A spouse, because they would have (and still do) deserve better.
College.
My high school ‘career’ showed nothing but embarrassment, I long knew the risks and costs of college and I could’ve formulated a plan to attend a college had my grades and education improved. Unfortunately this never came to be and I never got so much of a sniff at college, even at community level.
But now with how colleges and universities are handled today, I’m glad I didn’t attend any because the costs would far outweigh any benefit.
A perm. I wanted one so bad back in the 80s. Luckily my hairdresser, who was my whole family’s hairdresser and a friend too, refused. She was a tiny Thai lady who was a force of nature, had a little half basement salon in DC. We would all go and get our hair cut together, I think mostly because there was a pub nearby my dad could go have drinks at while he waited for us.
I’m sure that her reasoning was sound in that it would destroy my hair, but I also think both her and my mom knew how terrible it would look since I’m lazy af and wouldn’t style it. Over the years I’ve only ever dyed my hair a handful of times, never curled or straightened it, no product as I can’t stand the feeling of it. I think it’s helped keep it healthy and now as I’m hitting later 40s and finally know how to really care for it (and have a hairdresser that understands my curls), it’s FABULOUS. Very little grey, big curls and ringlets. It’s the hair I’ve always wanted. Still don’t do shit to it lol. Lazy ftw!
I was on the Tesla 3 waiting list many years ago. When I hit the top of the list I wasn’t totally ready to buy it just yet so I stalled. Eventually I got moved to the Tesla Y list and again waited while family things sorted out. In the end, I got my reservation money back and I’m very very very glad that I didn’t buy:
- A new car for no real reason (I drove my 2004 Subaru for another 10 years or so)
- A car product that’s turning out to be of terrible longevity
- From a Nazi
Drove the 2004 Subaru until we sold it and moved to a country where we don’t need a car at all. Much better way of life.
I haven’t heard about the terrible longevity. They even top the consumer reports list for EVs. What sorts of longevity issues are there?
I don’t know if a tattoo is material… I guess the ink is, so I’ll go with that.
Before coming of age I had plenty of ideas that I would be slightly embarrassed of today (and being slightly embarrassed is, as we know, the worst possible outcome with tattoos from a past you’ve outgrown).
I’ve changed my mind enough over time that I now know I could never decide on a permanent design. But right now I’m really into face spiders. Hopefully that notion fades by the time I feel secure enough in my career to do face spiders…
I want the same tattoos I’ve wanted long ago, but I never could afford them. Its not even big tats, my life is metal on metal.
A luxury car complete with touchscreens, back when a touchscreen was magical and revolutionary. Car maintenance and privacy concerns have taught me to love the very opposite, a 90s Chevy.
At first I was embarrassed & disappointed that my new car had no futuristic modern features whatsoever, just old-fashioned tactile knobs & buttons. But seeing all the Tesla & electric car fiascos & nonsense over the past year, I’m now ridiculously grateful for this basic vehicle I have.
Anyone who has an old car still has gotta feel some level of vindication right now as new cars for all price brackets are screwed right now on multiple levels.
My son just bought a 2003 Chevy van and he’s in love. Captains chairs, futon, no screen and he can work on almost every part off it.
This was in high school, but the way universities are going in the US right now, I’m feeling kinda vindicated in opting not to go to university.
A motorbike. I’ve had a few close calls in a car, I don’t think it would have worked out well on a motorbike.
Plus you can’t really drive motorbikes if you live in places where snow and ice happens. I never really see any motorcyclists out in winter and for very good reason.
I wanted a Harley when I was 16, and yeah… other than the perk of occasionally being able to avoid traffic, cars are so much better and safer.
drugs
So many things. But for some reason the only one I can think of right now is in 2003 I wanted a memory foam mattress so urgently I could cry. We had no furniture whatsoever. But in retrospect I’m glad we didn’t get a mattress because everything is temporary and everything I’ve ever acquired has poofed into oblivion anyway. Best to live without. Poverty builds character. I guess.
