December 5, 2008
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Excessive Luxury
An old junior high-school friend, Yee, in Down Under recently made me realized that I could be spending too much money on material things. We both have a fond for fountain pens, an expensive hobby, and have chatted about fountain pens numerous times. Recently, he mentioned how he likes to collect watches also and that he currently has 5. I replied to him that I don’t collect them but have 5 watches also, and that answer surprised him since watches can be more expensive than fountain pens. I wonder… am I too materialistic?
On 10/31/2008, rudy wrote:
5?? I have 5 too. one for a different occasion. I don't collect them, just bought them out of necessity. if you really like watches, I’d expect you to have at least 10. one of my aunts, who does not collect watches but likes to buy them for fashion accessory reason, probably has more than 10 now.
by the way, hope you're having a good b'day week. sorry for the belated greeting.
I’m off tomorrow to japan for business. will be in a factory for 2 damn weeks of training!!
sucks ;(
On 11/2/08, yee wrote:
5 watches "out of necessity"? I can understand maybe two watches (dressy and sporty) out of necessity but 5? Now you're starting to sound like a collector yourself...you know "I really NEED to have that". What watches do you have?
Don't forget, as I said watches are more expensive than pens and it's hard enough having more than one watch with the missus asking why you want to buy another watch that looks very similar to another one you already own...
Enjoy Japan and thanks for the birthday wishes.
On 11/22/2008, rudy wrote:
ha, ha... ok, ok, so 5 is a bit excessive. it wasn't actually planned, you know. you buy a cheaper watch hoping that it'll be enough but turned out it's not so great and so you ended up lookin' for another that fulfills what you're lookin' for. this is how I accumulated my watches.
first I got a real cheap plastic Timex supposedly for sports and travel but the adhesive strap keeps on getting loose and the watch comes off whenever the strap gets too wet, so I can't wear this especially when I swim, which means I need to get another that works. so I got a Swatch. I wore this during years of culinary school and whenever I go to the gym or for a swim. then I got a nice leather Nixon. it's nice enough for parties but casual enough for weekends. I thought "This is it, I won't need to get another watch for years".
when I got back to indonesia and started working an office job, I realized that my Nixon is a little inappropriate for "office" and meeting overseas guests for business and so on... so I decided to get a metal Nautica. it is very business appropriate and good enough for formal gatherings. and to think that this is the last watch I’d spend my money on... WRONG.
after several business and personal travels I realized I need a watch that would ease my life during my travels. a watch that I could use as an alarm clock, provides night light whenever I need to check time in dark settings, and has a dual time whereby I could change one to the time of the local place I’m at but still able to show me the time at home or another place. and so I’m finally down to the last watch, a Casio. I was going to get a Casio that has temperature and compass functions as well, but the watch is too damn huge so I got a smaller cheaper one that does the 3 things I was looking, and it’s also great for outdoor sports.
I actually have a 6th watch, an Armani. but this doesn't count 'cause I got it as a gift. so most of the time I wear only 3, Nautica for work, Casio for travel, Swatch for gym/swim. Nixon I would wear occasionally on weekends. expensive Armani and cheap Timex are kept as spares, just incase. and no, no more watches! I swear. didn't even look at one when I was in japan.
On 12/2/08, yee wrote:
Looks like you have learned the lesson I have learned many times over - don't settle! It will cost you more in the long run. That even happens with things like my glasses where I'll buy a pair that are cheaper and then they fall apart and/or they're just not the same so in the end I buy what I couldn't bring myself to buy in the first place, thereby meaning I've spent more money than I would have in the first place.
Fortunately that hasn't really been the case with my watches. But I've never planned to only have one watch - I like watches, so like pens, it's a question of not finding anything else I'd like to buy.
Comments (13)
watches can be very expensive hobby. My sister collects over 20. I have one watch plus 4 non-working ones. lol.
I don't think you are materialistic. We all deserve to spoil ourselves sometimes. I want to get myself a nice fountain pen. Any suggestions, that isn't TOO expensive?
My friend, we'll call him "Quang," is all about material things, and used to think he was impressing me when he showed me a $1200 watch he bought. He thought it was even more impressive to offer it to me as if it was nothing. One time we were in Tyson's Corners, that ritzy mall in DC, and I told him I have a watch that talks me the time in a different voice everytime I ask for it, and its free. He said I didn't have a watch. So I walked up to someone and asked the time. They told me. Bam, my watch. I never actually owned one because working as a zookeeper with large hookbills like macaws, its senseless. Parrot will crunch the face off a watch before you can say Polly-wanna-Rolex.
I like collecting certain things, but I try to keep it things that don't take up so much money that make it look frivolous. I think for me, material things are fine as long as I don't feel guilty. And if I spent $1200 on a watch while knowing a family member or friend could use that amount of money for something far more important than a watch, I'd feel like a heel.
But then I also wear torn nylon track pants with the liner cut out, with beat-up knockoff Crocs, and 2001 Old Navy t-shirts. So perhaps my answer doesn't qualify for a fashio-related question lah!!
I think you appreciate the functionality of what you buy rather than looking at them as just another purchase just for the image.
While cleaning my dad's house, I found an old fountain pen (Parker?). I'm gonna have to try and see if it still works.
by the way - I enjoyed the pics of Japan that you posted. Thanks for sharing.
@Binakwan -
ha, ha... make sense, make sense... i too wouldn't want to spend $1200 on a watch. well, guess 'cause i still can't afford it, he, he... anyhow, if i were you i wouldn't need to have any bling-bling on me either. i hate seeing people lookin' flashy and so "look at me". i prefer not to stand out at all. i wear my watch when the occasion calls for it, otherwise i'll just check the time on my cell phone. as for fountain pens, it's more for personal gratification, so i don't show them to people.
@brooklyn2028 -
there are many brands out there. you can try to browse through those available in a bookstore or an office supply store, but in my opinion the best way to start is to go straight to a fountain pen store, one that sells all range of class of fountain pens, NOT an exclusive boutique one. the shop keeper will be someone who's knowledgeable in this matter and able to make suggestions that would suit your need. the most important part of a fountain pen is the NIB. it's what make or break a brand. you MUST try it before you buy. it's a standard practice. if the shop keeper won't let you try the pen, then you should leave and look for a different store. general rules - unlike a regular pen, the pen barrel needs to be slightly bigger than normal for comfortable use, the nib usually comes in different sizes that determines the thickness of line when you write, and you need to have patience. why? it requires one to write with less pressure and also constant maintenance for cleaning.
@stevew918 -
yeah, that's a problem when it comes to having more than one watch and you regularly wears only one of them. this is why i sometimes change the watch depending on the occasion.
@ElusiveWords -
a Parker? that's quite popular. one of the most beloved brands for pens. make sure you clean out the ink cardridge and flush the nib real well first before use, to avoid having old dried ink particles get stuck inside that prevents smooth flow of ink. ps: glad you enjoyed the japan trip pics. hope i didn't make you hungry
Enjoy Japan!
it's not materialistic...i don't know how many watches i have, but i wear different watches for different clothes, and watches are useful (haha, an excuse)
i don't collect fountain pens though cos i don't write
@orchidgrass -
i like watches too but i'm too lazy to wear them on regular basis so i stopped buying them. the more watches you have the more you have to deal with changing the dead battery more often than you'd like.
@CareyGLY -
the trip was back in november. you can check out some of the pics on my photo album.