These day it’s very tempting to go shopping for things online while we are stuck in our homes, especially for new items to keep ourselves entertained while we are still barred from going outside. I follow a set of people on twitter who are heavily into cars like I am, and the most common thing those guys and gals have purchased during the lockdown is racing simulation equipment. I get it: we all love driving, and since we’re prevented from doing so in the actual, driving virtual ones in a video game makes for a convincing facsimile.
Seeing so many people hopping onto their favorite racing sims even inspired me to pull out my own set of pedals and wheel from the closet and fire up Assetto Corsa for first time in almost a year. It didn’t take long for the muscle memory to return, and because I’m sat in front of a massive 58-inch television, the immersion factor is considerable, and super fun.
But that’s a setup I’ve already bought; had this not been the case, I don’t think I would have spent the few hundred dollars in buying a set just for this quarantine situation. The future is highly uncertain right now, and even though I’m extremely lucky to work for the State of California at a fairly secure position, I don’t feel comfortable taking that for granted. Right now, any discretionary income is going into the rainy-day fund; should the future economy make a turn for the worse than it has already become, I want to be as ready as possible.
Obviously, how another person spend their money is absolutely none of my business, and I’d be lying if I haven’t been tempted many times to plop down money on frivolous things. This is not a criticism towards others, but rather an explanation of my attitude towards the present situation in regards to money. The hope remains we will weather this cleanly and safely out towards the other side.
One can never escape the dongle life.