Jason Powell

I’m fortunate to earn far more than what is necessary to sustain my life (compared to billions of other people in the world).  But this excess of resources tends to create an imprecision in the way I use it.  I believe this imprecision is the root of becoming a full-time consumer and deprives me of a better experience of life.  Since I spend eight or more hours a day working to pay for the things I have or want, I feel it’s important to define these possessions and understand their purpose.  Defining and knowing the purpose of the possessions that I work for is the first step in mastering how and what I live my life for.

Possessions are tools for living life.  This includes anything you can own: books, a computer, a chef’s knife, a house, car, or clothes.  Luxury is a lack of precision in the knowledge of a tool or in its purpose.  Luxury implies an excess of resources, and thus less need for precision.  Jewelry, for example, has little or no purpose except to imply an excess of resources, making it a luxury.  The more expensive it is, the more of a luxury it is (and the less purpose it has!).

Comfort does not necessarily mean luxury.  Electricity, a safe and reliable car, or a good bed is a comfort.  However, comforts can become luxuries if their costs exceed their benefits.  I do believe comforts improve the quality of life when there is a purpose for them.

The best enjoyment of life comes from experiences: largely the acquisition of skills and their practice (e.g., skiing, cooking, writing, performing music, traveling).  Possessions are the tools for experiencing life.  Thus, possessions are best when they are the tools for experiencing life by practicing skills.

Outsourcing (a tool in its own right) many of the tasks of life is either a comfort or luxury.  Eating out at a restaurant, taking my car to a mechanic, or paying someone to cut my grass are all examples of outsourcing the tasks of my life.  Outsourcing is effective as a comfort when our time is better spent doing something else.  If a task is not beneficial or enjoyable, or if I can better contribute that time to being productive in a way I’m good at, it’s best outsourced.  However, many tasks we outsource are beneficial, enjoyable experiences of living.  These tasks may differ for people.  I believe, even as a mediocre cook, that preparing and sharing a meal is one of the most enjoyable experiences of living (I actually put cooking in a special class of tasks–one that I think everyone should know how to do–more on this in another essay).  Repairing a car is not, but it may be for someone else.

I intend to use these ideas as the basic framework for the things I own and want to buy.  Possessions can encumber us–the more numerous or costly our possessions, the more resources we must dedicate to maintaining them.  Ideally, these ideas will lead to me wanting and buying less and using my possessions to effectively better my life.

Conclusion:

Acquire possessions that improve the experiences of living.  Comforts do not contribute to the experience of living when their costs exceed their benefits, at which point they become luxuries.  As understanding and purpose for a possession or tool increases, the threshold for when a comfort becomes a luxury lowers (i.e., the benefits decrease).

Please feel free to disagree with me, especially with examples.  I do want to test these ideas.

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