themblelina, I like your ascetisism analogy.
Closet control can be a lot like food control issues. Very restrictive for its own sake. The blouse that isn't worn so much becomes a great sty in the eye and must be evicted. Only the best loved items must be visible.
I think a lot of that starts out in the right way--uncluttering is good. But can get more obsessed than simplified. I try to remember that the point is to be able to give it all less thought and more use.
As always, moderation.....

Alasse, thanks for the link! I enjoyed reading her other blogs and had no idea that she'd started this one. I made the mistake of reading her account of childbirth, which was wonderfully realistic, but left me with some serious reservations, ugh.

You have me figured out, Astrid. I do exactly what you wrote: “I think with you're constraint of closet size and budget you have parameters that make sure that you only buy and keep clothes you're using and enjoying”

I loved the Garance Dore post that deb linked to. I also followed a link to this post on Simplicity http://www.garancedore.fr/en/2.....implicity/ which I think appeals to me even more than minimalism. Just this morning, when I was composing my first reply, I was wondering how to put into words just how unattached I feel to my clothes. Easy come, easy go. Was it because I've lately been "monetizing" my wardrobe and looking at each item with an eye to how much I could sell it for? Could I sell my Celine jacket (which I've had fun with, but whose cheeky cropped length and high waist is no longer doing it for me) while it's still reasonably in style and fund my entire S/S wardrobe? Is that crazy? I have a very "they're only clothes" attitude and was wondering if there was something wrong with me. Then I realized I'm that way with most of my possessions, even though I do enjoy getting something new. I'd rather use the library than buy the book. If I do buy it, I pass it along after I've had enough time with it.

Much of the article on simplicity resonated with me. I only carry one bag. It's small, and I downsized my wallet (case that carries five cards) so that everything fits neatly. It's just so much simpler that way. I read once that if you only have one pair of scissors, you'll never lose them. You have to be careful to always keep them in the same place so that they're there when you need them. If you have half a dozen pairs, however, you become careless and are always hunting for one. (Okay, I have more than one pair of scissors because my husband likes to take my nice sharp sewing scissors and cut open those obnoxious plastic clamshells that everything comes in, trim errant Christmas tree branches, and use them to cut the odd piece of rope. But you get the idea.)

Astrid, please forgive the gigantic threadjack! I'm trying to figure all of this out, and YLF is very affordable therapy. I think. So to bring if back to the subject, I like how you were able to perceive that minimalism is not the same as simplicity (and in fact can often be very, very complicated)! You have done a great job placing some shopping "brakes" in place to slow you down, by committing to purchasing ethically made clothing. They higher price tags seem to be making you stop and think, instead of picking up something just because it's a good deal. And I love that you're wearing something you already have to your reunion (I did the same thing).

But I have to add that the thought of a merino wool cami is making me itch all over!

Thanks for the tips, Gradfashionista. I know Miss Minimalist and Everyday Minimalist, I've looked at them a while ago. I'm also familiar with project 333, although I don't think doing this project would make much sense for me, because I have so few things right now anyway. I have read the book of Marie Kondo and enjoyed it, although it was a bit too quirky in some parts.

Thanks for the link Deb! In my family there wasn't any buying for one specific occasion either...

Shedev, I don't think adequate equals no fun. It's just a way of looking at things and being satisfied with what you have. If you have something on your shopping list you have certain requirements that item has to fulfill and if you find it you can stop looking for even better. One of the requirements can well be "fun" or "fashionable". Why not.

Thanks for the hint, Alasse! Going to save it in my bookmarks.

Texstyle, thanks! And your outfit sounds great, I'm sure you looked fab.

Rachylou, I wear a cami with most outfits in fall and winter and merino is great as a baselayer. Doesn't smell, keeps you warm but you're not overheating either.

Kiwigal, good example with the shoes. It's why I think the idea of shopping for "the perfect item" and keeping it forever is so silly. Even the classics get dated some time... There's been enough discussion on this on the forum. This seems to be just another justification for splurging on expensive items even though you decided to slow down your buying.

