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Let's get into the right perspective when comes to deriving pleasure. The premise is very simple. We get less pleasure from buying or consuming the same thing as the quantity increase. The opposite is true. The lesser the item we purchase or own the greater the pleasure we derive from each item.
It reminds me of a Playboy cartoon. The Sultan was passing by a swimming pool and noticed a naked girl displaying her body.
Excitedly he asked, "Who is that?"
His confidant answered indignantly, "Oh, she is one of yours, your highness."
The message is very simple:
- The Sultan had so many concubines in his harem that he hardly noticed who they were
- The Sultan still gets turned on by women who he thought was not his
It is a very clever one pager cartoon. I still remember the sketch. Let's see if I can find it.
Nope, not there.
Therefore buying the same thing more or more expensive is really splitting the hair too thin. Let's look at this scenario:
What is the pleasure here? She cannot be liking all the bags all the time. She cannot even focus on the bags long enough to form a judgement. To appreciate something you got to spend time on each of it. Like in my case I use to appreciate my knives. I spend time looking at them for hours at a time looking at the detail craftsmanship. Now, if not for this article, I had actually forgotten that I own a collection of knives!
The collection I appreciate the most is Al Araf 7:7. That is because I can see everything at a glance. So the first lesson is in order to appreciate the things that you buy, you must display them. Otherwise it takes effort to remember all your collections. I forgot that I have a fine collection of clothes, shoes, knives, bags and books because I don't spend time meddling with them. Therefore the second lesson is, to be a collector you got to spend time with your collections. Otherwise you end up like the Sultan who didn't know who he had in his collection.
Finally, to appreciate your collection, you got to have the pleasure in utilizing them. For example, the knife I appreciate the most is the Swiss Army Champion because it has the most functionality. Every time I use it I feel really grateful I own it. The one I carry around with me is the smallest Swiss Army because it is the most practical.
Therefore, although I might have my most expensive and the most vibrant watch; Seiko Solar SNE 451, I don't appreciate it as much as I appreciate the Casio Mudman. Simply because the Mudman is always on display on my wrist, the most I spend time with and the most functional and practical.
Having said all that, I have to say that the IDEAL item for us to own is an item that is both aesthetic and practical. Top of the list now is my car. It is the best piece of machinery I ever owned. I truly feel that it is worth the money spent with the feeling of security, comfort, cost saving, beauty, entertainment and technological achievement.
If not for the total mind and body experience, I would have named my PC as the best machinery of all. However the PC comes second with the handphone third and the Mudman being on forth.
Therefore the next most likely purchase is the Casio King:
With the exception of the negative display, this is a perfect watch. I will not buy a negative display watch for sure. So most likely the G-Shock Indulgence is the end of my watch buying frenzy.
If not for the negative display, this is a damn sexy watch:
All these are for viewing pleasure only. None of them makes much sense compares to the OUTSTANDING MUDMAN in term of aesthetic, functionality, visibility and price.
If I really want to waste my money, I get the Casio King. Maybe I'll buy that when I have RM15 k in the Unit Trust. Otherwise I DON'T NEED IT.
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Epilogue: It is very tempting to keep on buying things more or more expensive. To refrain from buying requires a strong willpower and the firm ability to say no. Otherwise the addiction will persist. Just like drugs, buying things more or more expensive has a powerful effect on the mind. It is a psychological illness. The brain is hooked not on the things per se but on the feeling of anticipation in owning them.
It's the same feeling of pursuing a piece of ass. It's a form of limerence. I should learn from the experience I get when I bought things for Els and the Evening Drive Crew. It's the same effect when I bought Relentless and September Ends. If unmonitored the spending spree will end like the book collection that I have now. I have the whole library but I hardly finish reading even 20% of the books that I bought.
Less is more. I should have known that. It applies to everything that I own. There should be a cap to my purchases. So far I had put a cap on these things:
- Books
- Bags
- Caps
- Perfumes
- Casual Clothes
- Sports attire
- Shoes
- Al Araf 7:7
- Knives
- Earphones
- Screwing Gayshas
- Substance Abuse
- Sugary Treats
Finally with the purchase of the G-Shock Indulgence, I put an end to buying more or more expensive watches.
I SHOULD NOT BUY A NEGATIVE DISPLAY WATCH. I need to look at the practicality of the watch.
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Well, well, well... What do you know? I found the right watch to end my collection of watches. A 35th anniversary digital Casio that is selling for RM147.16. This I cannot miss. Everything about this watch is right. It is a collector item indeed and it's a limited edition.
Everything about this watch is right:
- It's based on the first G-Shock Model
- Screw-on back
- Japan movement
- Gold accent
- Superb price
- Limited edition
- Non busy display
- Project Team "Tough"
- A must have for serious collector
- I own a piece of history
OK then, I'll buy it. This is the ending to my lust for watches. I have the whole range of watches now that I buy this G-Shock original design. No remorse or regret.
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