I’m in love with this article about meetups to repair broken goods. Working on Sifter and pouring myself into it has bred a fascination with tools, manual labor, and vintage goods. Things used to be built for longevity. Design was simpler and more timeless. It was practical. It was possible to repair things.
These days, with more advanced technology and circuitry and the speed with which companies make improvements to their products, the cost of replacing something is generally lower than the cost of repairing it. Add to that the benefit of gaining new benefits from the upgrade, and we’re throwing away a lot of stuff.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Part of this is about sustainability. Part of it is about a return to working with our hands on something other than a keyboard, and, in this case, part of it is about community. These efforts are powerful and practical on so many levels that it’s hard not to fall in love with it.