Thread seems to have turned into one that may be more appropriately titled: "In which I justify my consumerism."
Ha yeah! Zealotry be damned on both ends of the spectrum. I don't feel the need to justify, just explaining. I will not likely forage for dandelions for each meal or make a home out of mud and straw, or harvest silicon and copper to fashion a computer. I also won't be purchasing $1000 meals, more house than I can manage, or $5000 gaming computers.
I've placed myself on the spectrum of consumerism where I'm comfortable, which is a sight better than it used to be. And when I spend, I spend mindfully, not mindlessly. Because this is a forum of like-minded individuals that are voluntarily 'gathering', encouraging words from your favorite math teacher in 8th grade that actually knew how to teach are much more helpful than the craggly-faced nun who steps out of the dark to remind you that you're doing it all wrong, do it better. IF the intention is to teach or lead by example or share ideas. Perhaps not so much if the intention is to be just a little bit more smug. And I get that too, it's good to be an OG on these forums, and to remind others that you're doing just a little bit better than they are in the shared passion.
A clue that it might be the latter is that it's not reasoned replies on both ends to try and elucidate; it's just shouting the other side down.
Pardon my beer, but one more tangent: the ultimate dollar price is not the only metric I use in mindful spending. I may buy a t-shirt (fill in example) I know is made locally, by willing adults, and it's a damn sight more expensive than the 3 for $5 t-shirts at walmart. That's because, without variation, they are made by unwilling children in a far-away land that you will never meet.
And I say this genuinely, believe it or not. I am very dispassionate about most things, and try to tackle most things with logic. But foreign child-labor is the ultimate logic (and that's why it exists), and I just can't buy the Made in Pakistan shirts (insert location and example here).
Sorry for the tangent. We are trading our life's energy for green pieces of paper and you are free to invest in your life or items. Just be mindful of that.
Hmm something BIFL to make sure it's not OT...
Propper fishing hats. It's a hat! It blocks the sun. They're Berry compliant tactical gear and they fade. But they last forever. Or they would if I didn't keep losing them.