american consumerism is alive and well

We got a new vehicle: a 2010 Honda Pilot XL. It's dark red with charcoal interior. There are seats for eight people; however, no one is ever going to fight over wanting to sit in the last row of seats. It's a front wheel drive with push button 4 wheel drive. When Paul drove it off the lot, it had 22 miles on the odometer. Yes,it has that new car smell. Why do people like that? It smells like plastic and oil. It's the base model. We didn't think DVD players and rear cameras for reversing were necessary at this stage of our lives.

paul's first new car

we drove it up to masonville to get used to its size and handling. smoooooth

A few words about American consumerism and succumbing to it: We like to think that even though we aren't staying in the US permanently that we have embraced it as our home for the time being, so we are attempting to get the economy back on its feet with some good 'ole consumerism. Something we learned when we moved here and that you might not know is that 80% of the US economy is fed by citizen consumerism. When I moved away, I found that my desire to buy, buy, buy diminished significantly. Part of that was a reaction to American consumerism. I, like everyone I knew, marked everything in our lives with some kind of purchase. Got a new job? Buy something. Got fired? Buy something. Had a fight with your partner? Buy something. Feeling blue? Buy something. Feeling good? Buy something. Break a nail? Buy something. Had a good night's sleep? Buy something. And the shops in the US are ever so accommodating with sales that make your head spin. The other part of that was being in Bulgaria where there isn't really anything to buy. In the UK, what I wanted to buy was so much cheaper in the US that I spent my money there on travel and did my shopping when I came home. Almost all of my fellow ex-pats listed grotesque consumerism as something they didn't like and didn't miss about the US. Some of you know how many pairs of shoes I once owned. While living abroad I became proud of my lack of consumerism. I just want it on the record that I'm managing to resist the urge to buy, buy, buy now that I'm back here and that we are buying to help end the recession, altruism if you will.

Isn't our new car cool? And doesn't my husband look cool in front of it?

the modern marlboro man...