Buying clothes lacks the pure pleasure of a few years ago. The recession comes into play, of course, but only in indirect ways. My personal income is the same, and I don't fear losing my job any more than at any other time, but it feels unseemly to carry on in the same blithe way.

The real loss of pleasure comes more from an awareness of why I buy things--to fill a void. It's not a tremendous revelation, but only so when applied personally.

The more things I have, the more aware I am of the emptiness that all these things cannot stem.

Still, I buy far less often now but with a great deal more care and thought. And that is where the pleasure derives, these days. Now when I acquire something, there's greater knowledge of myself involved, that I know what I like and don't like.

Labor Day sale

I went to the Value Village on Labor Day, during their 50% off sale. After much trawling for goods, I came up with a tailored grey wool blazer (found miscategorized in the boy's section), Bass Weejuns loafers with tassels, and a striped scarf (very very outsized...I plan to pile it around my ears come this winter).