#creating a new life

[creativelifebynherie]

Small cities and towns get their popularity through the romance movies, but behind the scenes there's hidden perks to starting over in these little places. 💗

[linkedin-offficial]

me when i get the opportunity to think about speculative biology and non-existent game mechanics in media i like

⠀

[therookieretiree]

Making use of your inventory - The Rookie Retiree

One of the first startling, but repeated retirement experiences I encountered was finding out that almost everything I needed, I already had, in multiples! Previously, there was always a never-ending shopping list of necessary items. Now, this was no longer necessary. Everything I required was already in the house! 

I felt like a fairytale character who just awoke from a long slumber. This dream was somewhat like The Sorcerer’s Apprentice or the movie Groundhog Day, except instead of buckets of water or reliving the same 24 hours, my life included purchasing similar items again and again. The pandemic had a coincidental effect on those who used their time inside to clean out closets. Marie Kondo through her book The Lifechanging Effect of Tidying Up, encouraged a nationwide purge of items which flooded every thrift store from coast to coast. Note to reader: I discovered this phenomenon well before the pandemic.

What was in the Archives? 

In the first few months after retirement, I found that I had every favorite cosmetic and cream in duplicates and triplicates, at least. Ditto on over-the-counter medications. I had enough day and nighttime cold medicine for a large, extended family. There were enough scarves in my closet to accentuate every color on the spectrum. I had handsome table and silverware in storage, that could now be repurposed for daily use. My closet held just the right jeans and jackets, purchased and rarely worn, that were now ideal for my weekly plant and animal volunteer duties. There was almost nothing needed that I did not already have! This bounty reminded me of an Isaac Bashevis Singer story I often taught to third graders about a man who traveled all over the world looking for gold, when it turned out it was already hidden in his oven at home.

How Did this Happen to All of Us? 

A look at the history of consumerism in America might provide the rationale for my previous behavior, and millions of others. There is actually a “theory of consumerism.” It states that “progressively greater levels of consumption are beneficial to consumers.” This idea, which pervades America today, was the result of the industrial revolution when goods became available for reasonable prices in large quantities. It was perpetuated after WW2, when consuming was perceived to be patriotic. No doubt Americans have reached the saturation point in this theory causing our collective environmental tragedy, spurred on by the incessant intrusion of targeted advertising on every electronic device. 

Before the industrial revolution, all goods were made by hand, and people did not go shopping. The wealthy had more items of better quality, and the lower classes had only what they needed, if they were lucky. All of that changed with the advent of stores. 

At first, people were happy to purchase quality products that would last, such as ovens and washing machines. Shortly thereafter, appearance became the commodity, not the function, as in striving to own the newest automobile. Shockingly, since the 1950’s, globally, we’ve consumed more than all of the humans who came before us! The plastic garbage in the oceans and the electronic waste piles in India remind us of this calamity.

Greedy Corporations are not Solely to Blame 

There are psychological reasons for over shopping, as well. We humans like to give in to temptation without thinking. Buying something makes us feel good for that nanosecond. We like to prove our self-worth by flashing our stuff. We like to maintain a certain image in our style of dress, our homes and our cars. We get bored. Shopping becomes a habit

There are other explanations, as well, which are out of our control. We are unknowing victims! We watch HGTV. Many live in houses that are too large and need to be filled up. We might have too much expendable cash. We are also victims of our own faulty thinking. We rather buy something to make us feel better, than do the hard work of solving difficult issues.

It’s a Generational Issue

Our generation has lots of excuses for excessive consumerism. We grew up when malls were the “Cathedrals of Capitalism.” We’ve seen the evolution of Costco, Walmart, and Target. Our spending habits have been nurtured by the media to run on autopilot. However, the tectonic plates are moving. Millennials love tiny houses and prefer experiences rather than things. The pandemic has forced all of us to look at how we consume and its effect on the planet and its residents. 

Where does this fit into retirement? I would say this movement is perfect timing for us! Since status is a thing of the past, there is no great need to polish your social persona. Having better clothes, cars, and household items is not a goal at this stage. However, what makes us different, is that we’ve earned the right to be discerning. If so inclined, you could do the ultimate de-accession of all your worldly goods, and move into a spare one bedroom apartment. For some, this would feel right.

