Pen Fast Chat #3
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- In this video, I discuss how it's going with my "pen fast" (no buy of pens, inks and hobby related things with the exception of stamps and important necessities). My last pen purchase was May 17th so I've now been over 2 months/60 days and it is getting easier.
I share some ideas from the comment section of Pen Fast Chat 2. There have been some really great ideas shared! Thank you everyone who has participated and given feedback and ideas.
My plan is to continue this pen fast AT LEAST thru the end of September. And between now and then I plan a monthly pen chat to talk about the experience.
I certainly have plenty of room for improvement as I'm changing habits that I carried on with for about 7 years so ... it could get interesting. :)
Here are links to the other 2 videos in this series and they are also play listed:
First in the series:
• Pen Chat about my upco...
Second in the series:
• Pen Fast Chat #2
My Instagram: / snowball7470
My pen email: chris@inkswatch.com
Thank you for watching and I look forward to "talking" with you in the comment section!
Since Cocoa appears so often on your channel, I think it's okay to spend channel money on him. He's almost your co-star!
I like how you related fountain pens to food. I know that for me, one thing that helped was time away and getting out of the habit. Then I could come back and pick and choose my videos. I was able to watch videos about pens I found interesting without being tempted to buy. Eventually I'll buy a pen, but I've been looking at other facets of the hobby like notebooks.
Hi :) ... I am happy to see that time is making a difference to me too in feeling less tempted. Two months into not buying hobby stuff I'm much more adapted now!!! It could very well be that the only pen I get for the rest of this year may be whatever I pick for my Christmas pen ... Manuel was asking me if I had decided yet. :)
Oh Coco ... yes he wants to be in the videos ... and everyday at least once he steals my office chair where I work on letters and journaling. :) He came along as a kitten when I was 2 years in with my channel.
Thank you Chris for sharing you experience with us. This helps on so many of us. "How you do one thing, you do everything" and understanding our impulse buying come help withour impulse/or boredom eating, numbing enterteiment, etc. It's all about getting to know ourselves and you being open with us help us pose the same questions to ourselves. Thank you for being there, keep us bringing your question to us and sharing your journey. Also thank you to everyone who has shared so far. I am learning so much from all of you.
Hi @irmaq4072 I'm just really glad I can share this experience with like minded people! The learning and help seems very mutual ... thank you for being here!
Thanks Chris for chatting about your pen fast. Food for thought, relatable experiences and emotions. I am not on a fast, but being mindful about all things that come in my live.
Glad the fast is going good. I think my last pen purchase was about 3 months ago and have no desire for anything else right now mainly because nothing has come up that I really like or don’t already have. I’m off of buying inks too because Im trying to use up at least half of the bottles I have (which is about 14 bottles) before I buy anything else. I haven’t yet tired of this hobby and don’t think I ever will because I just like writing and drawing with pens and other art supplies.
Hi @lju5001 it's really cool how many side roads this hobby has to keep us occupied! I do find that focusing on the pen pal writing, notetaking and upkeep and exploration of the pens and inks I have is quite a lot .... more than enough to keep me busy and not bored in the hobby!!!!! :)
Definitely yes, these videos are helpful. I didn't buy any new pen this month (it was not easy because of the sales)...Though I'm still scrolling on the retailers websites when I'm tired. I need to replace this habbit with something else. So good to ear that the pen fast become easier with time !
And I'm glad you thought that my comment is helping for the collective pot of thought on this topic. Thanks for quoting it.☺️
Hi @lagreenwitch - it is hard to resist sales!!! Also, last night (July 30) I got an email that something is "back in stock" which I wanted from Vanness .... but ugh ... so hopefully it will be there again during a buying window. It's "only" a $10 nib holder for dip pen which I don't "NEED" so I will carry on. :)
I think your “fast” is great. It will help you to come up with new ways to help us at find creative ways to enjoy our pens.
Hi @RitaCWise - yes I can honestly feel the creativity (even just in writing pen pal letters) increasing already and I'm happy about that! It means I/we can spend more time with the purpose or reason we got the pens and inks in the first place! :) Making the hobby that much more satisfying!
I like the wait period idea. I've been doing that somewhat, but not with a specific period or plan. I think finding a way past the FOMO period is very good. And thanks for using my comment!!
Hi Terri!!!!
I love hearing all about how your pen fasting is going! I figured that in my case, pens/inks buying period comes and goes as a phase. There are weeks when I'm starring at never ending list of items in my shopping cart, and there are months when I don't even bother watching all those new pen videos.
Hi @kitkat6341 - it is kind of like that isn't it! In fact, I was worried before I started this that demand resistance would just make it worse than usual to refrain from buying but instead I'm becoming more mindful of patterns and it feels better somehow!