Thanks approprio! Can you describe what you mean with "new minimalism"? What kind of other minimalism do you know of? I see what you mean and it might be problematic with some of the very pared down fashion-y capsule wardrobes you see on the net, but I actually think that you can be prepared for most occasions with a small wardrobe. You named the wedding and job interview as an example. I think one blazer in a dark neutral and a seperate skirt or pair of dressy pants is enough to take you to interviews and any funeral that comes up. I guess you might need to add shoes and a top especially for that if your style doesn't cover that otherwise. For the wedding I'd take care to have a nice semi dressy dress I could wear during spring and summer in everyday life too. Honestly, all this dressing up for weddings doesn't happen here anyway. I also have gear (trekking pants, fleece, trekking shoes, rain jacket and so on) that I don't necessarily see as part of my regular closet. On the other point - I agree that a minimal wardrobe out of disposable fashion isn't really workable. Quality is much too low for that. But I haven't shopped stores like H&M for years and I want to pay a lot more attention to quality going forward. The black skirt in the pic above is Zara, four years old and worn A TON (newly altered to adjust for weight loss). The shirt is maybe two or three years old? The cardigan is new, as are the boots. My favourite handbag is a Christmas present I got in 2008 and used as only bag for years. It's definitely possible to make the most of things if you have decent quality.

Caro, love the way you put this.

Thanks Eva! Glad you like my outfit. And yes, I think avoiding placeholders as much as possible is a good idea. I would love to read your 'novel' on this, looking forward to your post...

Thimblelina, that's an interesting parallel for sure - I can see how you could compare the two. I don't think much of any of those diets or food abstinences if not medically necessary... I've seen some ridiculous things here in supermarkets as well in recent years. My favourite - foods declared as dairy free that don't usually contain dairy to start with. Oh and don't start me on gluten... I actually know a child with a pretty heavy case of celiac disease and all those people appropriating that problem even though they don't even have it make me angry.

Unfrumped, I think sometimes there's one obsession replacing the other. Moderation is always great, no matter what we're talking about.

Angie, yes I completely agree - everyone should figure out wardrobe size based on their needs, not based on arbitrary numbers.

Claire, no worries, I love to read what you're thinking. The more the better. I definitely have to check out that article you linked to later. As for the merino cami - it's the same fabric as my wool tights and they are surprisingly non-itchy. But I'm not very sensitive when it comes to that.

Loved reading these articles. I think the most happiest time of my life was when I wore uniforms to school - first through 12th grade. Once I began college I panicked because I needed a wardrobe. Then started my career and needed an entirely new wardrobe that had to be replaced every so often to conform to the norms of the current fashion. When I became a SAHM I could not bear to get rid of my corporate wardrobe. It took me 10 years to purge the clothes I knew I would never wear again and they were in impeccable condition.

The past few years I have reevaluated my way of living buying the things that I need not want, with but a few exceptions. But these are things I will hold onto for a long time. DH and I got rid of a lot of stuff we had accumulated and not used in a while. We encountered a few things we did not even remember buying. I feel we still could have given more away, but husbands don't like to part with their stuff even if they have not used it in almost 40 years. And if there is something he can get for free we have it while we don't need it like the 40 mini flashlights I found in the basement or the 100 issues of a magazine he won't part with.

I think I have come to realize at this moment that I am the minimalist who married the guy who loves to buy useless stuff.

Thanks for the interesting post and links Astrid. What struck me in the first article you linked was what I have been working on -mindfulness. ie. whatever you surround yourself with, really enjoy its texture, feel, color, etc. Seems like it would be hard to go too wrong if you love and enjoy all the items in your life and closet. Great book: Mindfulness for Beginners if anyone is interested.

Having said that, I really need to purge. Mainly so I only keep things that work together and look great. Have not been so good, as I have been waiting to lose weight and hate to "throw away" money by getting rid of expensive items that don't actually work. But I am to a point where I want to feel great at any weight, and dress for my actual life and body :). I know Angie has helped me by introducing the concept of an "aspirational" life, vs real life.

I love the blue top Astrid. You look great!

For a long time I have been wary of minimalist creeds that advocate perfection or getting rid of stuff just for the sake of some sort of ideal wardrobe. And precious few minimalist blogs don't advocate shopping on some level or the other. I prefer shopping blogs to be more forthright.
I do like the blog you linked to and think it is exceptional.

For me dressing is a form of creativity and expression and I have no need to minimize my closet beyond the confines of my storage and mental capacity. The majority of my clothes are second hand, which satisfies me on several levels including my need to balance the materialism of my hobby. There is no one best solution that suits everyone. (Suits, get it! :-))

Astrid, you look great for your reunion. Perfectly yourself -- and in this case, the word "perfect" is not dangerous.

