The multiple addiction thing is a truism. About 6 years ago I found B&B, loaded up on gear and have been DE shaving ever since. I had a couple of fountain pens that I bought after I found a pen store with an incredible collection. I bought a Lamy 2000 as my first, then a Pelikan m400 and finally a Pilot vanishing point. Used them for a while and put them away. I tell myself I couldn't find an ink I liked. I'm not really sure why I put them away, I just preferred to use my Lamy ball point.
I hadn't visited B&B for about 4 years and then over the holidays I forgot my brush when I was away for a week. luckily there was an internet vendor right around the corner from where I was staying, bought a new brush, and now I have 7 with another on the way. a dozen new blades and about that many new creams.
While I enjoyed that resurgence, I found the discussions about pens again and went back over to FPN where I bought some noodlers from a member there. I then decided I really liked the convenience of the vanishing points, but the pen was a bit too large for me. Who knew that they produced a smaller version for the Japanese market called the Decimo. And sure enough I found a member who was willing to sell one to me, brand new and unused. I love that pen. I took it on a business trip the day after I got it, wrote with it the entire day and loved it. I use it every day now.
Don't get me started on the home coffee roasting and espresso habit that I acquired about 6-7 years ago - same deal. I think it has a tremendous amount to do with the online communities where we can share what we know and need to know to learn. To learn what it means to enjoy something so much that we enthusiastically invite others to give it a try. And they decide that it works for them.
I liken it to passing along a long, lost art or experience to the next generation. There are easier ways to shave, write, have coffee but we choose to actually enjoy the experience, not just get to the point. Enjoyment of the experience, and the sharing of it with other like, minded people - that's what strengthens the addiction - and I love it.
I hadn't visited B&B for about 4 years and then over the holidays I forgot my brush when I was away for a week. luckily there was an internet vendor right around the corner from where I was staying, bought a new brush, and now I have 7 with another on the way. a dozen new blades and about that many new creams.
While I enjoyed that resurgence, I found the discussions about pens again and went back over to FPN where I bought some noodlers from a member there. I then decided I really liked the convenience of the vanishing points, but the pen was a bit too large for me. Who knew that they produced a smaller version for the Japanese market called the Decimo. And sure enough I found a member who was willing to sell one to me, brand new and unused. I love that pen. I took it on a business trip the day after I got it, wrote with it the entire day and loved it. I use it every day now.
Don't get me started on the home coffee roasting and espresso habit that I acquired about 6-7 years ago - same deal. I think it has a tremendous amount to do with the online communities where we can share what we know and need to know to learn. To learn what it means to enjoy something so much that we enthusiastically invite others to give it a try. And they decide that it works for them.
I liken it to passing along a long, lost art or experience to the next generation. There are easier ways to shave, write, have coffee but we choose to actually enjoy the experience, not just get to the point. Enjoyment of the experience, and the sharing of it with other like, minded people - that's what strengthens the addiction - and I love it.