>>2799686In a consumerist society, a lot of people's hobby is buying things. Some people find other hobbies which are a route to the same hobby of buying things, e.g. PC gamers/builder who spend ages researching and discussing and buying the latest PC hardware. Or even just buying loot boxes in a game to have more than others.
Or photographers who spend ages on buying the best cameras and lenses but not much time taking pictures.
Or hikers who spend all their time buying gear and no time outside.
...It would disgust Uncle Ted.
I hardly ever buy gear - basically only when I really need something or what I have broke and can't be mended. Used the same boots for years - in fact the first ones I bought, I hiked in them all over the world for more than a decade, only had to get rid of them due to an accident. Used the same coat for more than a decade, etc. You need very little to actually go outdoors.
The last bit of gear I bought proved to be extremely useful though, something I definitely should have bought sooner, but I expect it to last me 15-20 years. I won't say it what it was because I don't want shopping addicts to pursue another dopamine spike in researching it.
