Things I don't own

[glittertigger]

I just tried to upgrade to a paid account and as I don't have a credit card this appears to be almost impossible. I was trying to upgrade to post a poll about things I don't own! I'll just ask the question in rambling text format instead.

I own minimal technology for reasons including lack of interest, lack of space, the amount things cost to buy / maintain and environmental concerns. Do you think any of the following (none of which I own) really count as necessities? I do have a mobile phone.

Landline phone
Television
Dishwasher
Tumble dryer
Computer (OK, so I use other people's a lot)
MP3 player or any other electronic gadget

I don't have central heating either, although I do have double-glazing, properly lined curtains and storage heaters. I've often read discussions on poverty which cite the lack of some of these items as a form of deprivation, but I think I live very comfortably.

Comments

[glittertigger]

Gadget-free I can understand. I'm still freaked out by your almost book-free flat though.

[hatmandu.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too - though sometimes I get a weird urge to purge all my books bar a few treasured ones. Clearly never going to happen, of course.

[abi]

I am super-gadget-free now because I blew up my work computer this afternoon.

Books, you see, are an absolute necessity to me, but I read far faster than I could ever hope to buy. Actually let's do some maths. Last year I read 200 fiction books (roughly; I get 4 per week out of the library). Average price of a fiver each - assuming some bought new, some second hand - and that's a thousand pounds on books per year. Minimum. Not counting non-fiction. And I only read each of them once (unless they're really good) because why read a book I've already read when there are millions out there that I haven't? And where would I put them all?

In conclusion, libraries are great.