30 Comments

Oh dear lord, I SO relate to this post!

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Me, too! It is like coming one step closer to that dream/goal when we buy clothes we probably will never have an occasion to wear and saving those recipes that we will never have enough time or ingredients to make. It seems to me that it's therapy of a sort.... we all need to have that dream or goal. And who doesn't love a little retail therapy!

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First, that skirt is beautiful! Second, sometimes you buy an item for some meeting or event that hasn’t happened yet but the act of having bought it manifests the event where you will wear it. A born and bred New Yorker, have I been living in LA too long? Probably. But I do believe this to be true.

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Ha! I agree--it's not impossible to imagine that things will come up and it's nice to be prepared. Of course, Los Angeles clothing is so different from NY; many fewer dressy events. But still, I'm in love with the damn skirt!

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I am this way about books. I will never be able to read all the ones I have, but does that stop me from buying more? I think we all know the answer here.

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Same same same!

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Don't buy a sewing machine unless you intend to learn how to sew, how to maintain the machine, and all the rest. Otherwise you will be frustrated the first time you can't rewind the bobbin, or the tension is off and your fabric bunches up. Hire a sewist to make things for you, to do repairs, to do those things you think you will do but don't. I sew and it took me years to develop the patience to do it properly.

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Marina Hyde (The Guardian) is the finest Opinions writer in the English-speaking world. A sheer delight.

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and ps- I have saved untested recipies going back to the Carter Admin.! Yellowed bits of old NYT newspaper. I intend to leave them to my son in my will.

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“Obviously, it costs nothing for me to save these ridiculous, complicated recipes that I won’t ever make, so I refuse to stop squirreling away things I fantasize about cooking. It’s an innocent pastime.” You are a kindred spirit 😊

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I have many recipes and plan to try some. Well, at some point in the future but still...

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There are a few places in my city where you can sign up to take a sewing class - I like the ones that are oriented around a specific project. It’ll get you access to an expert who will teach you how to use the machine and walk you through the process. Try that first, then decide if you want to buy a machine of your own. (Some of the places in my city even have “open hours” - for a low fee you can just come in and work through your project in their space, often with the owner hanging out and able to answer questions. Very helpful if you don’t have room for a cutting table, etc)

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Great idea!!! I’ll look into it.

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Your post made me smile. I too have a few beautiful clothing pieces that only get worn around the house in private personal moments. Nowhere to wear them in "retirement." I dislike that word and all it's connotations. Anyways, you might find How To Grow Old (An Accidental Icon,) an interesting read. It's quite the story re a journey with clothes.....

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I use my instant pot at least weekly. Everything sauté, slow cook, pressure, or make yogurt(putting it in the jars first, then setting it on yogurt) keeps it all clean and already jarred.

Will buy another, just in case it is no longer available, don’t want to be without it!

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I have the uncooked recipes ( what were these people thinking with ingredients and the amount of time it would take.). I would advise not getting the sewing machine. For me it was like a new kitchen gadget that I had to have and then I’d stick it in a cabinet and forget about it.

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I don’t have the clothes but I have the uncooked recipes!

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You've put words to my thoughts! So many gowns, so few galas.

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'The Guardian' is first-rate. Kudos on discovering it!

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High level perception here. Wow! So true. I kid myself I now have seen through it and no longer buy "fantasy" stuff (which I never did to an inordinate degree) but I still do - but lack of actual money does restrict me from inordinate wildness of expenditure. The way (in UK) we are being told (with barely disguised glee) that everything is going to cost us more in future I think my future is in window shopping and big A scrolling only.

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