The finer things in life...

[wilkin52]

Maybe it's my age or maybe it is a cultural shift generally but I seem to be heading to a quality over quantity mindset.

Yesterday I sat working in my home office and took a moment to clear my thoughts. In front of my laptop (not a total luddite) was my notebook, a moleskine as used by Hemmingway, Picasso et-al. On top of that sat my waterman fountain pen, both lovely and functional objects.

This made me think about my new found shaving addiction and the high quality equipment that goes with that. I also find that the clothes I am purchasing now are natural fibres (wool, cotton, leather) the list goes on and I fear may bore you all if I continue, but you get the picture.

This is not just a fad or fashion but a state of mind, and it seems to pervade through many of the threads in these forum. I like it!

Anyway I am awaiting two new soaps, due in the next few days... Tabac - seems to be 'the one' so I might as well join in and Kent/MWF - seems to be the 'other one' so hey no loss there either... next up a new brush, first step to badger, in the shape of an EJ Best Badger.

Love to hear your thoughts on this 'state of mind'.

 

[danek]

I too have an affliction for the finer, more refined things. I'm not sure if it was the DE/quality shave that started me to seek out the finer things, or my seeking out the finer things that turned me onto shaving in this 'old school' manner. Whatever it is, I like the change; I now notice, and appreciate more, every item's intrinsic quality - from writing instruments, to kitchen knives, to meals out, to cocktails, to music I'm listening to. I'm in a very comfortable place.

 

[SpyvSpy]

Finer things in life eh..welcome to the band wagon. Good choice on the soaps. MWF soap is one of my favorites and the EJ brush is nice I have one and have nothing but good things to say about it....I just hit 1000 posts cool.

 

[Doc4]

Maybe it's my age or maybe it is a cultural shift generally but I seem to be heading to a quality over quantity mindset.

Many years ago I watched an italian cooking show with an older Italian chef as the host; he'd make a meal during the show and then at the end pull some hottie out of the studio audience to share it with him on stage as the credits roll. But his favourite catchphrase was (in thick Italian accent) "da quality make-a da quantity!"



The more you can simplify the clutter in your life, cut down the excess baggage of redundant cheap stuff, and get down to a few quality items, the happier you will be. Just think how many ballpoint pens you could have bought for the price of that one Waterman ... but I'll wager you'd never have posted a thread "hey I just looked at my Bic pen that was made in China and it made me happy".

welcome to the proper state of mind.

 

[warlandsboy]

Many years ago I watched an italian cooking show with an older Italian chef as the host; he'd make a meal during the show and then at the end pull some hottie out of the studio audience to share it with him on stage as the credits roll. But his favourite catchphrase was (in thick Italian accent) "da quality make-a da quantity!"

Are you referring to one of my favourite childhood chefs, Chef Pasquale?!?

Anyways about the topic here, yes, this is a FANTASTIC state of mind, albeit an expensive one. It truly can, and does, bring some form of tranquility into one's life.

 

[Emmett]

I don't know that it's an age thing. I've been making a conscious effort to pare down a lot of the possessions in my life to those which I actually use and enjoy. Fewer things well-used and treasured are more meaningful than piles of forgotten stuff in closets.

Now "quality over quantity", I tend to buy what I can afford and what I like, which means usually not THE most expensive option, either due to cost or due to it having bells and whistles I find unnecessary. But buying junk is straight out.

Nice post.

 

[Doc4]

Are you referring to one of my favourite childhood chefs, Chef Pasquale?!?

Bingo!

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E27GvCY0teQ&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

 

[RBE17]

I've always tried to buy the best I could afford. However, that's mostly been tied to my hobbies and areas of interest. Until recently I'd never consider buying an expensive satchel bag or pen.

 

[Alacrity59]

I think that value is the key. If something costs twice as much but lasts three times as long it has better value to me. Certainly there have been cases where I just did not have the coin to buy the better valued item. Sometimes that means putting off a purchase or sometimes it has meant making do with what I could afford. There are always trade offs. For instance I had to go with a crappy leased low value car so that I could make payments on the house which I valued greatly.

 

[dpmtherrien]

I've always know that spending a bit more on better quality is well worth it.

 

[winky]

I think that value is the key. If something costs twice as much but lasts three times as long it has better value to me. Certainly there have been cases where I just did not have the coin to buy the better valued item. Sometimes that means putting off a purchase or sometimes it has meant making do with what I could afford. There are always trade offs. For instance I had to go with a crappy leased low value car so that I could make payments on the house which I valued greatly.

Agree.

 

[Doc4]

I think that value is the key. If something costs twice as much but lasts three times as long it has better value to me. Certainly there have been cases where I just did not have the coin to buy the better valued item. Sometimes that means putting off a purchase or sometimes it has meant making do with what I could afford. There are always trade offs. For instance I had to go with a crappy leased low value car so that I could make payments on the house which I valued greatly.

For me, that's just part of it. I also look at the quality of the item from an enjoyment standpoint. As an example to mirror your comments, let's say I need a sweater: I could buy a $100 wool sweater, a $200 merino sweater or a $400 scottish cashmere sweater ... now, on a purely wears-per-dollar equation, the wool wins hands down, but I probably want the cashmere because it's nicer and more enjoyable.

Now maybe that means for me that instead of owning a dozen wool sweaters I can only have a couple cashmere ones, but that's fine.

A slightly different example: my fountain pens. I can't pretend that buying a couple lower-end Pelikans is going to save me money over using ballpoints anytime in the next few decades, but I prefer to live the lifestyle where I use a fountain pen rather than a ballpoint. "Just 'cause". But I buy the lower-end one that I can sort-of afford rather than the high-end limited edition super-expensive one (which doubtless would give me more pleasure to own and hold, and pen geeks would tell me writes better than my current Pelikan.) Ya gotta make trade-offs.

Certainly there have been cases where I just did not have the coin to buy the better valued item. Sometimes that means putting off a purchase or sometimes it has meant making do with what I could afford. There are always trade offs.

Exactly.

 

[ajkimmins]

Maybe it's my age or maybe it is a cultural shift generally but I seem to be heading to a quality over quantity mindset.

Yesterday I sat working in my home office and took a moment to clear my thoughts. In front of my laptop (not a total luddite) was my notebook, a moleskine as used by Hemmingway, Picasso et-al. On top of that sat my waterman fountain pen, both lovely and functional objects.

This made me think about my new found shaving addiction and the high quality equipment that goes with that. I also find that the clothes I am purchasing now are natural fibres (wool, cotton, leather) the list goes on and I fear may bore you all if I continue, but you get the picture.

This is not just a fad or fashion but a state of mind, and it seems to pervade through many of the threads in these forum. I like it!

Anyway I am awaiting two new soaps, due in the next few days... Tabac - seems to be 'the one' so I might as well join in and Kent/MWF - seems to be the 'other one' so hey no loss there either... next up a new brush, first step to badger, in the shape of an EJ Best Badger.

Love to hear your thoughts on this 'state of mind'.

I'm getting the same way! I have right now around my laptop, SEVEN Moleskine notebooks being used for various reasons. I have three fountain pens with different ink colors, (Lamy's though, can't afford the Watermans and Mont Blancs yet)! It's amazing how much more enjoyable EVERYTHING is when you use a quality instrument versus crap!