Drawing the line

well i'm obnoxiously late in my response to KL's blog on this topic. my commentary will be much less sophisticated than hers. she is a fabulous writer and so very thoughtful!

anyhow she was talking about "drawing the line" regarding personal belongings, living with and beyonds your means, what personal possessions mean and so on. i suggest you check out her blog:
Drawing the line on yellowinter blog
for a more exquisite view.

i used to tell myself that all my belongings would fit into whatever car i owned. HA!
boy in college we are all so idealistic and hopeful about our future. and i suppose i could have only enough things that fit into my car (a mini-van). but then i would sleep on the floor, have to do laundry about every other day and give up all my wonderful books and photographs that i've been holding on to for so long.

because now i have a partner and his stuff has to fit too. his stuff includes guitars, amps and other books. stereo and 100s of CDs. and lots and lots of love.

to be practical and always thoughtful, always dong the best for the environment, for the community, for the world at large is a weary-worn path that i drive myself crazy trying to tread.
but i do not need a brand new vehicle, new clothes, eat out every day and although i am seriously limited by my expendable cash i am not excited to cash in on paydays. i am pretty good (almost too good) at denying myself.

but like everyone else i do like to purchase something new to make myself feel better. i know that i can get something tangible (although material) out of all my hard work. somehow there is something more fulfilling about drawing the line if only we can remember that instant gratification is fleeting and empty and the real satisfaction comes from the actual work and living not the stuff we get out of it.