I have not yet read all the replies (and plan to go back). But I will say this. I think if I were determined to have a strictly minimalist closet with a set number of items, I would definitely fall into the trap of perfectionism. There's a strong strain of that in my personality to begin with. And if I could only have "one" pair of jeans (just for example) you'd better believe I would be worrying and wondering and fussing about whether the ones I had were "just so." I think I'm able to relax and enjoy my things more because I don't expect them to do too much for me. I do expect them to look good, wear well, and make me feel fab -- but I don't expect them to magically mix with every other item in the closet.

Oh, and what Caro and thimbelina said! Wise words.

I am for simplicity and "enough." What that means will depend on the individual. But it's such a good way to look at it.

Gradfashionista mentioned Marie Kondo- but I want to specifically recommend her book, which is unironically titled 'The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.' Some out-there ideas (and it references Japanese culture, which is already a lot more minimalist than Americans, if only because of small houses and apartments), but fascinating. She is all about minimalism and saving very few things.

The thing that resonated with me is her philosophy of letting go of everything that doesn't make you feel happy. Usefulness is relevant, but her criteria for purging is: when you hold the thing in your hand, does it make you feel joy? If not, thank the item (a bit silly) for fulfilling a past need, then send it on its way to do something else in the world.

Thinking about my own wardrobe- Most of my clothes are just 'eh'- but if I got rid of stuff I don't like/doesn't fit right/out-of-style, what would I wear?! Obviously, the answer is pretty straightforward: I'd have to do more laundry, but I'd always be wearing things that made me smile. And getting rid of the 'eh' things would allow me to see the holes in my wardrobe, which I could then fill with the PPP philosophy.

Anyway, it's a fast and fascinating read!

Interesting articles, Astrid. Upon reading the one about the importance of objects, it occurred to me that it's often unpredictable which garments will become real favorites or workhorses. I can make educated guesses only. It's in the wearing that the proof really comes out.
I really like the outfit you're planning to wear to the reunion, and I agree with Diane that your style has really gotten sharper lately--it suits you so well.

Lara, I guess for me it's easier because I am on my own and don't have to compromise for anyone. I definitely think it's a big difference if you're doing this with another person who might not be as inclined to letting go of things as you are. I'm definitely the one in my family that has the least attachement to stuff, always have been. I'm rather ruthless when it comes to that. So I'm always asked to help with closet purges etc. I'm actually going to help my mum to sort her wardrobe when I'm home for Christmas, she asked me recently. I'm kind of looking forward to that, I'm hoping that getting rid of all the piles of clothing she's not wearing convinces her to spend a bit more on better quality for herself.

Mita, glad you liked it. I think mindfulness is a good way to sum it up. I'm going to look up that book for sure. And yes, I agree that purges are necessary to get to a certain point. Especially if the things aren't fitting or aren't suitable for your life. I think the concept of dressing for the life you have is such an important one and is often overlooked even though it seems kind of obvious. I think that even if your clothes are great you won't be satisfied with your wardrobe if they're wrong for your actual life And I agree on dressing the body you have. And if you're still changing, get at least a few great pieces to wear in the meantime.

Thanks Shevia! And I totally agree, there's no one stop solution for everyone. It's something everyone has to figure out themselves. And I can completely understand if the idea isn't for everyone. I like it, doesn't mean anyone else has to. Just like some people I know who are vegans - always preaching about healthy eating when I just want to enjoy my food. Can't stand it. And I prefer the honesty of shopping or straight out fashion blogs too.

Thanks Suz! Yes, I think this look is a good solution for the occasion. Dressy but not too much and I'm going to feel comfortable and myself wearing it. And yes, I can see how that mindset would produce a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety. I don't believe in the perfect mix and match wardrobe either. I think if you stick to some favourite silhouettes and colors you get a pretty remixable wardrobe without having to try very hard. I think you would go crazy if you really wanted to make sure everything went together. That's why I don't find the Vivienne Files very realistic, I don't think every one of these combinations would really work in real life on a real body. And that's fine. I'm perfectly alright pairing one top just with these pants and that one skirt and not with my other one. But then I have no problem repeating outfits if I like them.

J.J. thanks for describing the book in depth. I have bought and read it a while ago. They changed the title to "Magic Cleaning" for the German translation, but it's the same content. I did find it an entertaining read, although some things sounded a tad over the top to me. Like what you mentioned - thanking the item. Also her methods of storing clothes wouldn't work for my storage space... I definitely agree that getting rid of the things you're not wearing makes you see much better how to go forward.

