I saw an advertisement on social media for a giant blanket, offered by Big Blanket Company. It’s ten feet by ten feet, prices start at $160 and go up to over $200 for denser models. That’s one big blanket. It would hold two of me at least, and still have some fabric dragging.
When you look at the amazing amount of stuff available for sale online, I’m amazed we haven’t merchandised ourselves off of our own planet by now. The biggest problem with global commerce is that everything seems to be non-reusable or recyclable. The volume of discarded clothing alone is enough to make a Mount Fuji out of it all at least twice, yet fashion, rather than practicality, dictates replacing your wardrobe annually. Whatever happened to classic pieces that lasted decades?
The idea of reclaiming used stuff seems destined for those willing to take the time to do the work on it. Often it’s folks who have the time, such as people who don’t have a job or one that doesn’t pay all the bills, who create their own lifestyles from the casual discards of others. Imagine if the Big Blanket Company made ten blankets for new mothers with infants and empty wallets, or even five regular ones for homeless shelters instead? Someday that ten foot blanket will go into the charity bin, and maybe wind up becoming a makeshift shelter for some poor man sleeping over a street vent.
My recent big steal bargain at the grocery got me some huge boxes of cereal, but they don’t fit in cabinets which were originally built for standard boxes. Our stuff is growing, and so are we, proving that bigger things don’t always make sense. My being smaller would make sense, too, if more food came in single servings, instead of a month’s supply.
I would be happy with just a blanket I can use on my new mattress which won’t weigh a ton, washes easily and doesn’t discolor like the last one I bought: it came from a trusted manufacturer, but they may be using lesser quality dyes. Which is another flaw in commerce today: their mantra seems to be build cheap, profit to the most vulgar extremes possible.
So I’m using a slightly discolored blanket instead of a huge one for $200. It still keeps me warm.
If smaller works, go with it. The planet will thank you.
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