I know, I know. Buying things doesn’t make you happy. Experiences do. But what about paying for gear that helps you have more meaningful experiences where you live? I have spent about 20 years of my adult life in places where it snows every winter, sometimes an awful lot. Utah. Maryland. Iowa. Virginia. And yet it was only last year that I finally bought myself a pair of snow bibs. Every other winter before this, I’d haul jeans on over my long johns to go sledding or build a snowman and be soggy and miserable within 20 minutes.
Finally, it occurred to me how ridiculous I was being in my misguided frugality. I live in a snowy place! It was time to suck it up! So I plunked down $30 to buy myself a cheap pair of snow bibs, and I’m here to testify that it’s made all the difference. This winter, after our first big snowfall, I simply lay there, blissed out on my sledding tube for 20 minutes, marveling at the fact of my warmth. It’s amazing how little money can bring so much pleasure.
What could you buy (or borrow, or rent) that would help you make the most of the place you live?
Consider, for instance,
- a kayak
- hiking boots
- a bicycle
- season tickets to the local playhouse
- porch chairs
- tickets to a concert
- a kite
- skis
- a sled
- rollerblades
- a jogging stroller
- fishing poles
- a bike rack for your car
- a tent and camping supplies
- a pass to a local museum, zoo, or aquarium
- tickets to a sporting event
- pool passes
Although I generally hate when people use the word “invest” to talk about purchasing stuff (These are not stocks, people! You’re not going to get your money back!), there are indeed emotional returns to be had when you buy the equipment you need for your particular place. Your feelings of commitment to your town increase, and you up the likelihood that you’ll have enjoyable, meaningful experiences that will grow your place attachment.
When you outfit yourself for your surroundings, you naturally open more doors to connection, exploration, and simple joy. And even though you don’t “invest” in this gear with the expectation of a measurable return, there is a kind of emotional profit that quietly accumulates over time. Every hike taken, every concert enjoyed, every campsite set up becomes proof that you’re choosing to participate in the life unfolding around you.
That same mindset often shows up in more practical parts of daily living too, especially when it comes to the way we move through the world by car. Even if you’re not eager to pour money into things unnecessarily, the peace that comes from feeling covered and prepared can be its own form of value.
At some point, you may find that short term car insurance options fit naturally into this idea of equipping yourself for the life you actually live, the one that sometimes calls for spontaneous trips, borrowed vehicles, or last-minute plans. It’s less about the paperwork and more about giving yourself the freedom to say yes to experiences without hesitating.
Just like the right boots or the perfect camp chair, the right coverage can make your days unfold a little easier, grounding you with the quiet confidence that you’re ready for whatever comes next.
Money is fraught. But if you want to love where you live, spend a little and buy the gear. Read more at Livability.com.
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Shameless self-promotion portion of the newsletter: Shout-out to the new subscribers I met speaking at the Main Street Now conference in Kansas City! Also, go listen to me talking to Lara McElderry about living somewhere you absolutely don’t want to on the fabulous Married to Doctors podcast. (You know someone who needs this, right?)
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7 items of interest
1. A town in England cut hospital admissions by building community. (Important: We need “men’s sheds” in America.)
2. Why is violence on the decline in cities? Community gardens and block associations.
3. What a grassroots place-love movement looks like.
4. Love Where You Live experiment alert! Make tiny hedgehog crossings in your neighborhood! I’m swooning.
5. Could unbranding your city be better than branding it?
6. I moved into a new house!
7. Only 34 percent of Americans have had their neighbors in their home. GET ON THAT.
xoxo, Melody