Musings on the stuff I like…

My bow dampener, 30RM / $7, just shipped from Ipoh and could arrive tomorrow. It’s a small grenade style absorber and fits with my minimalist, back to basics setup. Tinkering with my Mission Hype always makes me happy even though I don’t shoot regularly anymore.

I’m glad that my quest for that grail watch has ended with the MudMan solar. I have over 14 watches that don’t fit my lifestyle to varying degrees. Mistakes that could have been avoided by analysis. I’m also perfectly happy with my pre-owned ThinkPad, 1kRM / $240. Something I took a risk on which paid off.

I like my pedestrian out and about gear and my Tern folding bicycle. I don’t think $2k wheels are too much seeing as how I will never own a car.

I like my guitar, my flute, my harmonica. All affordable / standard gear I use daily for songwriting. I used to be obsessed with sound but no more. My ‘hi-fi’ is just a pair of low end Sony TWS earbuds.

I do like spaces tho, and currently, I struggle to find somewhere I can work from and relax in. Right now, I’m lying on the bedroom floor again, on pillows, feet propped up on an old piano bench. Definitely non ideal. But the louvred box fan by my bed divan is a plus. More later…

December’s e-statement is in from our bank. Dad and I have ~65RM monthly interest on a sum of ~35kRM. Planning to keep saving while maintaining a home stash of about 1kRM. We may be in for a second tsunami of Covid.

* * *

It’s an odd, semi uncomfortable feeling when people push you to spend your money. Buy what you need! They exhort. And I have been doing just that since 2015. It’s also uncomfortable when it all comes to an end and there’s nothing left to lust after, practically.

Being mentally disabled limits my travel options. And so does the gradual degradation / weathering of infrastructure and law and order where I live. Not to mention the possible Covid resurgence on the horizon and further blows to the mindspace around me by westerners fighting the Liew witchy 6.

It’s possible I may win $100k by the lunar new year but it’s not a sum big enough for anything spectacular like what you see on TLC travel / car / house remodeling. It’s also a danger to be seen sporting wealth of any kind in these lean times, not being anyone important. Najib and Dr Wee both wear Casio and so does the Pope.

But it’s a nice feeling as you’re ambling through a mall and you see an interesting shop and you know you can afford pretty much whatever they’re selling, and just casually walk in. At 47, I’m increasingly conscious of my wealth-age gap and the invisible barriers to socializing with those who've made it or are chasing success.