Useful Dead Things

So I found an awesome overnight bag/suitcase type thing at a vintage store that's the perfect size for my laptop and other school things. AND it's floral with a black background and it goes with pretty much everything I own =D. And the cat enjoys sitting on it, too (she seemed a little creeped out by the leather bag, but still obligated to at least try to make it smell like her o__o.) Trouble is the handle broke--it's being fixed right now, but in the mean time I'm back to using the leather bag (which in comparison with the suitcase is not only made of dead cow but also a touch too small -__-.)

I've still got the fate of my wool and leather stuff running around the back of my head, though I'm not worrying about it like I was before. I'm planning to replace the belts when I can, and my docs are starting to get really worn out anyway, so I'll probably need another pair of boots soon. I'm thinking I'll keep the docs and the above-mentioned leather bag as back-ups (and I'll explain why that's acceptable to me... further down o__o.) That leaves the wool. Finding a jacket has been difficult (sizing and style already made it hard, looks like wool is the deal-breaker as far as me not having to commission a jacket from scratch goes XD.) The sweaters and tights I will replace as they wear out or when I can afford to replace them, whichever happens first. The wool dress pants (and leftover fabric that will be made into a vest when I can afford it) are not going anywhere--if I could go back in time and tell myself to pick something that didn't come from an animal, I would, but I can't, and they're tailor-made to fit me and should last me my life if I don't get signficantly bigger/smaller and I take care of them, so getting rid of them would be extremely wasteful.

Which brings me back to the factor that lead to me keeping around my leather shoes/bag as back-ups. The idea is that it's better to keep the useful dead things around than it is to waste them (which I'm afraid is what would happen if I donated them, since both are a bit beat-up), as long as I'm not relying on them. And the not-relying on them thing is pretty much for show--not that I think anyone is watching, but whatever. I realize that this puts me outside the definition of vegan, at least if you ask some people, but I don't really care. The word isn't the point, but it is a handy shortcut to getting people to understand that I don't want to consume/buy any animal products at all.

The other reason for getting rid of it was the side effect of perpetuating the idea that it's acceptable to kill/abuse animals for the products we can make from them (by wearing them in public.) Which is part of why I'm going to any effort to get rid of them at all, but I still think that wasting something is worse. As long as I don't buy any more, I'll be okay with myself.