Articles → Ah, to own nothing!
2008-07-13
Something's changed. I just can't get myself to buy an iPhone.
I had been planning it for months, when friends would tell me about theirs, I knew I was going to wait for the 3G version. It's even the reason I chose AT&T. The day it was announced I thought, “Yes! Finally! July 9! Can't wait!”
But luckily I had time to think, between announcement-date and availability-date. And as time went on, I wanted it less and less. I realized my existing phone works just fine.
Maybe it was the amazing Story of Stuff video that made me realize that every manufactured thing creates a ton of waste just to make.
Maybe it's the savings: (click this comic:)
Mostly it's that I've been living out of a backpack for much of the year.
Every item is now judged harshly as a major burden that better have a damn good explanation why I should carry it around with me everywhere as I travel.
After my amazing time riding a motorcycle around Vietnam, you might think I'd want to buy a motorcycle, but no - then I'd have to OWN it. (Say the word “own” with your most disgusted po-faced tone.)
Wouldn't it be more fun to never have to OWN anything, but to just have it when you need it?
P.S. Here's my next daydream bike ride.