, microwaves, cell phones, washers and dryers (no clothes lines anymore), frost free freezers, all packed into a house that is at least double and often triple or quadruple the size home our parents grew up in or maybe we did when we were kids. I didn't grow up with all those things I listed. People lived in 900 sq feet with one car, one B/W TV, one bathroom. And that was it. They didn't eat out 3, 4, 5 times a week either. That's how they were able to make ends meet with only one income! We're like spoiled kids who think we need all the luxuries.
That said, I enjoy my luxuries. I feel I've earned them. But I recognize that they are luxuries and not necessities. - Robin
So true.
DeleteYour last comment about luxuries made me realize something...my idea of a luxury is time to do what I want. Or at least not feeling that my time is owned by someone else. So in order to have that luxury I'm willing to give up many of the things that others consider necessities (which are probably more like luxuries). So maybe part of the question is "what do you consider a luxury?"