The Zealot and the Fly-leaf Table

When I first went vegetarian, I heard a ton of stories like this: "My friend was a vegetarian for 5 years and then one day she drove by a MacDonalds and wanted a big mac, and that was it. It ended." So I decided to take a moderate approach to any of the Moral Lifestyle Choices I was making, whether it was about veggie-ism, or consumerism, environment, etc.

And I think it's paid off. I've been following these goals since around 20 years old, so 15 years, and I've only become more consistent and organized about them.

I've had times when my home was so messy, and I was so busy and overwhelmed, that I just threw all the aluminum cans into the trash. And the next time my life was less hectic I created a more organized system for my recycling and I've been good since.

I've had days working late at school, and the only thing I wanted to eat was a cookie (non vegan) from the vending machine. So I did it, and then I remembered to load up on snacks earlier in the day while the cafeteria was still open.

I once ate meat on an airplane flight, and then I got in the habit of bringing Harvey's veggie burgers, or sandwiches etc., on the plane with me (and then shared my meal with the vegetarian next to me when they only had the chicken option left.)

And when it comes to consumering (the point of this post) I try to max out my purchases before replacing them, or upgrading. I wait until my computer is really hampering what I need to do, I waited until I couldn't take dial up any longer, I got cable tv only a few years ago (and use the cheapest package), etc. If I was Really Moral I wouldn't even own half these things, right?

But I refuse to be a zealot. Setting Perfection as a goal is beyond egotistical, and it would just set me up for (a) depression, and (b) giving up. I want a lifestyle that I can sustain til I'm dead--this is a long race, no sprinting.

All of which is coming to mind because we're moving to a new apartment next year, and I'm starting to plan which household items to replace or add to the mix. For example, I want a pretty and highly functioning kitchen so I can sustain my goal of eating less processed food. If that means buying a fold-out table to increase my work space, well, that's what's gonna happen. My Inner Zealot can cry its eyes out and beg me not to:

I.Z.: "You could send that money to The Starving People!"
Me: "I'm not heartless, Inner Zee. But I've got to be practical too. Pass the Ikea catalogue."