As a man who has been driving an SUV for 12 years because of kids it’s been nice to tool around in this for a few days. My wife thinks I’m enjoying it too much and when I return it (or buy it) on Friday it will either be a great day or a sad day. Wife is telling me we don’t need it, we might not but I might need it. I’m not going to win this one.
It’s an outdoor projector and the bugs are out in full force but I’m more than prepared to Michelin man it to watch something I won’t care if the neighbors see in my back yard. Kids will break it in a month, no question.
I get that but its New Hampshire. At least it doesn’t say Don’t Tread On Me which I am sure the further north you go the more they’d like it.
Wait, are you say that free is for free as in gratis? It’s free as in to resist tyranny and preserve liberty. There’s the real irony if you’ve ever been north of Manchester, NH.
I could spend a considerable amount of time in this thread just posting about clothes I want and can’t afford, and even if I could I have little occasion to wear (mostly tailoring, go figure).
But I’m a fan of the “I might need it” mentality. It’s never the best, but it works. In January I totally convinced my future wife that we only needed the one car and that it had to be a slightly overpriced Volvo V60 that I had found for sale because SUVs suck. Never mind we still had to pay for our honeymoon in Japan in a few months…
SUV’s do suck. As someone who has only driven one for a few years and suddenly being behind the wheel of a normal car, it is lifechanging. Bit terrifying when you are surrounded by SUVs and trucks though. Its incredible how big American cars, and the cars that Americans drive are in general. Especially out here in NH, ME and VT.
I know what you mean being surrounded by them. It’s probably a lot more dangerous. Our roads here are pretty terrible, but I still prefer a regular car. I got a station wagon which more than fits everything I need, and will need. It’s meant to be a family car as we want to start ours next year, all going to plan. Anyway it was frivolous to have done it when I did, but I don’t regret it.
(By the way, the A4 is nice, and the Avant even nicer but I don’t think you can get those in the US since a few years…)
I think probably the most luxurious thing I have is my HiFi system. I’ve never been very bothered about expensive stuff or been very materialistic, I like nice stylish things but it means less to me as I get older. Don’t think I’d ever be one of those retirees buying a vintage Porsche. There are always records and books I’d like to buy but also as I get older I’m cool about letting things go after a while. Does this make me sound like a wanker
I have no problem with people who like nice stuff. But I totally see your point too Jolyon. As I’ve aged, it becomes less and less important. However, I like things that last. Usually as simple as possible. But as well made as I can afford.
This is my position with most things. Buy better but less often.
I have two wardobes full of clothes that i rarely wear.
A high end mixer that I hardly use.
My watch wasn’t a luxury buy when i got it but has become so over time.
My cars have become less luxurious as I’ve aged and no longer give a shit. Audi cabriolet became a Merc E class became an XC90 and now the dad cab is a Volvo V70
And two kids that syphon every last drop of cash from my bank account.
Just counting down the days until my wife and I can sell most of our worldly goods and spend our days travelling around the world, living in jungles without anything to our names bar a tent and a few items of clothing…
I think that is true. The older we get the less we care about hanging onto things. I had an Eames chair that I bought in my early 30’s but has been in hiding since I had kids as it being destroyed would kill me. Carted that thing across country twice. I sold it a few months ago and it is in a lake house in Vermont now with one careful owner, and it sounds like where it should be. The cash I got from it paid for summer camp for the kids, so the least sexy transaction ever.
I’d like to get a really nice lifetime wrist watch at some point soon, probably through selling off some expensive records and books. I am always in a battle with records and books - some of them are worth hundreds of pounds - why are they sitting there largely untouched, the eternal question ….
My car and that’s it. this laptop will be worthless once windows 10 ends. the ultimate anti-hoarder. Used to bin a lot of things irrationally whenever I moved (or got drunk/depressed) clothes, books, photos, letters - and always regretted it…
Recently I bought myself a nice watch. Something of a promise I made to myself over a decade ago that I’d do when I could. It’s pretty old and I got a good price on it. The way I see it is that it won’t depreciate in value and I can just sell it if needs be.
