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Something I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately has been quality. Not in the way which Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance presents it (eegh, bad memories of that book…that word is tainted now after being forced to read that book) but “quality” in terms of a well-made product (ie, high-quality.)

Throughout my childhood I was taught to seek out good deals and not to concern myself about how well the product was constructed or whether it was a known or trusted brand or the philosophy of the company or the manner in which the product was produced. Even so, I wasn’t given many new possessions, as nearly all my clothes were hand-me-downs from my older (male) cousins and I was only given toys on birthdays, Christmas, or special occasions like my first communion.

This attitude seeped into every place where money was concerned, especially food. I would buy the cheapest bread, rather than the bread which tasted good and wasn’t full of preservatives. I’d buy the dried/instant noodles rather than fresh ones. Resultantly, I ate a lot of crap. I dressed in cheap, no-name clothing, I had a lot of “generic” or “store-branded” stuff. To be fair, my parents didn’t have a lot of money and chose not to spend any if possible. There is definitely a reason they instilled this attitude within me. (Their parents had lived through the Depression and were forced to live this lifestyle as a matter of survival.)

It has only been recently that I’ve realized that this quality of products purchased also extended to the way I lived my everyday life. My parents taught me that going to town was a special treat and that all trips should be consolidated into as few as possible to save on time and gas money and wear-and-tear on the car (which typically amounted to once or twice a week.) This actually extended so far as to prevent me from being able to do things I wanted or needed to, even in high school, when I couldn’t find an alternate means of transportation. This was difficult as we lived quite far out into the country and almost everyone I associated with lived in town (and of course the buses didn’t come out as far as my house.) It was a hassle for someone to go out of their way to pick me up.

I lived under this perception of the world for many, many years…most of my life really. I felt closed off and naive, wishing to see and experience the things everyone else spoke about but which I never had the chance to be part of. How I mustered the courage to drive *by myself* across the country to Seattle still baffles me whenever I think about it, but there is no doubt it is a result of my having traveled to Australia alone. The first time I *needed* Jon with me, but once I’d actually had that experience and had some clue what to expect, it wasn’t as daunting.

The point I’m trying to make is that because I wasn’t allowed the freedom to explore these areas that were “normal life” to most everyone else, once I did get the chance, I tended to cling to what I knew, and that was living life as a shut-in. When presented with the option of “Go shopping now when I sort of need something” or “Go shopping later when I can’t live without something” I would always find a reason to do it later, when there was no other choice. I continually have to remind myself that I’m not living at home anymore…there is no reason why I shouldn’t go grocery shopping twice a week if I need to.

Back to my original statement though…about quality. It is this same learned attitude towards conserving time/gas/money by making as few shopping trips as possible that pertains to the actual items purchased. I tend towards cheap items which present a good deal (on the surface) because it was how I was raised. Living with Will for that time has helped me understand a lot about the benefits of buying high-quality items. Will’s family is very different than mine in that they seem to have always had plenty of money and lived in an area convenient to shopping. Will buys for quality, always. He doesn’t seem to mind the cost of something as long as it is worth the purchase price to him. This is a very “Apple” mindset, in that they put high-quality hardware in their computers and make absolutely sure that everything runs smoothly together and gives the user a pleasant experience, rather than going for the cheapest option available or taking shortcuts.

Will paid a fair amount for a pair of Doc Martens that he uses as his primary footwear and claims that to be the best pair he’s ever owned. Not only are they comfortable but they have lasted him many years already whereas others before that have fallen apart. Sometimes when we went shopping together and he went for an item that was aesthetically appealing or had a clever or catchy name, I would try to stop him, to point him to the generic item next to it which was a fraction of the price. He would explain why the branded item had caught his fancy and I would try to reason that they were exactly the same except for the packaging. I have come to the conclusion that while there are times when this is the case, it isn’t *always* true.

When Kang was visiting us back in March, we took a trip to REI (Recreational Equipment International), which is an outdoors/sporting shop. Will was in the market for some hiking boots so he could climb around on mountains with Andrew, and I felt like taking a look as well since I quite like the type of athletic-styled clothing they sell there. I ended up looking at shoes as well, and after trying on a pair of $80 Keens, I realized I had to buy them despite the cost. Not only were they attractive, but the were the most comfortable pair of shoes I’d *ever* worn. (In the three months I’ve had them I still maintain this conviction.) They seemed ungodly expensive to me, but as I was trying them on, I heard other women around me murmuring about how this brand was the best they’d ever worn. Many of them entered the store wearing Keens and had returned to get another pair. After I wore them for a few minutes and they conformed to the contours of my feet, I decided that was one of the best purchases I’ve ever made in my life. Yes, they were expensive, but they were extremely well-made and I loved wearing them so much I was loath to remove them. (Normally I truly dislike having anything on my feet at all.)

After a few weeks I decided they were so nice I wanted another pair of another style. Will and I returned to REI and I got a pair of sporty Mary Janes made by Keen, a pair which I was again very pleased with and could wear with dressier clothes. (And again, *very* expensive!) After I moved into my new apartment and had a chance to take stock of my possessions again, I surveyed my closet and noticed that the only shoes I wore with any regularity were the two pairs of Keens. I had a total of eight pairs for different occasions, but I realized then that these other occasions never occurred. I kept them around “just in case.” That’s a really silly and meek approach…and to be honest it really doesn’t suit me. I want to rid myself of as much clutter as possible and only keep those things around which I use on a regular basis. I resolved, then, to buy one more pair of Keens–sandals–and to then give the rest of the unworn shoes to Goodwill. On Saturday afternoon I went into the city and purchased the sandals, then bagged up all the other shoes and tossed them in the trunk of my car, to donate the next time I’m near Goodwill. I gazed down at the floor of my closet and saw the three pairs of shoes that will serve all my needs. They are all considered “hybrid” footwear in that they are appropriate for a number of different circumstances. I do not need, nor do I even *want* more than that.

All told, these three pairs of shoes cost me a bit under $300. Yes, that is on the outrageous side…*however*…the experience I have wearing them is immeasurably more pleasant than that provided by cheaper versions, and the fact that I was able to consolidate all my footwear into three hybrid pairs rather than eight specialized pairs (thus ridding me of unwanted clutter) makes them that much more valuable to me. I made an investment in these, and it feels *fantastic.* In addition, these are built to last, and I won’t have to worry about buying new ones when they fall to pieces, as I would with cheaper products. By buying cheaply, there are occasions where one ends up spending the same amount, (if not more!) than they would if they’d just bought the more expensive product in the first place. Yes, there are times where the money just isn’t available and there is no alternative, but in most circumstances it’s just a case of frugality.

Now that I’m aware of the benefits of choosing the *right* products (regardless of price) over choosing something that could “sort of work” but isn’t perfect, I am eager to apply this to other facets of my life. I want to live a happy, comfortable life, and there are *absolutely* certain things which one just *should not* skimp on. (My current quest is for the right pair of headphones. More on that once I’ve lived with my new pair for a little bit.)

I started crocheting the first triangle panel today. I’m beginning with the number 20 and since I have no idea if this will work or not, (since I’m trying a whole slew of new techniques) this will be my experiment panel. I’m not sure what order I’ll do the numbers in, but I’ll likely just choose whichever number strikes my fancy on a given day. Since this project is much smaller scale than my blankets, I’m already enjoying the clear, obvious progress I’m making as I can do 5 rows in one sitting rather than one (as I do with a blanket.)