2009, don’t let the door hit you on the way out
December 30th, 2009
2009 was not my favorite year. At all. In fact, I can’t recall a year as bad as 2009. I’m not alone in this – unemployment is remarkably high, people have lost their homes at incredible rates, and we’re still feeling pretty insecure with folks trying to detonate bombs on airlines. Yeah, 2009 sucked.
But it’s almost over, which is great. Because, by tradition of calendar, we all get a reset button in a few days, as 2010 takes over the last four digits of the date we write on checks. (Do we still write checks?)
I, for one, am delighted to welcome 2010.
I have big plans for the upcoming year. Most importantly, I’m going to get a job. The kind with a paycheck and health insurance. That’s absolutely essential. Fortunately, the groundwork has been laid, and I feel quite confident that things will work out.
Beyond employment, however, I have other plans. After reading “No Impact Man” (as well as other things), I decided that 2010 was to be the year of not buying stuff. Sure, I’ll still buy food and medicine and soap and shampoo and deodorant, but I’m cutting out all non-essential spending. If I need clothes that aren’t already in my closet, I’ll borrow something from someone, or I’ll find it secondhand. If I can’t make it or borrow it or find it at a thrift shop, I’m not buying it. I’m not the first, or even the hundredth or thousandth person to do this, but I think it’s time to really commit to changing my behavior as a consumer.
Along with this change, I’m trying to reduce my (and my family’s) use of energy, creation of garbage, and any other wasteful behavior. The worm farm is already going strong (wow, those worms have gotten FAT in two weeks!), which is a faster compost solution than our outdoor compost pile. We only have one car, but we drive it more than we need to. While our house is already energy efficient, we could still be more mindful about turning off lights and using appliances more economically.
I’d love some company. Drop me a line if you want to join in my efforts.
New year’s is a great opportunity to turn on a dime. 2010 will be different from 2009.
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