Afraid to simplify?

This post over on Meredith's blog, Like Merchant Ships, has been stuck in my head all day. Go on and read it... I'll wait... just don't forget to come back. ;)

Done? OK. For me, the concept of having a "budget" for something like Botox is just laughable... my budget is more along the lines of drugstore face cream. I'm quite happy with that. I'm not the kind of person who wants or needs fancy cosmetics. If I had enough money to do Botox, I'd be much more likely to spend it getting a fence for our backyard or stocking up on all kinds of fun craft supplies.

So, that's been stuck on my mind, and then tonight I ran across this quote:

“We have grown literally afraid to be poor. We despise anyone who elects to be poor in order to simplify and save his inner life. If he does not join the general scramble and pant with the money-making street, we deem him spiritless and lacking in ambition.” (William James, American Philosopher, 1842-1910)

How true is that? In my quest to simplify things, I still am conscious of "The Joneses". I shop at thrift stores, buy store-brand foods, and do all sorts of frugal things... but I rarely talk about them in real life. I guess on some level I am more concerned with what others think than I thought I was. I know I'm happier with less clutter and less stress, yet I feel compelled to keep up with others in many areas in life. It's something to think about.