The End of the Obsession

[Highlander31]

When it comes to your kilted look, it sounds like you have everything you need (with exception of the tweed jacket.)

Now,...what's the next thing on your list?

[CMcG]

Alan H, that is an admirable Kollection! Apparently you have found a cure for the so-called kilt addiction; own everything you need, with a couple variations of each item

[Alan H]

The focus there is on "need".

I NEED oxygen, water, food and shelter from extreme weather. I NEED human interaction. Everything else is "want".

BTW, I left out my Hall box pleat kilt in that list. I made that one, too.

I could easily pare that kilt collection down to:

Capercaillie
California tartan
Gray Stewart
MacNaughton PV to throw in
...and the MacNaughton Ancient that is yet to be finished and be perfectly happy.

...though I'm attached to the MacNicol because it's the first "traditional" kilt that I made, by hand.

[Alan H]

On my list? The tweed jacket, someday. Some sort of brass or bronze kilt pin, I'd pay up to ten bucks for this, but notin a hurry... a nice pewter, more traditional buckle to replace the chrome one on one black belt. That's it.

[CMcG]

The focus there is on "need".

I NEED oxygen, water, food and shelter from extreme weather. I NEED human interaction. Everything else is "want".

<snip>

I would classify clothing in general as a "need" because it can be thought of as a form of shelter... at least it is a need up here in the Great White North! In terms of shelter, it doesn't have to be a kilt and in extreme weather there are probably better choices

There are, however, other types of need beyond biological imperative. Perhaps we might call these predicative needs. If one wants to participate in Highland athletics, one generally needs a kilt, right? If one chooses to wear a kilt in other situations, they will need some other things, like a sporran to hold their stuff. If the kilt has pockets, they still need some things such as a shirt and shoes, if one wants to enter a place like a restaurant. And most forms of human interaction also require clothing

I agree that wearing a kilt is a "want" in terms of necessity, but if one wants to wear the kilt, they "need" the kilt itself and some other gear. The kilt obsession that afflicts or has afflicted many members of this forum (myself included) tends to slow down when one has everything they need to meet the goal of kilting up in whatever circumstances the kiltee desires, as you have demonstrated Alan H. Hopefully that qualifies my earlier statement a bit better.

[Dave.TX]

AlanH, a bit disheartening from someone new to the X and kilting! I can share your pain, though. As a younger man I was obsessed with hot rods. Two years in a row joined the Hot Rod Power Tour (1998 & 1999). After the second year I was burned out on hot rods! Had seen probably over a thousand cars at many, many car shows. The interest hasn't come back to go to another car show. I know the two aren't the same thing but they both can be considered lifestyles and you do join a community of like minded people.

Maybe you aren't as "passionate" about it as you once were, and that's OK in my book. Just don't lose interest altogether. Sounds like it's still a big part of your life but priorities have now set in and being obsessed about it has gone, which is normal.

Dave