Thanks Firecracker! And you're right, sometimes it's surprising which pieces turn out to be workhorses... Like the grey cardigan I'm wearing here. I even thought about returning it when I got it and now I'm wearing it all the time. It has already proven its worth in just a few weeks. Right now I couldn't be without it.

I love the party look Astrid . It's perfect for you...

And I get why this resonated with you so much :). You hate any form of clutter.
Am I a true minimal ? No. I have a slight problem, I fall out of love for tops pretty soon So I go for the inexpensive pieces.
Were as in Indian wear and jeans that fit this doesn't happen. So I invest there :).I donot like buying any things that I wouldn't wear for long either. I didn't buy any maternity clothes at all

Right now my fingers are itching to purge all the tops I can't wear, I am just holding out for after birth because I am obviously not going to love any of my tops now

Thanks Ramya! That is quite sensible, to invest only in those areas. Doesn't make much sense to put your money into tops when you know you won't want to wear them for very long. The only thing that would do is make you feel bad about replacing them too soon. And yes, no purging right now! Maybe pack them away instead? On a higher shelf or in a box? And when it's time you can come back and evaluate for real.

Astrid, I enjoyed the articles. Personally, with my closet overhaul I have ended up with much less. That was my goal, and I find myself more satisfied with the result than I was before. I doubt I can claim I am a minimalist though as someone with so many boots and sweaters! I do think there are many reasons people end up shopping, and even over shopping. I had to ponder this in my own situation because it absolutely happened to me, but I was not always like that, so the analysis was not difficult. I don't plan to share my personal analysis. I was intrigued by reading in the article her hypothesis of people seeking out the next new thing and not cherishing what they already have. This doesn't apply to me but, there is some truth in that for people who have a shopping compulsion/addiction. Her description is elegant, and her writing is wonderful. They literally have a release of feel good chemicals in the brain when they purchase something, making them seek out the next item to purchase. In fact, whenever anyone makes a purchase there will be a release of those feel good chemicals so buyer beware. I believe she failed to spell out out additional compelling reasons that people consume goods and make purchases although she hinted at them. For example, I believe that many people shop because they have experienced a loss, or a trauma and they are trying to have some area where they feel some mastery and control (even though they quickly get out of control, because they are prone to the feel good chemical issue I mentioned above). People also want to fit in and look like their neighbors, the other people in their community. They will make purchases so they can "fit in". I was particularly reminded of this yesterday when I asked my ugly sweater etiquette question, and so many responses were that I should purchase one to wear, (or some version) so I could fit in with the group once I had completed my new evaluation. It was food for thought, and after reading all the responses I realized what it was that had made me feel so uncomfortable and I was able to articulate it clearly. I'm sure there are even more but this is getting long...........

Thanks for sharing the blog Astrid. My philosophy towards my closet is similar to Angie's. I buy the best quality I can, I keep my clothes for a very long time (my cashmere cardigans are 10 years old), I have limited space and I wear what makes me happy. I only shop in B & m stores never the internet. I live in a remote Northern Ontario town. We go to Montreal for extended periods of time so that is when I shop.

I can relate to what Staysfit wrote about people shopping when they experience a loss. After my first husband died I shopped more until I forced myself to stop.

Shopping, clothes, fashion can easily become a hobby for me. I love colour and design. Fashion and interior design is a creative outlet for me. I have to limit the acquisition of new things and use what I have.

Style fan, a hobby or to occupy time is yet another reason for people to shop. Filling any void, time, loneliness, loss..... Mine was a loss.

Thank you for starting such an interesting and thought provoking post. I will be reading every single comment later today.

Astrid,
I absolutely love everything about this post. I strive to avoid mindless consumerism. There's something about a style forum that can feed the "buy, buy, buy" impulse and so I'm always grateful to the many here who strive to be much more thoughtful. Even Angie, even though she tempts me often with fab finds, she maintains a limit to her wardrobe which I completely appreciate. I'm also with you on the sustainable clothing. I would like to buy mostly sustainable clothing but it can be so, so expensive. I also often hold back from buying it in part because of the price but also because I would need to order online and likely pay return shipping for items that don't work.

I'm also jealous of the merino cami. I'm obsessed with merino and have many merino items on my wish list, including an Icebreaker cami.

