One of the book's exercises is to identify what you do and don't need, vs. what you may want or have accumulated. Good timing, as I'm also in the pre-holiday gift shopping phase, and trying to figure out both what I want, and want to give, for the holidays.
The Un-Wish List
Bizarrely, this part of the exercise was far easier. Roaming, physically and mentally, between rooms, it was very easy to see what I had and didn't need, had too much of and needed to use up, or had just accumulated without noticing. At one point, while living in a place where I *could not* get things that I needed and therefore stockpiled like an end of days prepper when I could, I accumulated many years' worth of certain items. Very rarely logical ones. So, I do not need any more of the following until further notice:Bathroom
- Perfume - I have one perfect bottle purchased for me with love and it's enough for several years unless I decide to bathe directly in it
- Eyeshadow
- Body Glitter
- Lotion
- Toothpaste
- Hair pins or ornaments
- Contact solution
- Shampoo - I seem to go through it far slower than conditioner. I don't understand.
- Body Wash - I apparently was convinced I would become that Peanuts character if I wasn't too careful...
- Lady Products - my mom said this as a joke, but she's right. I'm set. Thanks.
Closet
- Any clothing I didn't pick out for myself
- Socks
- Costume Jewelry (or any jewelry, really)
- Tshirts
- Seasonal/holiday clothing
- Pajamas (Soma, I love you, but it's time we see other people)
- Scarves or wraps. My aunt is a PHENOMENAL weaver, and fabric dyer. She has gifted me beautiful scarves, and they're the only ones I need.
- Anything that's too small - If I ever lose the weight, I can buy it, but until then, I just need to roll with the curves
- Shoes - I love my Rothys and will wear them until they are rags but I don't need a pair in EVERY COLOR.
- Purses, bags, backpacks, pouches. Nope.
Office/Desk
- I do not now, and will probably never again need to buy another notebook.
- I have found my favorite stationery at long last, and will only be buying that brand from now on. However, I still have more than enough of it, and of all the other types I tried before, to last for a good long while. I could use more penpals? Adding it to the list above.
- I do not need novelty pens. I like my very nice fountain pens, thank you very much
- I do not need any more fountain pens. I love mine, they bring me joy. But I am not ambidextrous and can only write with one hand at one time.
- I do not need any more fountain pen ink. (TBH, this one I'll probably break a thousand times over, but it brings me joy, too....)
- I have more than enough sticky pads, paper clips, llama mini clothes hanger paperclips, cat paperclips...
- I do not need any more washi tape, stickers, or stamps. This is hard for me to type, but it is true.
- I do not need any more art supplies, of any sort.
- I say again, I do not need any more notebooks
Kitchen
- I do not need any more pots or pans. I have some really great Cuisinart stainless steel that I picked up ages ago, complemented by very nice Nambe pots. I also have two very good cast iron skillets and a grill pan. I'm all set. (Though maybe there are things to upgrade?0
- I do not need any more silverware. I've gone through phases where I couldn't find a fork, to having far too many spoons (but never enough metaphorical ones).
- I DO NOT need any more mugs. Please. I think they multiply in the cabinets
- I don't need any more stemware. Ever. My plan of buying mixed stemware and then it's ok if people break it backfired in that my guests, when I ever have them, remember the good old days? are far too careful.
- I do not need any more dishware in general. My cupboards are overflowing. Unless a shelf breaks and I get mosaic shards, we're good.
- Kitchen gadgets. I *adore* my slow cooker, my spiralizer, my food processor. I have one of everything that I need. I do not need more until/unless they break, at which point I'll see if I *need* them. Widgets like the bread-maker and rotisserie, while fun, have already found better homes where they'll be more used.
- Plastic storage containers - I spent a while winnowing my overflowing collection of former delivery containers, ancient Tupperware, and mismatched tops and bottoms. What I have now is a mostly-glass collection, all of which have lids, and a few nicer sturdy plastic bits. It's enough.
- Water bottles - why do I have so many water bottles? Small, large, plastic, metal, you name it, I have it...
- Tea paraphernalia. I can only really use one tea pot at one time, and I am actually capable of washing and reusing them. I do not need more.
