Good consumer, bad spiritualist

I've been gripped by the jaws of consumerism lately. I've been fighting off the urge to "buy" new gear impulsively - the last purchase were a set of grivel crampons on clearance - crampons! In southern california! granted, I did use them this past weekend, but I don't think one weekened justifies me spending that much money.

Every day now I've been scouring the internet for good deals on stuff - light weight polycarbonate sunglasses with interchangeable lenses, titanium trekking poles with basket attachments, a tiny wrist computer that is an altimeter, chronometer, stopwatch, countdown timer and preferably a heart rate monitor with a GPS unit attachment.

I know what I'm doing - my sense of self has nearly been choked to death since I haven't been climbing. I am defined through climbing, which to a certain extent is quite limiting. And since it hasnt' been able to define itself and to affirm its self worth, I want to buy new "shiny things" to make myself feel better and ignore what is happening.

Or I just want to support these great companies in their products :)