Yesterday was “Buy Nothing Day” here in the U.S. I participated in this. I hate shopping the day after Thanksgiving. It’s a fate worse than … well … it’s not worse than being accused in Singapore of selling drugs. But it’s pretty close. LightHusband did purchase some pingpong balls, but this was for the purpose of playing on the newly re-established pingpong table. He and the LightChildren had cleared space for said table and wanted to play. I think it still counts as non-participation.

I am steadily attempting to unhook from the economic machine. It’s impossible, I know, to do so completely. But our culture has an unhealthy attachment to the opiate. I’m not sure what would replace it. I know I haven’t thought this through adequately, but still … being able to make do without being attached is making more and more sense to me. Excepting, of course, for when I’m sick and need to be a princess and have my groceries delivered. Then, all bets are off.

It was reassuring to read that “Buy Nothing Day” has an international element. People are doing this in other countries, particularly the industrialized nations of Europe, I would imagine. I can’t imagine that many people in the Third World need to be told to “Buy Nothing” today. “No, I know you have no money, but just in case you were thinking of buying some food for your family to eat today, it’s Buy Nothing Day, so just wait, please.”

Maggie Dawn is talking about “Buy Nothing Day” on her side of the pond. She didn’t think that “Buy Nothing Day” had much impact there. I don’t want to disabuse her, but I don’t think it has much impact here either, except for in the characters and psyches of those of us who participate. She also has a link to a great new religion on her site. Really, I think it’s the religion for our age. It’s time has come to fullness and fruition. Seriously, tho … check out the new religion. I’m sure you know someone who is a novitiate, or perhaps even a high priest/priestess.