- Food-wise, I do not need any more of the following until I use them up:
- Honey. I love it. It is wonderful. I apparently buy it as my default everywhere. I have literal pounds.
- Tea. I also love it. I also impulse buy it. I need to drink the deliciousness that I have before stocking up again.
- Coconut flour. One order has lasted me *years* as this stuff is so moisture-absorbent that a little bit goes a loooooong way.
- Coconut flakes. I used to adore making coconut butter. I need to start making it again, but until then, I most certainly don't need any more flakes!
- Anything sweet or baking related. I'm both trying to lose weight, and just not really into sweets except for some very specific treats I occasionally allow myself. I also can't be trusted not to binge anything really yummy. It's best that I only eat such things when they're not in my house...
Den
- I probably don't need any more board games - while I used to love hosting game nights, with the pandemic that hasn't been happening, so that's very much on a hiatus.
- I don't need more audiovisual equipment. I have a nice sized TV, and with the transition to streaming, I don't need disc players or anything similar.
- I don't need any more video game consoles. I remember last year being EXTREMELY excited about the Nintendo Switch with the RingFit. I still love it, when I bother to hook it up. It's a lot of fun, but I still don't use it. Until I use what I have, I don't need more.
- I also probably don't need any new video games for a bit. I have a Steam library full of unplayed or unfinished games. In the next century, once I've played everything, I can consider a new video game, though honestly I should just go outside.
- I don't need any more physical books. I have several still in my bookshelf unread staring at me. I also have access to a great local exchange library. Honestly, I've transferred mostly to audiobooks anyhow.
- I do not need any more audiobooks. See above comment re a library of unread/unplayed items. My audible library is stuffed, and I have a wonderful local library for any new additions.
Other
- I do not need any more camping equipment. I love camping. I haven't done it in ages. In my closet there is a wonderful little tent, sleeping bag, camp stove.... you see where I'm going with this.
- I do not need any other sports equipment. I have a small set of weights that I don't use, a set of resistance bands that I do use occasionally... I have everything I need.
- I do not need to save random boxes or glass jars or other packaging "just in case". I will recycle as much as humanly possible the empties, use up the things in the filled ones, and then recycle them, too.
Things That I Want
The short answer is not much, actually. I'll add anything I think of, but the things I want aren't things, so I'm horrible to shop for this holiday season. So far, I've come up with:
- UPDATE: A friend has a surfeit of sharp objects and will allow me to borrow one indefinitely until I can acquire the perfect blade.
A really nice every day carry (EDC) pocketknife with a lifetime warranty. I've heard good things about Benchmade, and spec'd myself out this pretty little thing, only to realize that I can't ship knives to my current address due to post office limitations. Phooey. - Mortgage payments?? Yes, I am already years ahead on my mortgage. I would like it to be gone so I don't have to deal with the bank and its difficult-to-pin-down staff. Still, asking for money just seems so mercenary, outside of playing Monopoly.
- Penpals. This came up as a result of analyzing my "Un-Wish" List. I love writing and receiving letters. Not really a *thing* so much but I'm struggling with this list here.
- Experiences?
- Massages? Fortunately for me, unfortunately for givers, I have amazing health care that reimburses for massages, so that's out.
- Horseback riding? I can't find a place I enjoy riding
- Dining? We're in the middle of a pandemic...
- Donations in my name. Ok, this, this I can get behind.
- Food banks: Working in agricultural development, I'm a big supporter of food security, and food pantries/banks are (unfortunately) a major need for many in today's society. However, as I don't believe I know what they need, I prefer to give cash and let them buy what makes sense, rather than showing up with canned goods. I have the ones below on a recurring donation, but anything helps.
- Northwest Harvest: Based in Washington, they support a network of food banks across the state to ensure "that every child, single parent, house-bound senior, and hungry Washingtonian has access to healthy, culturally significant food."
- World Central Kitchen: Hunger doesn't know borders, but it certainly knows disasters. WCK supports providing food to families after disasters, and it does it using local supplies, which in turn support the recovery of the local economy, a virtuous circle of disaster recovery.
- Roadrunner Food Bank: I may live in WA now, but I grew up in NM, and families there need just as much support.
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