Monday, March 16, 2009

Caring About The Environment

Somewhere on the web a while ago I ran across an article stressing the importance of an environment for the creative/inspirational process. It could be a coffee shop or it could be a desk and it could be with or without music but everyone does, or at least should, be able to define their optimum environment. I started to feel all weird and amateurish because I have not noticed that I'm more productive in one place than another. Is it true, does everyone else have a set place they work best in? I work on the couch, I work in bed, I work at the dining room table with Zeb and Valerie playing poker beside me, I work at the Irish pub down the street. I began to wonder how much more effective my efforts would be if I had my own defined environment. When I saw this little gem on Craigslist I knew I had found it - the key to productivity. The boy disagreed. He brought up several valid points, one being that I had decided my allowance this month would go to a breadmaker, not to an old cabinet. Also, the look did not match the antique/wood/warm thing we've got going as a general, haphazard style. I knew that underneath the reasoning he just thought, from the picture on Craigslist, that it was ugly. I disagreed back that warm/wood/antique might start to get a little fusty looking and we needed some chrome. Specifically, a 50's style medical desk in teal and black. When I brought it home that night Zeb took one look at it and informed me he was taking it over for his own. He likes it after all.

But it's mine, all mine, all set up exactly how I like it. When I look up, directly ahead, I see Marjoram. Which is always an inspiring thing. Some of you like to know prices and this is a deal I'm particularly proud of. I found it listed at $50 and did not even try to talk them down. Axon said she saw my desk's beat-up twin in an antique shop for $250 last week. I've spent a lot of time at this desk since I got it. I won't say whether that time has resulted in increased productivity or just reading the entire GFY archives. I'll just say I'm very happy with my environment.

P.S. In writing this post I became increasingly confused about the everyone/everybody they/him/her issue. I found this to be an interesting article on the ambiguous subject.

5 comments:

Melanie said...

VERY cute! And definitly very inspiring.

IndianaJones said...

LOVE IT! my sewing table is our old 50's red and chrome kitchen table and though it hasn't made me more productive per say it is pretty to look at and makes me smile, sometimes that is all that matters to me ;)
good buy too...

Sarah said...

Mel, working on a spice trip.
Summer, YOUR dining room table is inspiring to me! The seller of the desk actually had a red and black chrome table (with leaves) for sale as well. I'm a bit kicking myself that I did not get it. But I already have a dining/kitchen table so it seemed extravagant. Someday... but you're right, seeing something around you home that makes you smile is worth a lot. Hopefully productivity follows.

meg said...

So this isn't a blog about recycling then? No bother, I love the desk, and you said it was an old medical table? Does it have drawers? Either way I love it.

morebeeb said...

OK... Let's talk color. You label your ultra-cool desk as teal colored. When I think of teal I think of the dark blue green that all of us wore incessantly in the 80's. Your mom included. Therefore I had a hard time with that very delicious color being labeled as teal. Robin's egg blue, maybe? Or a pale aqua? Maybe you could send paint swatches from the spice cabinet above. I'm now dying to know...