I realized, some years ago, that I have become *"obsolete"* or maybe *"redundant"* in this modern world of ours.

To clarify a bit, I have become obsolete in the context of being part of our modern consumer-driven society. 


![1072-Poppies.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQme7n89RB2zdJXCEYEWkejEeFAT95j246BL22yLQMdvdue/1072-Poppies.jpg)


I say this because I was looking around my office, then our bedroom and the rest of the house, and realized that I have purchased absolutely *nothing new* in several years. The only thing *somewhat* new is our dishwasher, which we we bought to replace the one that had been little more than a built-in *"drying rack"* since it started leaking a couple of years back.

To be fair, I'm *not* buying used meat or toothpaste, but pretty much anything semi-durable we own — from clothing and shoes to computer hardware and cars — is getting towards being a decade or more old.

When we got a *new* car in the spring, it was our daughter's 1997 Nissan... it was *new to US.*


![1015-Pokers.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTPSerMZNoSETDtn5421FyestdVvza4zxRK7Ff9FtnwXc/1015-Pokers.jpg)


My computer — from which I write this — is from the year after we moved into this house, so 2012. My flatbed scanner? It's from 2006 and works just fine. Our washer and dryer have rounded the decade mark. I believe the fridge is from about 2002, or so. The clothes I am wearing predominantly came from the Goodwill store. 

And so on, and so forth.

What these things all have in common is that they are still working and I have no interest in replacing them, as some sort of *"fashion statement"* or to get some kind of mysterious ego-gratification from being able to convey to the world that *"mine is newer than yours."* And when any of them *do* break (or we simply choose to get a replacement), you're more likely to find us at a second-hand store, or thrift store, or craigslist, than at Home Depot or a department store, or the endless virtual aisles of Amazon.

Hence, I am *"obsolete."*


![1009-PinkRhody.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbQsFuiDVZqLMWCVg4VL65tGmbj3hnab19aAcMy9KZpE8/1009-PinkRhody.jpg)


It also makes me a corporate marketer's worst nightmare, because the words *"new and improved"* are all but meaningless to me. I see them, and all I want to say is *"show me, don't tell me."* 

For most intents and purposes, people who live by a *"recycle and reuse"* value system are regarded as obsolete. That's actually a somewhat *ironic* fact, because upcycling as actually considered *cool.* In the eyes of some, I am practically *unpatriotic* because I don't support the *"system"* that built this world. I don't *use and consume* enough stuff. 

And this afternoon, it really struck home just *how* obsolete I have become when my phone — which I *still* think is pretty *"smart"* — was *too old* to run some app I thought was interesting.

![1091-Nigella.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTeJ1qZgFBi67M3wxo8BGwzhtDGsTiz2btqnM2VKGjAN5/1091-Nigella.jpg)

Some might argue that it all makes me a sad individual who's not getting all the benefits of modern society... but the bottom line is that I am pretty content, in my obsolescence! 

I by no means have anything against technology and innovation, in fact, it *fascinates* me! I just don't have much need *OWN* stuff I don't need, even if it's very cool. And and awful lot of people have lots of stuff they *"don't need,"* even though they swear that they *"couldn't possibly live without it."*

Just for the record, I am actually not as curmudgeonly as I may sound, because I *can* relate to *"excess"* on some levels, because I certainly have no shortage of actual paper books and old audio CDs. That said, I only very rarely have bought *new* books and CDs.


![0908-Irises.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXs2xJF1QroeBAfSSFqXJsnDLGqrGJ4NK25ieBF1k5Xzx/0908-Irises.jpg)


So what prompted me to write this somewhat anti-capitalistic, anti-consumerism post? It was actually prompted by a vague sadness that even though I thoroughly *enjoy* life, and living, I have become largely irrelevant to the core values that seem to run the *"normal"* world.

Then again, maybe I am just getting OLD!

Thanks for reading and have a great reminder of your week!

***How about YOU? Are you a "good little consumer?" Or do you live for second hand shops and upcycling? As always, comments, feedback and other interaction is invited and welcomed! Because — after all — SOCIAL content is about interacting, right? Leave a comment — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!***

***(All text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is ORIGINAL CONTENT, created expressly for this platform — NOT A CROSSPOST!!!)
Created at 20210129 01:01 PST
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