[ShiShiLeo]

Vent away my friend.

Even if you were filthy rich and could buy all the things, consumerism would never end- if anything it would get stronger because you'd be feeding it!

You wanna know a strange thing that helped me conquer consumerism a little bit? Tattoos. Say what you will about body art and all that, but the tattoo industry is refreshingly anti-consumerist (at least in my mind). I really never hesitate to pay money for tattoos because its one of the few things in life that can't be taken away from you. And unlike an ever-expanding storage system, your body isn't infinite- you really have to choose meaningful things to put on your body (though not always haha!). Good, real tattoos from real artists are just pure art paid directly to the artists themselves with no manipulation, targeted ads, or mass production. It's a beautiful thing and made me completely rethink conspicuous spending and luxury goods.

Now I'm not saying to go out and get more tattoos, but I think we buy and collect toys into adulthood as an extension of self-expression and reward. Tangible objects are comforting in an increasingly digital world, doubly so when said objects are tied to our nostalgia. Would you get a tattoo of Gaim on your body?

Maybe the answer is yes, then maybe you should get that Figuart. But what are some other ways you can express your affinity for Gaim Orange Arms? Why does it have to be the Figuart? Is it because Figuarts retain value better than most other Rider merch? The idea that you can re-sell a fungible collectible is merely another tool of consumerism!

Love for Rider is in your heart, not your wallet.

I have no Kamen Rider tattoos. I still love Tokusatsu and all the toys. I believe having a hobby and collecting things is super healthy, but like all good things, you need to be able to manage it. In fact, a lot of the joy from the hobby is how you control it- which shows you choose to watch, picking a favorite series, etc. Never lose sight of the autonomy you have in a world of endless things vying for your attention.

Right, it seems my post also went over long as well! It's great that you've recognized the issue before, I assume, it got out of hand. Keep it up! Read more books and gain more skills, those are also things that can never be taken away from you