Socks. Can we talk about socks?
I'd like to talk about my socks. Really. It's kinda long, so get a drink and have a seat.
I put away my socks without pairing them. I pick out my socks without looking at them. I pick out work at the office socks or work in the yard socks without having the lights on. Why? Because all my socks are the same color, brand, and type. I found a type, thick like winter dress socks, that work in the office, in the yard, and at the gym. Then I bought all the same color socks, it goes with everything--at least in my mind. Now you have the background -and how simple my mind works- down, here's the story:
My co-worker, we'll call him Fox, loves his socks. Fox has socks that are not the same, but are still pairs. He has to put them side by side to see the whole picture or message. I'd say Fox has 45 pairs of socks. He can go weeks without repeats and never gets them mixed up. He has a sock system for washing, pairing, sorting, and organizing (I'm not making this up). He has his 'happy socks', 'bad attitude socks', 'leave me alone socks', 'I don't want to be here and the message which might be NSFW, but you can't see it socks so I'm getting away with it socks', etc. He organizes them very well. He knows where to find a pair without pulling them all out. Maybe they each have a home in his drawer and it's labeled, not sure. That's Fox and his socks.
One day Fox and I are talking about socks. I mention how organized he is and he thanks me. However, I went far and said I achieved the same level of organization. I find my socks everyday without issues as well. He says it doesn't count because -as you can guess- he's already noticed all my socks are the same. "Why doesn't it count, I say. We're both wearing socks and both sets match?", I ask. He said it doesn't count because I don't put the same level of effort into it. Then he mentions something about my socks not really going with every color of clothing under the sun. I ignore that comment for the moment and quip back the level of effort doesn't matter, it's the outcome.
Then there's Casimir (again made up name, but real person), he doesn't wear socks. He chimes in, but we both ignore him because not wearing socks for guys in the office is just weird.
Thought to chew on: I set my goals and met them. Does everyone have to have the same sock goals and put the same level of effort into their socks for success? Can someone set lower sock goals than yours and still met a level of sock-ness that is sufficient for them? Will that help them achieve great sock-ness later? Is it better than not wearing socks at all, ahem Casimir?
P.S. We all work in a cube farm and these types of conversations are frequent. Those around us say they don't need to listen to a morning radio show because they know we'll be talking about something crazy to entertain them.
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Thank goodness I have a real office with a real door I can close. I would poison all your lunches. 馃構
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bevocat It is a real office job. Just a lot of cubes. There are some taller cubes in the back of the building that act as offices; it's still a cube wall that doesn't reach the ceiling, but it has a door. Only the highest levels of mgt get an office with real walls.
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Ben K. Oh, gosh! I wasn't implying it wasn't a real office job! I'm sorry!
I was being grateful for my own entirely self-contained four-complete-walls-and-a-locking-door office where I can work in my Fortress of Solitude.
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bevocat I understand, no worries. We do sometime talk to much and our supervisor has to say, I know you are are hitting all your work, etc., but it still looks like you talk too much. Cut it out.
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I like how you think.
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Pair and fold KonMari-style. It takes up less space in the drawer. I went from having not enough room in my sock drawer for all my socks to only using half the drawer. So there is an unrealized benefit, even if it doesn't seem obvious.
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nolesrule interesting. Mine come out of the dryer with other clothes, get separated, and tossed in a sweater hanger/shelf thing in my closet. That's where all my underclothes go. I roll my undershirts, but toss the socks and drawers. It was on sale at Aldi. There's also pockets on the side to hold small items. I don't use a dresser anymore, just my closet. But hey, whatever works for you. I like organization too!
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You might think, you can't keep this single color sock thing going for a long time. The trick is to keep a set/pack together at let them age/fade together. I have a pack of 12 pairs from Christmas unopened because my current set is still in good shape. If one gets a hole, I just toss it. I can still wear the other one because all are really pairs of the others. Once the whole set is faded or elastic goes, then I take that whole set to the garage for a 2nd life of picking up oil, brake fluid, etc. and I'll open a new set/pack.
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Bluff!
馃槈
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lindsay_g I can add a picture of all my socks.
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Ben K. You might start a new trend. We could all post pictures of our socks. Mine, like yours, are basically all the same colour, for the same reason. Although I just get the cheap ones from the supermarket. Buying nice socks has never made it onto the list.... Now I feel a little sad. :(
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lindsay_g They had to pass at the office, otherwise I'd be right there with you. I actually want to talk about m&m's next.
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lindsay_g 鈽猴笍Here was me thinking supermarket socks *were* the nice socks! I like 'em, 'cause that's the only way I get fun ones with wacky designs, like red-white-and-blue stripey glittery ones with peace signs for 4th of July instead of a boring 12 pair of white anklet athletic socks.
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bevocat Maybe you have nicer supermarkets than I was thinking of. In a nearby town, they have a Super Kroger (Kroger Marketplace) and it sells nice clothing.
