Thread: Crossroads

"Why is it that I always get my best ideas while shaving?"
Albert Einstein

"If you come to a fork in the road, take it."
"It ain't over until it's over."
Yogi Berra

I have a Mongoose Stainless SE. I feel that it will match a straight shave.

Great story, you are older than I as I am only 22, have been for quite a while now and plan on staying that age till i die.

You guys are old!!!

I’m only 12, a gray haired 12, but still

Well, I never understood lying about my age. Old age, as geezer points out, is a gift not everyone gets. I have a friend that is 74 (? I think) that shaves with huge blades 9/8+ and another in his 60’s that just took up straight razor shaving. Sometimes medical conditions and medications (at any age) can make it more pertinent to use another method but short of that I will continue with my straights. Oh yeah, my Mother used to say she was 10 years younger then she was. She died in a car accident when I was a young man. That’s when we found out she was born in 1928. She didn’t get that gift of long life nor did two of my brothers. I am thankful for every year I am given.

Its not a matter of lying about age it is a matter of never really feeling like ive grown up since I was 22. Just changed where I work, same company different locale. Guy ive known since I actually was 22 sat down to lunch at the cafeteria with me. He introdcued me to his daughter who is now working for the company. I knew his daughter when she was born but hadnt seen her since she was about 1 year old.

I am not feeling 22 today

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

I am 27 years old, have been for decades, and am not budging.

Yet, I find myself gradually returning to my roots — before age 27
..................
And so, still at age 27, I don't have to rely on memory of my vintage razors of years ago. They're all here, in excellent shape, and a joy to shave with.

Gentlemen, do you find yourselves at such a crossroad?

Yes but I am budging.

In the last fifty+ years I have learned a bit.
I remember the red handled post exchange shaving brush and Williams or poo in a can
from +50 years ago. I also remember that red haired gal... but I digress.

I now know better at least on the shaving front.
Age 20-30 -- well had I known then what I know now...
The Coticle and razor I bought in '71 heck I could have collected some great hones
and now be retired in style. I think the mid 70s what the last time a barber finished
my haircut with lather and a straight razor. After that all those great bits of steel,
strops and great hones started collecting dust and are now darn hard to find.

Ask me again in three years... you have a bit of a head start on me ;-)

The good news is I look OK with whiskers should it come to that.

Yes. Different crossroads, but crossroads nonetheless.

Born in the 70s, grew up in the 80s, I feel like my generation was the first to really embrace the disposable life. Appliance repair shops were common when I was a kid. By the time I graduated high school, they were largely a thing of the past. It was cheaper (or at least perceived to be cheaper) to buy a new one. Who fixes TVs anymore? I've certainly never fixed a toaster, or even tried to. I just replaced it. Some things are even designed to be obsoleted. Our PS4 is a spectacular gaming system, but it's not backwards compatible. It doesn't play PS3 games and I'm assuming the PS5 won't play our PS4 games when it comes out. It's designed to have a short life.

As I've gotten older I've become increasingly aware that we live in a disposable society and I'm at a point in my life I'd like to minimize that a bit. I drive an 8 year old car with 160k miles on it. I'd love a new one and could certainly afford it but you know what? It's fine. I've meticulously maintained it and the check engine light has never come on once.

My shave is part of that. Buy it, chuck it in a landfill, repeat. Some of my issue is environmental, some of it's just general attitude about disposability. In a small way this breaks the "buy it cheap, throw it out, repeat" attitude.

Throw into the mix things seem insanely paced for me and the world in general. My shave is a chance to unplug and slow down, something that's becoming increasingly important to me.

Originally Posted by AreaMan

Yes. Different crossroads, but crossroads nonetheless.

Born in the 70s, grew up in the 80s, I feel like my generation was the first to really embrace the disposable life. Appliance repair shops were common when I was a kid. By the time I graduated high school, they were largely a thing of the past. It was cheaper (or at least perceived to be cheaper) to buy a new one. Who fixes TVs anymore? I've certainly never fixed a toaster, or even tried to. I just replaced it. Some things are even designed to be obsoleted. Our PS4 is a spectacular gaming system, but it's not backwards compatible. It doesn't play PS3 games and I'm assuming the PS5 won't play our PS4 games when it comes out. It's designed to have a short life.

As I've gotten older I've become increasingly aware that we live in a disposable society and I'm at a point in my life I'd like to minimize that a bit. I drive an 8 year old car with 160k miles on it. I'd love a new one and could certainly afford it but you know what? It's fine. I've meticulously maintained it and the check engine light has never come on once.

My shave is part of that. Buy it, chuck it in a landfill, repeat. Some of my issue is environmental, some of it's just general attitude about disposability. In a small way this breaks the "buy it cheap, throw it out, repeat" attitude.

Throw into the mix things seem insanely paced for me and the world in general. My shave is a chance to unplug and slow down, something that's becoming increasingly important to me.

Very nicely stated!

Before I started with a straight, it was a Gillette Fatboy I had found, was tired of paying $18 at the time for carts, was gobsmacked at how cool it was to shave with what my father used, $1.50 for 10 blades, and you'd get 3-6 shaves per blade. Then came the brush, then one Proraso soap, then the other nice soaps, then the straights....

What a luxury I feel it is now, to end my day or start my day with a meditative, quiet shave, to take my time, to remember to treat my life as something to slow down and enjoy, to experience, rather than treat as a "task list" to rush through.

My favourite, which took me quite awhile to find, was a British Rhodium DE in superb condition, might even have never been used, and gives a stellar shave, they really just don't make em like that anymore.

Great story Obie, thanks!