Very thought-provoking articles. Either would be a good suggestion for Inge's 'Weekly Links' post.

You have written that so well Staysfit and I couldn't agree more with you and also Style fan....loss and trauma can compel many to shop to find someway to compensate for sadness, and the subsequent release of endorphins momentarily eases some of the pain. Paradoxically it can also cause some people to expel many objects from their lives, to perhaps subconsciously avoid reminders of what has been lost. Moving Fashion Forward's recent post on 'What inspired your wardrobe reduction' after the death of her FIL is possibly such an example. I can understand both sides.
And Astrid it is true that we can get a lot of mileage out of good quality clothes which means less need to constantly consume, which is the way I have long ago chosen to live. I prefer a quality over quantity philosophy in all areas of my life, but not necessarily fully minimalist, but certainly not excessive. Like Angie, my closet has a certain number of matching hangers which equates my wardrobe capacity...full stop. I like the way this blogger encourages us to enjoy what we already have....but I guess that happens more readily once we feel well set up.

I haven't read the links yet, but I'm enjoying the thread. I also have a problem with the cultish nature of some of the "new minimalism" in the blogosphere -- in some ways it seems like just another plug for consumerism (buy these ten pieces for this fall and you won't need anything else! Uh, yeah, until winter, and then next spring...).

I realize I am absolutely no model for minimalism -- my wardrobe is likely one of the larger ones around here, although it's smaller than it used to be. I can very nearly fit my four-season wardrobe in my closet now, and I'm thinking of getting rid of one of my hanging storage bags in the basement closet, to eliminate the temptation to fill it again. But I have the resources for it, I don't spend much on other things, and I enjoy the variety, so cutting things down to an arbitrary number just to feel more virtuous makes little sense to me. However, I do sometimes feel a little overwhelmed, or things in my closet suddenly stop appealing to me, and I take that as a sign that it's time to let some things go. What I need to be careful of is the tendency to also take that as an opportunity to hit the stores.

The pursuit of the perfect item is another interesting myth. I've fallen victim to it as well. I could look at a perfectly good item in my closet and compare it to some mythical perfect version of it, which would make me look ten pounds thinner, ten years younger and ten times cooler. Yeah, not gonna happen. Better to practice contentment with what I have until a true flaw shows up -- the fit is wrong, it starts getting worn out, etc. I'm working on this, which is a special challenge when you hang out here, and constantly see fab new items featured.

Approprio is right: "a minimal closet doesn't mean less turnover, and it might even mean more in the long run." In a way, I feel like my more generous wardrobe will allow me to take a longer breather from shopping without feeling like I'm scrambling for something to wear, even if some unusual circumstance occurs. I'll never be a minimalist, but I do like the idea of my own personal version of simplicity. I think that's why my outfits are getting simpler lately.

Everyone need to find their own personal balance of minimalism/simplicity/variety. I've been thinking about this after spending some time in other people's homes lately and seeing how they decorate, especially leading up to the holidays. Some people are minimalist to the point of starkness (which is striking, but not my style), and some people are expressive and maximalist (again, it can be a fun statement, but not my style). It's driven it home to me to be intentional in these decisions -- my default is to hang onto everything because that's how my mom was. But do I need seven boxes of holiday decorations to store when Christmas is over? No, so now there are only six (and next year there will be only five). But I'll never be the kind of person who can put up one little lighted twig tree on a table and call it a day, as much as I kind of admire that.

I'm rambling, but one last thought. I do see a lot of "minimalism" celebration that gives off a holier-than-thou vibe. It is very much like the "I only eat ___" attitude that some "lifestyle" bloggers have. Having minimalist preferences doesn't make a person inherently more virtuous than someone else. And having maximalist tendencies does not necessarily mean a person is wasteful and a glutton. As Angie would say, horses for courses.

Staysfit and Style Fan, thank you for your input. I definitely agree that there are many reasons for consumerism and the shopping habits we have and we sometimes might go overboard and use it as a stress release, to deal with anxiety or to compensate after a loss. Shopping shouldn't become an escape mechanism. It's definitely worth a deeper look, privately.

Sterling, it's my pleasure! So much inspiration in this thread... I will have to go back and read it again from time to time.

