Day 7: Impromptu adventures

Got caught up with a friend over the weekend. We originally just planned to meet for a coffee at our usual spot, but discovered that there was an arts-and-crafts faire going on in the neighborhood, so after our coffee catch-up, we wandered around.

It was mostly small, independent vendors, and while I hadn't planned on purchasing anything other than a chai latter that day, I ended up spending around $40 on some stickers, pins, prints, and a tote bag. There were some lovely things that I admired, but decidedly out of my price range. But spending $10 here and there at various vendors didn't feel like it broke the bank.

This is what I mean by not buying commercialized Shiny Things so I can allow myself the luxury of these kind of impromptu spends, where I know the money goes directly to the vendor to support their craft.

I was explaining a family rule to my friend, as we wandered around and enjoyed inspecting the art. In my family, if we are somewhere unique where we know we won't return or may never see this particular vendor again, and there's something that calls to us – if we walk away and can't stop thinking about it, then we generally circle back and get it.

For so many of the vendors, I enjoyed seeing their wares and appreciated what they were putting out in the world, but I also would immediately forget it as I walked on and was distracted by something new.

But there were a few vendors where I admired something, we walked away, and then as we came up from the other direction, I would feel the pull back to that particular vendor and item. I gave myself another chance to walk away, felt the disappointment of passing up on the item, then circled back to buy it.

Yes, it was just a $5 print. Yes, it was just a $10 tote bag. But they spoke to me and I wanted them (one was actually a gift for someone else!).

That emotion is how I end up with my weird but beloved souvenirs over the years. That is how I ended up with a handcrafted glass pitcher set from Mexico. And the handcrafted tea set from Korea. They are lovely and I admire them and enjoy when I use them, because they not only remind me of my trip, but also of the artist I encountered. I tried to talk myself out of buying them because of the headache of carrying a large glass set or a large ceramic set on the plane (and for the rest of the trip), but it was worth it.

So that's why I want to rein in my Shiny Things obsessions – so I can splurge on the unique things that actually add something to my life.