y business had a good month in August, which led me to ponder the acquisition of a very nicely made Italian leather handbag. At what point, if at all, can a woman who realizes the transitory nature of existence blow a large chunk of money on a buttery-soft tote? I checked in with M. on this, who again referred to his donkey and the gourd story. The story is really not for polite company, but the point in this situation is again that detachment from whatever satisfaction the thing in question provides is key.

Before I could get too far along in the shopping process, though, M. and I started scouting out furniture for our new house and I realized I was in a whole new territory of spending. My decision-making approach is very Hagakure -- concern yourself greatly with the small stuff, but barely at all with the large. (One is also advised to make every decision within the space of seven breaths.) So I stopped worrying about my wardrobe and instead parted with a far larger chunk in exchange for a hefty dining room table that I instantly knew was the one I would be serving on and eating off for decades to come. There, that was easy.