Jenny, I agree that being part of a fashion forum definitely feeds the impulse to buy. That said, I love that YLF has all kinds of people on it and it doesn't promote buying just for the sake of buying. There are all kinds of people here with different needs and different budgets and we can all come together and talk about fashion and style no matter if we're buying or not. And yes, I will also have to do a lot more online shopping from now on, although I did find some B&M stores I might be visiting too. Living in a big city helps with that. As for the merino cami (it is Icebreaker) - it arrived half an hour ago and it is perfect! The fit works great on me and it's not itchy at all. I can already tell that I will love wearing it. And it will be perfect travel underwear. I think it will be worth the investment!

Thanks Laurinda! That's a good idea.

DEB, I definitely agree with you. I'm starting to implement this in other areas of my life too, or have already done this for a while. This makes my rather tiny one bedroom appartment seem way more spacious than it is. People are always surprised when I'm telling them how many square metres my flat has.

Janet, I agree with everything you said. I can't take the attitude and arrogance that comes with some of these blogs/statements/posts either. And a lot of the fashion blogs doing the minimalist angle are quite far removed from reality IMO. As if I only needed to get dressed to hang out in fancy cafés and do the occasional city trip to the latest hip haunt. Yeah, no. And I love your Christmas decoration example. My only Christmas decoration is a santa I bought on holiday in Denmark a few years ago (in summer!). But I get the nativity set and Christmas tree at my parents' home, so I might do more if I would actually spend Christmas here.

Astrid, that is such a cute table landscape!!

Wow. This has been very interesting and helpful reading. I love a good discussion and there is a lot here that resonates with me right now. As it's become apparent with my recent hijacking of the forum (lol) , I am in a state of flux right now with where I want to go style wise. This has been precipitated by a few things: stage of life where downsizing and tightening up of the pursestrings is prudent; and a huge desire to simplify and organize. Not minimize, as others have said, but SIMPLIFY. I am one of those people who gets overwhelmed in crowds, in crowded areas (like my closet) , and with too much stuff on my desk, in my makeup bag and in my jewellery box. Claire nailed it: if you only have one pair of scissors.......etc. I am constantly losing and misplacing and forgetting I have things - which is silly and wasteful. I HATE the way I am, and am desperate to get a handle on it. As Staysfit said - shopping and accumulating is a behaviour fraught with so much emotional input - and mine too came from loss and zero self-esteem. What i find happening too is that I've succumbed to the blogs touting minimal/perfect eating/dressing/decorating/living out of a fear of not doing the "right" thing and of a huge sense of competitiveness. I jump on every bandwagon nutritionally and fitness-wise and only now am I calming down and figuring out what works for me. My biggest worry with simplifying my style is looking too "ordinary". Wow - how is that for a huge confession?

Anyways - forgive my rambling. Thanks for opening up this discussion.

Astrid, thank you so much for articulating so eloquently the thoughts that have been in my head the past few years. Your responses to the commenters are so well put because this topic can become quite divisive when people feel their own habits and choices are being challenged. Consumerism is so tightly woven into the fabric of our society it's almost impossible for most of us not to have been affected.

What I find most disturbing in my own behavior is my almost endless capacity to rationalize my own urges to purge and buy. "Keep only what pleases you"--and its variations--can so easily be my cue to get rid of perfectly good items that reflected poor decision-making on my part; if they are not around, I am no longer troubled by my poor choices. This would be fine-- if I didn't repeat the behavior again and again. Same goes for "needs vs. wants"; if I am adequately covered and protected from the elements, do I truly have "needs"? The term "passing on items for another person to enjoy/use" conjures up a much more pleasing image that "filling up the local landfill with my discards". "Experimenting with a trend", "finding my personal style", "HEWI (which makes it sound like a call to action), "filling a wardrobe hole"--the list of reasons I can give myself is almost endless. The simple definition of a rationalization as "a statement which COULD be true, but whose true purpose is to act as an acceptable explanation for an action or behavior to avoid censure or responsibility" seems all too apt, all too often.

Astrid, this is a GREAT thread and everyone's comments are meaningful. Do send the links to Inge for link love tomorrow - and link to this forum thread too. (If you haven't already done so).

Gaylene, I am amused by your own rabbit hole of thoughts. You really enjoy citical thought.

Everyone needs to make peace with what they have, pass on, and purchase. How you make peace with those three things is personal and there is no one solution. YOU NEED TO FIND YOUR OWN BALANCE.

I really do think that thimbelina's analogy to nutrition is spot on.

It's about finding balance, for me. Not self-indulgence -- but not deprivation.

Hah, Suz. I think we wrote balance at the same time. High five. xo