An Explanation for My Failure to Support the Economy

I did not buy a bit of tackle on Black Friday.

Did not succumb to the siren’s call of 20% off, BOGO, or any add-ons or freebies.

I feel like I let you all down. I feel like I let myself down.

To be clear, my wife Hanna and I did some shopping over the long holiday weekend. No, we did not line up at insane hours to get a giant TV or a PlayStation 12. We didn’t even go to a brick-and-mortar store. I ordered three button-down shirts to wear to work – after two years of home confinement, I needed a few that fit and weren’t ratty. We also ordered some clothing to take on our upcoming trip to Guatemala. For me, that was it – she may have done a little more damage, but I’m sure it wasn’t much.

Part of the reason is that – after 40 years of bass fishing, and 20 years in the fishing industry – I’ve accumulated a lot of gear, likely more than I’ll ever be able to use. Another part is that I bought a lot of gear over the prior few months, including a hefty order from Yamamoto and a pricey-but-sparse haul from the Swimbait Universe Gathering. I’m not going cold turkey on more stuff. I recognize that at some point I’ll “need” more and that I still get a high from the purchases, without the unpleasant side effects of other illicit substances.

I’ve realized that while my tackle purchases occasionally fill a need, I get a longer-lasting thrill from experiences. That’s odd, because once a day trip or weeklong vacation is over, it’s done, while I may have a certain bait for years or even decades. I am thankful for the ones I’ve had, the places I’ve been, and the ones yet to come. Whether it’s heading halfway around the world to Africa, or Japan, or Brazil, or just going fishing around the house on a day when it would be easier to stay at home, doing stuff is more meaningful than having stuff. And, dare I say it, the people you share those experiences with the matter, too. I am additionally thankful to have a well-developed coterie of co-conspirators and the wisdom to be able to discard those who don’t make the experiences better.

Most of all, miracle of miracles, I have a wife who loves to fish almost as much as I do (although she really doesn’t care one bit about tackle, which makes me slightly suspicious).

As 2022 draws to a close, I am a fortunate man indeed (and I’m sure there will be a tackle purchase, big or small, before the close of January. I’m only human).