I’ve been participating in The Compact
for over a year now. The Compact yahoo group states:
for over a year now. The Compact yahoo group states:
“We are a group of individuals committed to a 12-month flight from the consumer grid. The Compact has several aims (more or less prioritized below):
- To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc. — a step that, we hope, inherits the revolutionary impulse of the Mayflower Compact.
- To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er).
- To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact)
We’ve agreed to follow two principles (see exceptions etc. on our blog).
).
#1 Don’t buy new products of any kind (from stores, web sites, etc.)
#2 Borrow, barter, or buy used.”
I’m not a strict compacter – have mostly evolved into a “thoughtful consumer,” which limits my purchasing but I am not totally “off the consumer grid.” I also unfortunately get some things from China because I can’t always find everything used or afford otherwise, but as always, I’m trying. I’d prefer not to exploit little Chinese children, nor support the government monster.
This has made the clothes shopping of yesterday (even though it was all used – it was a LOT) and the shoe, wallet and Target-etc. shopping of today and other similar outings feel weird to me. I really don’t like shopping or otherwise acquiring things at all, and often feel somewhat guilty afterward. Not because I’ve “broken some rule” – I just don’t like acquiring stuff. I went to the grocery store immediately after these as well so I wouldn’t have to step into any kind of store again for the rest of the New Year’s weekend. Bleccchh.
“Stuff” drains my energy. I took another ½ carload to Good Will today – it’s getting harder for me to find more stuff to get rid of but I know I can do it. My roommate is a bit of a hoarder so the place always seems cluttered to me – but as much as I’d like to, I can’t just start chucking out her stuff too. She considers sending one bag to Good Will “a lot” – I call it “barely a start.” You drive an SUV, chick-a dee. Fill that puppy up.
I was good these last couple of days though – I did see a few “ooh-shiney’s” but came back only with what was on the list to take care of (buy or exchange), and within ten dollars of budget. I simply wish that work didn’t require me to buy all these clothes. Thankfully, well-made classic-cut clothes will always be useful and not go out of style. Hopefully I’m done for a while.
