The allure of modernity

Had a long conversation with the bf last night about all sorts of things - but we ended up talking about how much 'status' and things such as marketing, advertising, promises and ideals drag us unknowingly (most of the time) into desiring things we have no real need or want of. I went to Target yesterday to buy a new kettle. Sure, we could have kept using our kettle that needs a spoon propped under it to make the connection so it boils water. Technically it still works. But I'm on holidays and this is the time to make purchases such as this and, for goodness sake, it was only going to be $30 odd dollars. Anyway, as I stood there in the 'homewares' section I could feel the draw of all these products - they were saying 'look, all *good* people have placemats/casserole dishes/blenders/proper saucepans and you should have one/two/eight/twenty too". I had to consciously and deliberately push those thoughts aside. It has taken a long time to train myself out of thinking like the good little consumer I'm supposed to be. But I now feel like I have some measure of control over my money and my life because I can see the things I'm supposed to have for what they are - usually - unnecessary and a waste (of resources, time, money, energy etc etc).

But speaking of buying things, I have to add that yesterday, after Target, I bought a bike. Not a cheap bike either. A proper bike that will do me for all the running around I usually do in the car and more. It is white and pink! I love it and I've made a promise to myself that I will get on it every day that I'm not working and every day I get home early from work. Here's to less carbon and less fat!!

Living smart

It worries me a lot that I'm moving to such an expensive place to live. In many ways I don't feel like I have a choice - that there are undeniable reasons for going to WA - but that it is, in other ways, neither logical nor clever to go there. Looking at property to rent or buy is an exercise in futility. I worry that we'll get there and have nowhere to live. I wonder how I'll make a decision about a job if I have no idea of what it would be like to live in a particular place. I worry that the bf and I won't agree or be able to work it out (unlikely, really).

On a lighter note (as the above is essentially unsolvable at the moment), it was last day for kids today at school - only two more days of the semester for me. Thank good. I couldn't have gone on - 13 weeks is just stupidly long for a term. This also means that I'm halfway to out of here. School seems to be imploding slightly and I'm glad to be getting out really. On the other hand I think I'll be really sad to go. Although whenever anyone asks me about it I can't get the grin off my face, which is slightly embarrassing. Never mind.

Also, I'm knitting a beanie in the round. It's fun. Perhaps more fun that straight needles. I'm a bit worried it won't fit me - it doesn't seem big enough - but knitted things tend to stretch so hopefully it will be okay. I love building patterns with stitches. You're never quite sure how it will turn out until you've done a few rows, then it starts looking cool. Did I mention that I'm really enjoying knitting??!

Enough now. I've been thinking other 'sustainable' things, but I've had three drinks now and I think I should stop there. Happy end of semester to me.

I need to remember to come here and write. It makes me feel better.

This weekend my job was advertised. It is weird to see it there - the very sort of job ad I would respond to, only I already have that job. Hmmm. Best not to think too far along that line. On the other hand it means that all the shit I do will be someone else's responsibility. And change for me and in the school is good. Just praying that someone excellent applies!

My knitting continues apace. Sort of...when I have wool. I can't get to the wool shop here as it is closed more than it is open and I ordered some online but it is taking FOREVER to arrive. Frustrating. It is becoming an obsession. Mostly it is all I think about. I even volunteered to go on an excursion to Melbourne so I could knit on the bus there and back and possibly while at the expo too. Perhaps I am really loosing it.

Petrol prices are freaking me out. I really don't know if it is sustainable to keep driving 150kms per day - even for the five months, minus four weeks holidays, that are left before we go. The bf says I need to not panic and he's probably right. But it is just horrible to see hard earned money being used to continually fill and refill the tank, just to get to the place where I earn the hard earned money. This circularity is what made us decide to go in the first place. I'm going to try to live without a car when we get to WA. No idea how possible that'll be, but I'd like to try.

Speaking of things I want, a friend just made a list of 10 things she wants. Thought I might try it:

1. To have no car and no regular driving.
2. To have a vege garden that supplies most of our vege needs
3. To have a source of local, small farmed, stress-free meat and dairy products - possibly our own eventually
4. To make everything in the 'Knitting Precious Things' book - except the weird thing
5. To be teaching history in a high school part time
6. To be marketing the jewellery locally and o/s
7. To be running the art class business idea I have
8. To be a part of a community in a meaningful way
9. To finish the Heritage course and do something with it - even if that means a change of career
10. To enjoy being near my family again

We'll see in a few months how this changes - as I imagine it will.