For others, discernment and Marie Kondo’s idea of “what sparks joy” could be a guide. Since you already have more of everything that could ever be used in the next 20 or 30 years, purchasing in the future should have a very practical purpose. To create a pleasing environment and personal image, practicality should also include aesthetics. 

After clearing the clutter, taking a hard look with a discerning eye will chart your future course in the material world. Take note of your prior value of quality, design, and function. Have any of these elements been neglected? This is the time to create a physical world that is discerning, modest, and reflective of your values. That is the ultimate revenge for rampant American consumerism. 

  Source: https://www.therookieretiree.com/blog/i-have-everything-i-need

[finnthefishi]

didnt really go as he planned

[prismpuffle]

Such a specific and funny point of commonality for these two

[sforzesco]

it's time for spartacus :)

[a-path-by-the-moon]

[riricitaa]

🫦

[appropriatelystupid]

[zytes]

snow over cold wires / nerine sarniensis

[dykealloy]

ripple effect legacy // my tears are becoming a sea, M83

[epiphainie]

this is one of those fic ideas i wanted to write for every ship i've ever been into so it will probably never happen but i'd like to have a silly story with 40 yo, single, lonely tommy kinard who's been down on his luck all his life - like i'm talking ridiculous levels of mom dying at childbirth, dad being terrible, horrifically unfortunate experience of the military, a series of failed jobs, a series of failed relationships, friendships never sticking for long, risks he takes always going south, somehow getting paper cuts through chainmail gloves, missing the bus while trying to avoid his daily encounter with the neighbor's dog etc. - one day opening the door of his downtrodden studio apartment to this beautiful man who stands there like a fucking angel. who looks at tommy with big apologetic eyes, red cheeks of shame, and twiddling thumbs of guilt and stutters, "so, uhm, i wish you didn't have to learn it this way but hi, i'm the guardian angel who, as it turns out, misplaced your files about four decades ago, and so uhm it just resurfaced, haha, and like yeah, i've been banished here for penance. i'll take the couch, it's fine."

[cedar-scented-soap]

Concept drawing for a space/aliens rancher duo AU I've been working on!!!! :D I'm not super settled on Jimmy's design yet, but he's meant to be a moobloom adjacent space species!

(yes they're not in space even though it's a space AU, they're planetside at jim's ranch cuz I needed an excuse to work on drawing backgrounds)

[reality-detective]

Your blood is programming your destiny 🤔

[superbat-lmao]

Jason Todd gets blown up, resurrected, and after regaining his skills and control from Talia, goes back to Gotham and goes back to school. He leaves vigilantism entirely.

He’s taking literature and philosophy classes and just about anything to do with writing.

He makes friends, he’s on his way to normalcy.

And then he sees an opening for an opinion writer for the school newspaper.

Clark Kent gets sent the same newspaper article to read in both his civilian and superhero personas. If that’s not concerning, he doesn’t know what it.

It’s an opinion article on the state of vigilantism and hero work by a student in the next town over. And it’s a problem.

Because it’s good, too good. It feels like someone had sat in the watchtower during those first few months where everyone had been trying to work out how to function with so many different stances on morality and ethics. Should any of them really be doing this? What were the lines they couldn’t cross? If we’re working outside the law, what moral credibility do we have otherwise to justify our actions?

And sure, Clark’s written more than a few pieces criticizing Superman, but there’s a point to that. He has his own reasons. This kid, well, Clark isn’t sure of their reasons exactly. Because his gut reaction is thinking this kid is just making heroes and vigilantes look bad.

And there’s a reason that all of his and Bruce’s debates on ethics happen behind closed doors. Because to be self critical is to try and prevent hubris, but to allow public criticism at this level is to lose the faith of the public.

So Clark is torn. Because if he responds, he gives credibility to what could remain a largely unknown article. And if he doesn’t, he can’t control the reaction of other people start responding to it.

He’ll have to talk to Bruce.

[ommmmara]

throws these at you