Sordid Amok!May 30
The antidote to materialism isn't minimalism; it's maintenance. Keep things. Fix them. Mend them. Grow old with possessions you know well because you've cared for them.
Show threadMichelle HughesMay 30

@SordidAmok

How? Everything is made out of cheap materials and assembled out of parts that can't be replaced individually.

Show threadSordid Amok!May 30

@MegaMichelle It does require some learning on the part of the individual.

Thriftstores and antique shops have a lot of stuff that was made to last.

Show threadMichelle HughesMay 30

@SordidAmok

Also, how much time do you have to spend tending to your things?

Show threadSordid Amok!May 30
@MegaMichelle Not a lot. Mending clothes and darning socks don't take a lot of time. I do that while listening to Democracy Now or watching a show. I maintain and modify my guitars. Not much else requires it. Almost everything I own is old.
Some stuff - laptops, phones - are out of my range. I'm still learning.
Show threadMichelle Hughes

@SordidAmok

I like watching youtube videos of people doing crafty things, but it seems daunting to me. I tried to get into building RC planes once, and I spent a bunch of money on tools and materials which now collect dust in my basement. That's why I prefer computer programming hobbies. All you have to do is read.

May 30 at 1:51amWeb
Show thread✨buff dog himbo✨May 30
@MegaMichelle @SordidAmok imo it's a combination of trying to own decent quality items which are built to last, and also having realistic expectations & goals for their maintanence. For example, sewing machines can allow you to mend several types of problems in clothing that are more difficult to do.by hand, & you can repair many of them yourself. If you can't, there are still a lot of sewing machine repair shops which can do it for you for much cheaper than replacing the whole machine.
Show thread✨buff dog himbo✨May 30
@MegaMichelle @SordidAmok Also, it's still possible to find tailors for clothes. Yes, it adds to the cost to buy a decent quality piece of clothing & then have a tailor perfect the fit, but it does greatly extend the item's lifespan if you don't feel confident fixing a tear or running thread or fit issue yourself, to just take it to a tailor, & is still often cheaper than buying a new clothing item (of decent quality, that is, especially if.you don't buy secondhand).
Show thread✨buff dog himbo✨May 30

@MegaMichelle @SordidAmok otherwise... you're doing like i did some years ago, buying tanktops from Forever 21 at $4 apiece, made of the thinnest, cheapest cotton/spandex blend you can imagine, which literally disintegrated within 5 years. No repairing, no patching, it must be thrown away & a new item bought. 🤷

Sometimes necessary, especially if you need several pieces at one time (weight gain/loss, a disaster where you lost all your stiff, etc), but not desirable.

Show threadNoodlemazMay 30
@MegaMichelle @SordidAmok we have a thing here called Repair Cafe, does that exist where you are? Help and learning!
Show threadMichelle HughesMay 30

@noodlemaz @SordidAmok

Yeah, we have a hackerspace that does that on ... Thursdays, I think?

Many years ago, I brought in an mp3 player that had a broken headphone jack. I brought in a new headphone jack that I'd ordered, but I found out those weren't as standard as I thought, and the new one was too big to fit.

Show threadSecret Slutty S AfricanJun 2

@MegaMichelle @SordidAmok I'm similar. I don't like clutter or having that much stuff in general. Most of the things I have are out of necessity (I don't really want a big lump of a portable AC in my front rooms, but I'd die in the summer without them).

I do what I can though. I don't think we should beat ourselves up too much if we have to toss some things.