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As unfathomable and macabre as this may sound to the innocent ears of those under 50, at a point in everyone's later life buying decisions are made based on probable years left in our future. Purchases are no longer made in the spur of a moment based simply on a desire to own something one doesn't yet possess. That freedom of acquiring disappears after a certain age, and in its place decisions are made on whether the purchase in question is necessary, and if it is, will it outlast me?
I came to the conclusion a few years ago that the car I have will be the last car I have, (failing any unforeseen major mechanical surprises, G od forbid). For one thing, all the new cars do not come with CD players anymore, and I like playing my CD's. For another thing, new cars are operated with state of the art high technology, and since I am definitely not operated by state of the art high technology myself, I am not compatible with the autos of today. Contemporary cars want to do the driving. I want to do the driving. We don't see eye to eye.
My wife and I accumulated all the furniture we ever needed to see us through. We bought well and took good care of our stuff, so at my age I don't need a new dining room set or anything else. And since nobody comes over for summer barbecue parties anymore, the patio furniture which is sitting under dusty covers in the backyard will suffice as well. Towels? Nope, got plenty of bath and kitchen towels. Bedsheets and pillow cases, I have one bed and six changes of sheets and pillow cases. That should take care of me.
Before I retired I owned a closet full of suits, shoes, neckties, and dress shirts, it was the wardrobe I needed for work. I don't work anymore but I still have all these clothes in my closet. I will never have to buy another necktie, pair of shoes, dress shirt or suit again. And as far as my undergarments are concerned, my drawers overflow, if you pardon the expression.
Truth be known, I most likely have all the casual clothes I'll ever need too. Unless I spill fountain pen ink on all my pairs of chinos, boat shoes, and sneakers, there's no reason to buy any more. And I plan on only using ballpoint pens, to play it safe. I may be old but I'm not stupid.
However, sometimes in this life things still have a tendency to wear out and need replacing, no matter how careful you are with them. PJs and bedroom slippers are in that category. So once in a blue moon I have to buy new PJs when the cuffs and collars start to fray. It would be an awful embarrassment if I died in my sleep and they found me in bed with frayed pajamas. "Crosby's dead!" "Yeah, and look at his old ratty pajamas! Yuck! And those slippers of his, disgustingly scuffed and stained!"
So when I do replace something, the first thing that crosses my mind is, will this last me for the rest of my life? Actually it is more likely I think, this will definitely be the last time I will have to buy one of these. Sad, no? But honestly.
Then we have the usual items which need replenishment on a fairly regular basis; tissues, toilet paper, toothpaste, razor blades, and soap. Believe me, I don't go to the store and think to myself, "Well, this bar of soap will be the last one I will ever need." Or "I hope this box of Kleenex will last for the rest of my life." And the way toilet paper has been shrinking over the years, the likelihood of a roll lasting more than a few days is doubtful.
More and more I ask myself, "Do I really need a new coat? I have several already." Or, "Yes, I'd like to have that movie on DVD but I own so many classic movies already and really, how many times will I get a chance to watch it?"
Here's the thing, after a certain age the need to acquire diminishes and we hope that the things we already have will last us for the rest of our life. Not in the case of a roll of toilet paper, however. I'd like to last longer than that.
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