Wastefulness

Now, I preface this entry by stating that I know that Americans are not the only people who are wasteful. Some things really irk me, though. Such as, wasting food. Instead of buying out the grocery store and then allowing all of the food to expire. Taking long showers. You don't NEED to stand in the shower for 20 minutes each day (or more). Water is not a renewable resource. I'm pretty sure most of my disgust for these two actions have to do with the fact that I am, in fact, an immigrant. In my parents' country, India, people don't have the luxury of taking a super-long shower, or buying so much food that it expires. In India, even the rich areas don't have a surplus of water since there simply isn't enough water for 1.2 billion people to shower for 20 minutes. When we visit India, we have what's called a bucket bath, where you heat only the amount of water that you need, add it to regular cold water, and have lukewarm water for a bath. It uses about 1/20th of the amount of water that one otherwise wastes, and you still get clean! I wish that other nations would adopt this idea, or at least turn the water off when one is soaping themselves. Anyway, that's one thing that really irks me.

Another one is something that really grinds my gears. Materialism. To be honest, when I hear "iPhone," or "iPad," I think, "Fancy object one does not need." I have a 3-year-old flip phone that I affectionately call my "paperweight." It's reliable, sends and receives calls, and sends and receives text messages. I have a camera and a computer, so I don't need a gadget that combines everything into one. Same thing with new cars. Fancy objects that aren't needed. Aaron and I have a combined income of nearly 6 digits, so we could have those things, but we choose not to, simply because we don't need it. I don't believe in excess of objects, so it's a good way to stay away from it. We both have older cars-- his is a 2001 Jetta and mine is a 1999 Honda Accord, handed down from my aunt and uncle. I intend on getting a family car once we have a larger family, but even that will be used, and will be something practical like a Ford Escape or a Subaru Forester. Something that's big enough for road trips for a family of 4, but not too excessive. I also hate shopping for clothes! I'm lucky in that I'm among the smallest of my friends and don't care to buy new clothes, since I get so many hand-me-downs. When I was in elementary school, I was the smallest girl on the street, so I got tons of hand-me-downs! I have never been one for fancy brand names since it's such a waste of money! That money could go toward so many more important things.

Aaron and I got married 4 months ago, so the inevitability of having to register for gifts came up. This was again something that I really didn't want to do since I don't like STUFF. I don't care if my dinnerware matches, if I have nice china, or if I have fancy servingware...at all. My friends are my real friends, so they don't judge me if I serve something on a regular plate. It's just pretentious, and a waste of money, to invest in such things. So, when I registered (since my bridesmaid said I had to for the bridal shower-- something else I find to be totally materialistic!!), I registered mainly at REI. This means that we could get camping gear and things that we actually wanted, to create memories! Not a glass that can break the next day (or like yesterday, when I accidentally broke a wine glass while washing it), not a spoon that can be lost, not China that we bring out for 'fancy' events, but then run the risk that it will be lost or broken. I figured that was the best solution to fulfill the request of having to register at all.

Something that has always really annoyed me is Baby Showers. I have actually only gone to one (I'm pretty good at declining invitations to things), and it was for a good friend having her second child. Baby Showers seem to be just an excuse to get gifts and get excited about a life that you're about to produce. This is an event that I just don't have fun at for a few major reasons: 1- your baby really doesn't need all those things that you're requiring people to buy you. 2- I don't get excited about people getting pregnant. I don't know what that kid will turn out like, and I hate having to fake that I care about a baby that hasn't yet been born. 3- It was YOUR decision to get pregnant (or not a decision, and just happened), so why should I have to spend money to pay for a decision you made? The worst is when people get upset when people don't attend their baby shower. I feel like the next time I decline, I will just say, "materialism is against my religion" or something equally snarky. What about women who decide not to have kids, or cannot have kids and do not end up becoming mothers? Shouldn't they also be allowed a party where they can just ask for gifts also? I know that Samantha in "Sex and the City" did that, and I think it was a great point. It's just another conventional thing that society accepts, and it's rooted in materialism and the huge profit that the baby industry makes.

And, this is similar to what I wrote on Facebook about how the population will cross 8 billion soon. 8 BILLION PEOPLE. That's just insanity. With the land and water resources depleting, not to mention food security and job security, things seem to have gotten out of hand. When I was about eleven years old, I thought that having 3-4 children would be great, since Christmases would be loud and fun, and I could go through all the fun stages of babyhood, toddlerhood, and childhood 3-4 times. I was 11, I had just started baby-sitting, and I thought that babies were fun despite their crying and throwing up on me sometimes. But, by 18 or so, I realized just how ridiculous that was. Mind you, when I was 18, it was 2002, and the economy was OK. Certainly not as good as during the Clinton Era (really wish I were at least 6 years older to have taken advantage of that great economy!), but it wasn't too bad. But, some realities had already hit for me by the time I was 18, and about to graduate from high school.

1- The cost of college was nearly $36,000 a year for a private school then, and it's about $43,000 now.
2- Emission of gas and fuels. Thankfully, there are now hybrids and electric cars (can't wait to get one!), but they are certainly not popular enough to make up for the fact that so many people drive cars that emit regular gas
3- Usage of water. I know no one seems to think about usage of water in a developed country, but water shortage is a reality in many other countries. Setting good habits of taking short showers, using efficient dishwashers, and not leaving the water running while brushing your teeth are ways to conserve water
4- Narcissism. The idea of having biological children seems kind of cool, like a science experiment of seeing which traits I will pass on, and which traits my husband will pass on. But the idea of having biological children seems a bit narcissistic given the fact that there are so many children who are ALREADY born, who are already consuming, who need good homes. The problem is that adoption is a very difficult and expensive process, so a lot of people who want to adopt give up doing so, and have their own child (in cases where infertility isn't a problem). I totally refuse to have any more than 2 biological children, since I know that I will think of it as absolutely narcissistic. Another reason why I will never go to a baby shower for someone having more than their 2nd child (unless they're adopting, where that's altruistic, and a totally separate issue).

So, needless to say, an 11-year-old saying that she wants to have a large family in the future is really cute. She doesn't yet know of the damage that multiple people put upon the earth, and how much of a financial burden that puts on a family. For the very rich, who can easily write college-tuition checks for their children, that's great. The financial issue isn't one for you, but the carbon footprint certainly is. I find it incredibly irresponsible for parents to have children and then not have any money saved up for their college education. It's like deciding to raise a child for 18 years and then telling them that they have to get a minimum-wage job so that they can support themselves. That child didn't ask to be born, so he or she did not deserve to have to accept only a minimum-wage job where he or she will have to struggle. Student loans are an option, scholarships are also possible but you have to have exceptionally bright and well-rounded children, but neither are a guarantee.

For all of these reasons, people really need to be responsible. If you want to have a child, make sure that you actually know how to provide for him/her. There are no certainties for the future job market, so producing many children means that there is a greater chance of more of those children becoming unemployed or underemployed. Instead of deciding to go wild and multiply like bunnies, invest in a few children with both time and money. Those children are likely to be more successful in the future, and will be straddled with fewer student loans and other debts.

And, don't throw a baby shower for yourself! If someone wants to throw one for you, that's great and nice of them to do so, but don't be offended if people don't decide to go. It was your decision to have a child, and people don't have to shell out money because of a decision that you made. Tax rates are high enough to pay for things that people don't agree with, such as politicians' decisions, military spending, and welfare. Allow people to have the chance to skip out on the event and not shell out even more money for something they don't believe in. Thanks.