Shallow things I really don’t want you to take from me.

I don’t think I’m materialistic. I really don’t care about luxury cars, the next iPhone, the most stylish clothes, or name-brand anything.

I grew up with a pretty down-to-earth mom who wore drugstore makeup and sports $2 Old Navy flip-flops to this day. She taught me how to be frugal and clips coupons without shame. In my adulthood, I’ve grown to appreciate quality, but I’m really unimpressed by how much you spent on something if it has no purpose or is expensive for the sake of being flashy and superfluous.

Nevertheless, there are some things…small things…important things that if you tried to take from me, I’d probably scream. Replaceable, yes, but if someone tried to steal them from me, I can see myself getting aggressive.

1. My Airpods

   I didn’t know I’d love the convenience of Airpods to the degree that I do. I can never return to wired headphones that I’d tuck through my shirt to avoid getting caught on doorknobs or getting in the way when I leaned down to clean the shower or toilet. Sometimes when I’m working, I find myself with my Airpods in but no audio running through them. I’ve either forgotten that I put them in or subconsciously know the noise they block helps me focus.

2. My hammock

   I’d conduct life from my hammock if I could. It was a frivolous Amazon purchase last summer that I anticipated I’d enjoy once in a blue moon. Little did I know it would become my favorite spot to nap, unwind, and recharge. I love being outside and I love laying down so why wouldn’t I find a way to do both at the same time?

3. My box fan

   I struggle to fall asleep in complete silence. Especially in a duplex and shared home, I hear every little creak and door closing and murmur of conversation. My box fan is a life-saver in drowning out the sound with white noise helping me fall asleep within moments of closing my eyes.

4. My office chair

   I saw this little cutie of an office chair on the IKEA website earlier this summer. It was among the cheapest they had to offer. The purchase was more out of necessity more than delight, so I invested. It’s a unique olive green with a simple design, rolls, and adjusts with height of course. Nothing outstanding, but I've really fallen in love with it. The green was a bold choice, but it’s one that makes me happy every time I see it.

5. My ukulele

   My baritone ukulele was a purchase I saved up for using a bonus I earned at my office job when I was 22. There was a music store down the block from where I worked and I had eyed this beauty one day while browsing. I’d been learning ukulele with a cheap one I’d picked up from the ABC Store in Kona, Hawaii a few years prior and wanted an upgrade. My baritone ukulele is a muted chestnut brown and its sound is akin to a guitar’s depth of vibration. I’ve spent countless hours cradling it since.