Gadget Lover

I had a funny one-sided conversation with my mom yesterday, where she was talking — rather humorously — about my brother and his obsession with his car.  She was saying how amusing it is to see him spending so much time (and money) caring for it and modifying it, because that is exactly how our father has always been with his cars as well.  As soon as he (my dad) would buy a vehicle he would spend a few thousand dollars getting extras for it:  window tint, rain guards, rims, etc etc.

I had to inwardly laugh and cringe, because that is exactly how I am as well.  I’ve only ever bought one new vehicle, but within the month I bought it it had new rims, tint, rain guards, an auto-start, seat covers.  Nothing crazy, just the basics.

I never really gave it much thought, but that “accessory obsession” extends to pretty much every gadget I purchase.  The day I got my iPhone 3G I already had 5 cases for it.  Granted they were free (thanks to a friend who worked for AT&T), but if they hadn’t been free I probably would have bought at least a few of them myself.  And since then I’ve bought at least 4 more cases, a music dock, battery pack, etc.  The same goes for my Kindle 2, which had originally been a present for my mom.  She gave it back to me, couldn’t really get used to it, and I’ve already bought myself 2 different covers for it.  I just can’t seem to help myself.  I’m not one to go out and blow 1,000 bucks on a new TV every year, but I’ll drop 50, 60, 80 bucks on an add-on for a gadget that I just HAVE to have.  Do I really need it, probably not, but it feels like I do!

In my own defense though I do tend to keep these things for quite a few years, and when I finally do upgrade I end up giving the previous model to family or friends.  So nothing is really going to waste.  Every day I come across some other little gadget that gets me practically itching to buy it — I’ve only been out of work 5 days and I’m already getting antsy to get a job so I can justify another gadget purchase.

I’m a sad sad person lol.