February 3rd, 2005

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Mixed Bag
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In Praise of Medium-Term Possessions

I finally replaced my money clip/card case combo (which I previously wrote about here). Anytime I change wallets, I feel a tiny twinge of sadness for the old one. My previous wallet lasted me about three years. It saw three continents, six different currencies and three different business cards. It sat comfortable in my front pocket, and waited loyally with my keys, watch and wedding ring in a bowl in the kitchen.

Wallets, shoes, bags–we spend a lot of time with these medium-term possessions. We purchase them with care, use them regularly and then replace them. Men, especially, as we’re generally inclined to have fewer and use them more frequently.

I like how these objects change with age. How the fabric on the clip of my old billfold wore away, and was slightly tacky where the money sat against it. How, over time, I’d unknowingly optimized my old backpack, subconciously adjusting the straps until it fit me perfectly. I like my shoes best. I pronate, and when I look down their length they seem to lurch toward each other like sad drunks.

Though I’m very pleased with my new money clip, with its magnetic ‘clip’ and smaller profile, I remember my old one fondly. I can’t bring myself to throw it away immediately. It’ll kick around my desk awhile, demoted to a low-rotation business card holder. Maybe it’s because I try to eschew a lot possessions, but I think, during these tiny changings of the guard, we should pause to appreciate the retiree.

Comments: 6 Responses so far

Matt
February 4th, 2005
1:24 am

Ever thought about the Jimi? http://www.thejimi.com I recently picked one up and it’s great for those times when I want to limit what I carry. (I’m a classic wallet overstuffer. Constanza has nothing on me.) It’s especially great for going out at night, you can slip it into any pocket and I worrying less about losing it.

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Darren
February 4th, 2005
1:28 am

Matt: Indeed, I recently wrote about the Jini. Of course, being hard and plastic, it won’t wear enjoyably as I’ve described.

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Mimi
February 4th, 2005
6:32 am

You take off your wedding ring regularly?

“and waited loyally with my keys, watch and wedding ring in a bowl in the kitchen”

Amongst women, it’s not irregular to remove rings while doing dish washing, however, I’m much more conservative and have only removed my band when is swelled badly as a side-affect to pregnancy.

I get the sense that this is not why you do this. So, why?

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Derek
February 4th, 2005
11:20 am

I pretty much never remove my four rings, which include my wedding and engagement bands. The only regular occasion I do is when I’m kneading raw hamburger.

Since I’m a drummer, the two I have on my pinkies are massively distorted from all the pounding over 15+ years of playing: my left pinkie ring (from high school) is essentially flat along its outer palm edge, since it sits on the pivot of my snare-drum stick. There’s a large callus on the edge of my palm there too.

Yet the rings are still shiny and in good shape.

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Darren
February 4th, 2005
2:39 pm

Mimi: I remove my wedding ring every time I come home. Or rather, I only actually wear it when I leave the house. In fact, if I’m at a close friend’s or family member’s house, I’ll remove my watch, keys, wallet and ring and put them somewhere until I leave. I’ll also take off my shoes, unless my feet smell.

I’ve never really given it much thought. I’ve never been a ring-wearer, so it just seems like the natural thing.

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AhBook
February 11th, 2005
8:05 am

Hey Darren, where did you buy that Fossil clip? It looks great. Yesterday I made a resolution to dump my George Costanza wallet so now I am looking for a better way.

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