The ‘want’ monster

I’ve got a set of samples coming from a new-to-me house but they don’t arrive till Monday. So, we’re going down this rabbit hole today.

I don’t need things. I whisper this to myself with some regularity. But the want monster still sometimes settles on my shoulder and says, “oh, wouldn’t this be nice?” Mostly I say feh to you, but every once in a while my brain goes frazzle and I find myself clicking the purchase bottom.

I’m not talking small bits and bobs, like samples; over-indulging at farm shop on four out-of-season silly priced peaches; going to town at the bakery; drooling over bulbs and plants (the pic below is of my papyrus plant — one of the most interesting plant things I’ve ever purchased); thinking about so-and-so being happier in a bigger, prettier pot. (I consider buying books, whether the physical item or as an upload, a necessity, so they don’t fall into the purview of this post.) I’m talking things that catch your eye and somehow fog your mind.

The house is in pretty decent shape stuff-wise (I’m not over enamoured of the living room rug, but I’m not going to do anything about that right now); the garden is fine. I don’t buy lots of bottles of perfume – I’m mostly in a sample, decant, small bottle (eg, travel sizes, Le Labo’s 15ml ones) state.

When I did a clear-out last Feb-March before moving to the rental when the building work started I got rid of a lot (and I do mean a lot) of stuff. So far, I haven’t regretted any of that (certainly not in the way I regretted getting rid of, during the post pregnancy fog, the beautiful, designer high-heeled brogues I bought at a Barney’s Warehouse sale decades ago – they pop up in dreams every once in a while). I do sometimes think I should replace the television that went, but I can watch most things (not many in any case) on the laptop. I realise TVs are way more social, but it would also mean replacing the very old aerial …

So, where did this come from?

The want monster did a big poke, poke , poke the other day which resulted in the purchase of a blender. I grew up with a blender (that sounds weird) – my mother’s lasted 40 years before it went goodbye in the clearing out of my father’s apartment around four years ago. I have good memories of pancake and latke batters and soups coming out of it. My mother was attached to it in the same way she, only once, bought a very expensive Coach bag which went everywhere and lasted for years and years and years.

I have a heavy-duty stand mixer, a small chopper and a hand blender (and my son has a smoothie maker). You would think that would be sufficient but clearly the want monster didn’t think so. I pushed the buy button on a mid-priced blender off amazon (amazon is the devil’s doing). It arrived, we put it together, and lo and behold, something was wrong with it. So, back it goes. Somehow, I think that was just desserts.

The want monster was very disappointed and did a serious sulk. But it was incredibly satisfying putting the not needed (or, it turned out, immediately loved) blender back in its box awaiting pickup.

I believe the want monster causes the release of certain pleasure chemicals in the brain in a way that need mostly doesn’t. I don’t know the why of this but I’m sure a medical person or a scientist would concur. And, interestingly, now that that small madness is behind me the want monster has returned to its closet, cupboard, whathaveyou.

I’m sure it will emerge again fairly soon – just because that’s what it does. Mostly. It didn’t make an appearance for around two years, when I was quite poor. However, as soon as I was earning decently again, there it was – big grin on its face: “You’ve paid off the loan and the Visa bill – time to do some damage!”

So, where are you in this? Do you indulge the want monster? Show consummate restraint? Aren’t interested? Have a closet full of beautiful but neglected stuff?