I was at a farmer's market type fair on Friday, and a stand selling brightly colored jackets caught my eyes. I walked over, and as soon as I showed even a little bit of interest, the saleslady was ready to sell me one! She very quickly had me out of my own fleece jacket, and into one of hers. It was beautiful and very figure-flattering, although not much warmer than the one I had been wearing. I asked how much it was, unsure of how much money I could be tempted into spending for something I didn't need but that looked very good on me. When she said it was 270 sheckels (the equivalent of about $65, or so), I looked at the jacket longingly, said thank you, but it was too expensive and I didn't really need it. If it had been $20, I think she could have sold it to me - but $65 is just far too much money to spend on an impulse purchase (for me) in general, but especially when I'm not working! So I wasn't going to buy it. But the funny part of this story is, that she replied to my refusal, "yes, you do need it. It looks so much nicer than the one you are wearing!"
Only in Israel is that not an insult! :)
I tell you this story to assure you that while I am out shopping (I prefer to think of it as stimulating the israeli economy!), I like to think that I am being fiscally responsible. Meaning, if I wouldn't buy it in the States, when I did have a job (two, actually), than certainly I am not buying it here. The problem is, I keep finding myself without things that I want or need (sometimes that line is hard to distinguish) that I have at home in Boston. As I was putting on my pajamas tonight, I realized how nice and warm it would be to pull on a pair of sweatpants - but I didn't bring any with me. And I really don't want to buy sweatpants here - I don't "need" them, and I really won't need the extra pair when I am next at home. Certainly one pair of sweatpants wouldn't make a break the budget, but when these things keep coming up, it gets frustrating. Besides, it seems that Israel hasn't caught on to the trend of Walmart or Target - there are no bargain stores. If I were to buy sweatpants, they would be the equivalent of Gap sweatpants, and I'm just not interested...
For example, I would really love to vacuum the rug in our living room. Obviously I am not buying a vacuum for the remaining 6 months here....but I want a clean rug...so I...sweep it?
The nights in Jerusalem have taken a turn for the very cold. At home, I would be wearing my down-jacket these days - and still complaining about the cold! I left it at home because I brought a slightly lighter jacket with me, and I didn't think I had room for that one. I have no interest in buying a new coat - but I'm cold! So I've been piling on the layers....and climbing into bed early, to get under the warm covers!
I think this is less of a result of living in Israel than it is a result of living a transient life-style. If I had made aliyah at the beginning of the year, with the intention of staying for many years, I would have brought everything with me. And if I knew that I was living in the same house for the fore-see-able future, I'd buy things in bulk, care more about the state of my living room rug (perhaps purchase a dust-buster), and maybe even do something with the pieces of the desk that I took apart on the first day I moved in - when I needed to get it out of my room. Instead, the pieces of the desk sit on the landing, my rug is dirty, and I'm without sweatpants. Its not bothering me so much - its just something that I have been noticing. All in all, it is a delicate balance between "want", "need", and "it would help to have, but i'll survive without it". And I think this balance is teaching me something about myself - where I draw those lines of things that I will pay for, and things that I'll just ignore until they go away.
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