Wednesday, October 26, 2011

What Constitutes a Necessity?


I saw this list on the web today and found it interesting. They were making the point that lots of things today that we think of as necessities aren't. How many of them do you have?

Some things our grandparents lived without, that are really not necessary:

microwave-*
dishwasher-*
SUV-*
Luxury car
food processor-*
smart phone
iPad or other tablet
flat-screen TV
refrigerators with ice makers (or perhaps refrigeration at all)-*
air conditioning-*
central heating-*
dryers-*
Roombas
hair dryers-*
workout machines
Kindle
toaster oven

All the items with * by them are the ones I have. The only things I consider to be absolute necessities are air conditioning and a refrigerator. I can't imagine south Georgia in the summer time without them. All the rest are, to me, just conveniences. One other item I consider a necessity which didn't even make the list is a washing machine.

What do you think? What do you consider to be a necessity?

5 comments:

Pom Pom said...

Some necessities: a soft bed, cups for hot drinks, one pair of shoes, a coat, running water, eyeglasses or contacts, kisses. When I watch Lark Rise to Candleford I wonder if there are some of our simple ways that disappear when we aren't paying attention, don't you?

Barbara said...

I've struggled with that one for awhile now. Paul said to Timothy, "If you have food and clothing, with these you will be content." Even shelter isn't listed there - just food and clothing. Makes one wonder, doesn't it?

grannimcd said...

An observation my husband recently made: "Today's luxuries become tomorrow's necessities." Sad but oh so true.

Nan said...

What a great idea for a post, Debbie. I'll bet those grandparents would have loved to have some of the things on the list. Imagine those women washing clothes. I think of my grandmothers, one who had eight kids and the other who had ten. And no washing machine! Things I don't have and don't want on your list are an SUV, microwave, AC, Roombas (I had to look up what it was!). You didn't mention a vacuum cleaner. That's a necessity to me. :<)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

My grandmother's sister was a young mother of three when she died from a laundry accident. She was washing clothes in a big pot boiling over an outdoor fire and her dress caught fire. I think of her sometimes when I'm complaining about doing the laundry with all the mod-cons!