Using Things Up...

I find, or should say, have found [and just recently... maybe the last couple years-tops], a real beauty to using something until it drops.  Dead.

The culture we live in and among, a culture of disposable this and that... it gets hard to find a place inside yourself, or to impart to children, a real sense of purchasing something -after much thought & reflection- and then finding yourself really pleased, really satisfied with it:

and Using It.

And then,

being really happy/satisfied with It.

For instance:

I get this one all the time, "Wow, look how much you ride, and you only own one bike??"  Or, "Geez, with all the riding you do... all the progress you've made... you deserve like 5 bikes, at least!!".

Yet, I only own one.  I am satisfied you see.   And happy too.

Now let me be perfectly clear and honest here too.  I yearn [read: lust] for nearly as much, and probably more, new stuff as, or than, anyone.  But a few things kick in at that point:

A.  I look at our bank account [3 person family, single income, living in America ain't cheap, etc].
B.  Even if a purchase is cleared through the First National Bank Of Wife... I usually rationalize that what I have isn't worth giving up on in the face of "Potential New Purchase/Replacement".
C.  If A and B don't apply... I then go through a kind of self-imposed Hell of laundry-listing all the reasons I would really need this new item.  Amy loves this about me [I suppose because she knows I'll put the kibosh on 99.2% of all purchases I seriously consider]. 

I/We am/are a big business, corporate business, small business, mom & pop business nightmare.

Here's what wouldn't survive if they depended on us as a family or as individuals:
1.  All fast food joints.
2.  All restaurants  [we haven't eaten out in 2.5 years].
3.  All new & used car dealers.
4.  All brick-n-mortar video stores.
5.  Walmart [never been in one].
6.  Nearly all mega Big-Box stores [Chloe and Amy do frequent Target for laundry things and toy perusing].

Here's what is surviving because of us:
1.  Grocery stores and Co-Ops.
2.  Caffe Shops.
3.  Netflix [which I've heard is owned by Walmart].
4.  The occasional and very long-suffering LBS [but if any of them waited around for us... I suspect they'd go belly up, fast].
5.  Various utilities [Comcast, our energy company [whose name I don't recall], our Landlords [who are great folks], ATT [who probably aren't great folks-at least at the very top, but maybe are], the city of Minneapolis for trash, water and such].
6.  Local, State and Federal Govt.
7.  The local Volvo guy... who, again, if he bet his paycheck on us, wouldn't be eating very well... or much [we don't drive the car enough to get lots of repairs].

I don't know, maybe I'm just jealous... I see all these new things, being purchased by good people and I think, "Man... they must use their stuff more than me, cause they are buying way more of this & that than me".  Or maybe it's just,

"Man, I wish I could buy that kinda stuff too.  I'd sure love using that thing up!".  Which, of course, would be a problem...

...because I'd be too busy using it to be buying more stuff.

Keep Ridin'... Always

Comments

[lemmiwinks]

I think you're 100% on target with your attitude to purchasing and consuming! Hell, I even fixed our humble two slice toaster the other night. It had arced out two spade connections until it wouldn't work anymore. Bust off the worst of the carbon, jam the connectors on a bit harder and crimp on tight with pliers. It's as good as new!

There's a lot of good deals out there for pack rats such as myself. Someone gave a friend of mine a lightweight 14 speed racing bike. Sure, it's steel framed (a plus IMO) and the drivetrain dates it to the early '90s but I got it for nothing, bought two 23mm tyres and tubes, a front dérailleur, seat, chain (and most recently a cartidge BB upgrade). I've got myself a fancy race bike and saved a useful vehicle from the rubbish heap.

[Fat Lad]

I wonder if this is a cyclist thing, I'm the same. Where at all possible I like to run things into the ground....

Fat Lad

[clint]

ReCYCLE. That's my philosophy of biking. Lot's of pretty out there but my old '70's Raleigh Gran Prix keeps on keeping on. Maybe some day I will be in the position to justify a BB but for today cycling is about making an cool, old lugged bike my bike pride. I still visit BB's website and drool mind you, but...

[N. & J.]

My fiance and are alot like you in our attitude toward consumption. He is an avid mountain biker but I recently decided to purchase a bike to commute to and from work and was surprised when I got on bike forums about the number of bikes some people own. Of course after feeling that way and then researching the accessories that I would need I start falling into the trap too and lusting after fancy pedals and expensive panniers and I don't even have the bike yet!

http://badhuman.wordpress.com

[simplicity]

This is very well said. I'm working on deciphering the difference between needs and wants myself. We live in a more is better society which is too bad. My goal is to continue to consume more like you. Great post!

[karen howell]

I just read about you in the Strib and maybe you're sick of being told you're an inspiration but...
I passed 300 lbs and my knees are killing me. I retired last July and decided it had to stop. I live in Evansville just off the MN bike trail. My husband and I are going to get bikes this spring because that will be more friendly to my knees.

We are making slow but steady progress on changing eating habits and losing but need exercise to really get going.

Do you have a recommendation for a brand of bike? I have an XL catalog that has larger seats but wonder about whether we need a heavier frame.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Karen

[Rochelle Lorenz]

Scott:

I just love you!

Rochelle

[Orion]

Just read your story online. Like everyone else, way to go/you're an inspiration/yada yada. If I didn't have crippling gout in my knees I might try this myself.

One thing I'm curious about and feel free to say it's none of my business - in losing so much weight did you need skin tucks, your skin naturally tightened up on its own, or you just don't care?