I opened my e-mail this morning and found that the product that I manage is getting a new upgrade. This is not an uncommon occurrence. I get upgrades on the Human Resources module for this product at least once every 2-3 months. What is odd is that it is coming less than a month before the yearly convention that we all meet at (yes, dear readers, I will be in New Orleans for 5 glorious days in March to celebrate my participation in this fun world of databases and will not, thusly, be writing during that week…but I digress). It got me to thinking that we, in the west, seem to be all about upgrades.

Nothing is ever good enough. We want the newest version, the most up-to-date, the most technilogically advanced product that we can get our hands on. Now, I wouldn’t normally think this is a bad thing (being the geek girl that I am) but I’m questioning our need to get further and further ahead.

What is it that we’re running from? Why do you need that brand new SUV with the built-in DVD player and heated leather seats? Was your compact economy car not getting you from point A to point B?

Why do you, really, need that 2+ Ghz processor? Are you doing amazing digital media that requires the speed or is it simply to say that you have it?

I think we buy into the notion that bigger is better, newer is the best. We’ve lost the ideal that sometimes oldies are goodies.

I think this is brought to the forefront for me because I do a lot of crafts. I’ve been quilting and doing scrapbooking lately (which really seems to get you into a nostalgic mood) but my first love is bead work. I’ve been buying a lot of my beads on E-bay and recently found people who only deal with vintage beads. These are hand-crafted, phenomenal glass beads. They are incredibly beautiful and a joy to view.

I’m no different than anyone else. I want to trade my Sentra in on a SUV (so I can get in and out of my dirt parking lot and road during the winter months). I like having a fast computer (and I do, occasionally, do multi-media work that requires the speed).

I like to think that I appreciate the past, too, and what it has to offer.

Upgrade now…to something vintage. You might just find a treasure.