Ostentation
Dec. 19th, 2005 11:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stickmakerWhen I bought a new car last May I kept my 15 year old one. I knew it wasn't worth much as a trade-in, even though it is mechanically sound. Ever since, my mother has been occasionally scowling and telling me "You need to get rid of that thing."
At first, her reason was that the battery would run down. I explained that it was relatively new, and I could probably go a couple of months and have it still start fine. (I try to at least start it every couple of weeks, and drive it around about once a month.)
Most of the time she doesn't give any reason beyond "You don't need two cars!" This in spite of the fact that the old one is a hatchback, and I can use it to haul things which won't fit in the new car, something I've explained repeatedly.
Her latest reason is that paying insurance on two cars is too much of a strain on my budget. I could explain that I get a discount on the secondary car, but don't bother, because I have figured out the real reason why she is so critical of me for keeping the old car.
It's not something that she would (or could) ever come out and say. But she obviously thinks that for one person to own two cars is immodest, improper, ostentatious and downright *wrong*!
At first, her reason was that the battery would run down. I explained that it was relatively new, and I could probably go a couple of months and have it still start fine. (I try to at least start it every couple of weeks, and drive it around about once a month.)
Most of the time she doesn't give any reason beyond "You don't need two cars!" This in spite of the fact that the old one is a hatchback, and I can use it to haul things which won't fit in the new car, something I've explained repeatedly.
Her latest reason is that paying insurance on two cars is too much of a strain on my budget. I could explain that I get a discount on the secondary car, but don't bother, because I have figured out the real reason why she is so critical of me for keeping the old car.
It's not something that she would (or could) ever come out and say. But she obviously thinks that for one person to own two cars is immodest, improper, ostentatious and downright *wrong*!