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Ben K. Nope, I'm talking about a regular old HEB (oh wait, for some reason I had assumed you were from Texas, but I'm sure you mentioned snow days this week, so nope-- anyway, HEB is just sorta like a regular Kroger but cheaper). I'm also talking about cheapy made in China $1.50 a pair or something socks. I have some fancy socks I got at a roller derby shop that say bad words on them for when I lift, but I try not to wear those except for lifting so that they last longer. If I ever find any non-pink socks that say "Deadlift" on one leg and "Diva" on the other, I'll be moving money from my fitness category to my non-essential clothes category for sure!
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bevocat Nope, not Texas., but I have friends in Dallas and Houston. You sound like my co-worker with all his special socks. I asked about them today, and he said, nope you don't want to see them today, which means they are like your lifting socks.
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Well, there are socks and there are socks.
I have my every day socks, lots of them in the same color. Sorting them is easy, because any two make a pair.
I have my running socks, which come in different patterns according to height, weight, and appropriate weather conditions for wearing them. They require more care and effort, and mostly need to be washed inside out. But it's worth the effort, because running is important to me. Probably any old socks would do to run on a treadmill, but if I did that regularly I'd have to commit suicide.
And there are the winter wool socks, that only come out of the drawer in cold weather. In the summer, those winter wool socks just sit there patiently waiting to do their assigned job, even though that job will not arrive for several months. But it will get here, and when it does those winter socks will be ready.
The system isn't perfect. I haven't figured out how to get my socks to keep sick chicks from ticking or sick clocks from tocking.
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Patzer Oh no! Give every sock a job, sounds like a YNAB step!
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Ben K. Socks come in pairs, so every sock only gets half a job. 馃榾
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I confess to a preference for wearing men's socks when wearing pants (they don't work with skirts). I like 100% natural breathable fibers and loose fitting socks with zero elastic, and I just can't find that in women's socks at a reasonable price. I do the sock-seeking vulture swoop through the men's wear section of the big department store at the mall every time I go to the mall, and I happily pounce on my favourite McGregors when there is a half-price sale. I pretty much stick to black socks.
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HappyDance don't get merr started on the woman tax they slap all over the clothing department. That and the lack of pockets are sure to get me going.
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HappyDance Same here, buy them on sale those are great socks.
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TheTabby The 'tax' is going to hit the men's department soon. Now that we have slim fit, regular, modern fit, skinny, tailored fit, traditional fit, full fit, etc. I predict the 'tax' will come soon.
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TheTabby , check out svaha.com for STEAM-themed women's clothes with pockets!
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Ben K. we should all talk more about socks.
I do almost exactly the same as you. Same black socks for everything, no single-pair-dependency, sock life is easy (why should socks take effort? I mean, socks?)
But you made me realise... I still pair them, as much as possible according to the level of fade. Mine have been bought at various times. The fade-matching is only approximate though. Good enough.
I've never understood the Kon-Mari thing. I put mine together, one slightly higher, then turn the tops over to make the pair. Nothing happens to the elastic. Nothing happens to my ability to take a pair of socks from the drawer. Nothing happens to the sky, still hasn't fallen in. It just makes it quick to grab a pair.
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Pikayo lol! I'm just trying inspire others to a more mindful life, spurn myself as well, and focus on what's important in life.
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Pikayo By the way, I'm sure everyone has figured this out, while a very true post about my socks, that wasn't the real purpose of the post. I take simpler solutions over more complex. I think they are easier to remember and stick by. Since they are easier to remember/follow, then the results are better. It's the KISS principle.
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haha I do the same as you. One type of sock, toss em in a drawer and just grab two when I need a fresh pair. I figure my life is complicated enough without having to match pairs of socks and decide which ones to wear each day. :)
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I suppose the truth is that the definition of success can only be answered by the person defining it, and only applies to that individual. You are both successful in your goals, and how you go about it. (and yeah, not wearing socks at all, unless it's with sandals, is just weird.)
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I bought a couple of SockDocks (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B071GPMPCW/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_dsM1EbKEA4J0S) and haven't looked back. Take off my socks and put them in a slot. Once it's full, throw it in the wash. Pull clean socks out of the dock as needed and then repeat the cycle. Recommend!
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Alemap that's brilliant!
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I just wanted to reply to your original question with this post.
Yes, of course your system counts as a success, but you and Fox are actually achieving two different goals. Organizing socks is your stated goal, BUT Fox has an additional goal of making style and personality statements with his socks. You're just wearing socks to absorb foot sweat.
Perhaps you are settling and you should be trying to achieve sock greatness. Likely you aren't reaching your sock potential due to laziness. Maybe Fox is even an American? hero?!
Full transparency, I only have 2 types of socks.
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goose61282 said:
Full transparency, I only have 2 types of socks.Left and right?
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Superbone lol. Yep, I keep all my right socks on one side of the drawer and all the left ones on the other. Sometimes they get mis-categorized, but it's not like I notice.
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This is awesome.