Hi Chris, thank you for the mention :) Its good to hear how you are going with your pen fast, and its interesting to hear how other people manage with the low/no buying windows. I received my first lot of channel money since starting my channel in September 2022, so I broke my no spend (about 11 weeks into it) and bought a couple of Twsbi's that I had my eye on. I have decided that I will build up my Twsbi Eco rainbow over time and these pens will be designated and kept inked up with my rainbow colours and my other pens will be used with more seasonal inks. I love that nothing is ever set in stone and can evolve over time to keep things interesting. Glad you and Manuel and the kitty family are all ok and have not been impacted with the wild weather. Take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend :)
Hi Jayne -- congratulations on getting your first channel money!!!! Yeah!!!! You can't go wrong with TWSBIs in my opinion!
Hang in there! You’re helping me get thru my own which I set earlier this year, and I am just finishing a full bottle of J. Herbin Bleu de Minuit and moving on to another bottle to tackle before the year’s end. Thanks for the encouragement!
Hi - it's going good -- especially in that I'm using and enjoying pens and inks I've had a long time! It's very encouraging to know other people are also doing this!!!!!
Thank you for your update and all of your comments and advice. I'm sure you will achieve what you desire from your commitment. I will be cutting back severely on my purchases for a while. I believe that it will give me some great learnings on why I make the purchases, or want the products, and whether I get the satisfaction from the planning, purchase or use of the pens especially. Like Jayne, I will probably get a lot of pleasure exploring and experiencing the pens I already have.
Hi @raybuck -- I've been so relieved that "not buying" gets easier and easier and that in fact I feel better about it as I go along! I think you will also have a lot of insights about the habit(s) of buying too .. I know I have. So far, this pen fast has only made my enjoyment of the hobby increase!
Dear Chris, like so many other commenters (is that a word? lol Yes it is! Just looked it up!) have already said here: I really am enjoying you and your channel so much!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm totally hooked!!!!!!!! It started with your very helpful pen reviews of pens that I was looking at. Then it progressed with the currently inked pens, and then the rest!!!!!!!! Your fasting theme is super helpful to me too, on every level!!!! You are a fantastic proponent of the benefits, because of all your experience with it that you've shared and you provide proof because you are so fresh faced and quite radiant looking if I may say so!!!! Your cheerful disposition and passion for the pen hobby is also lovely, inspiring, and quite contagious in a wonderful way!
I'm getting a lot of food for thought from you, haha to carry on the food=pens idea, haha! Food=pens=Thoughts. And Fasting from Thoughts is another good one! Haha! Meditation I suppose! Which I don't do! I suppose I feel if I go for a walk, I'm kind of forced to sort of meditate meanwhile. ;) I suppose the benefits that people claim from proper meditating if done correctly are similar to any kind of even short periodic fasting: more clarity, focus, purpose, restfulness etc.
Anyway, I managed 2 days of stopping eating around 4:30pm and only water after until going to bed at around 12am. This was huge for me! However the 3rd day I fell back into my old habit of snacking later. But I got the taste of what it's like to just be fine and satisfied with just water, and not feel hungry at all, and not have the need for any nibbles at all. So I am keen to build on that experience and fasting muscle!
I also have to learnt to set fasting times for myself from social media and videos! To free up time for my huge to do list! Also to actually have the time to enjoy journaling and planning with my fountain pens! I have a very small modest collection of pens ,and I'd love to buy and experience more, but I just can't justify spending much money, so I've been extremely cautious about buying. Yet I've experienced not being able to stop thinking about them and filling up shopping baskets only in order to empty them again, lol. So I've learnt I also have to be cautious about the amount of time I spend watching fountain pen videos, and researching fountain pens for the purpose of buying when honestly I can't really afford the time or money, and it doesn't even result in a purchase! And I am not even using my fpens that I have anywhere near to as much as I should be!
My fp collection consists mostly of lamy. 8 of them. Those are the core workhorses of my collection and I find them quite satisfying and adequate. White with black clip safari (M) -one of my first fp's from years back, whose clip has come loose so I took it off because the top of the cap was coming loose too. I unscrewed the top of the cap and was able to screw it back on securely and firmly. This lamy is now clipless. I'm very fond of the nib which feels like a soft felt tip pen, more than other lamy nibs.
In recent years I added: charcoal safari (EF), cream safari (B), bronze Al Star (B), white silver Al Star (F), Vista (M), brushed silver studio (M), navy blue studio (M but writes more like a B)- that one was actually a very generous 50th Birthday gift. I'll be 52 soon on the 17th of August. Props to your 17th May last pen buy!
Other than that I have a Black Jinhao X159 (M), Navy Blue Jinhao X159 (F). I quite like their feel and their nibs, except for having to unscrew their cap I find a bit cumbersome.
Black and gold trim Parker Sonnet (F). It's ok, well balanced, a nice weight, BUT a bit on the too small side. I also have a Jinhao 82, even slightly smaller, and way lighter, which does feel a bit too small, so I'm not contemplating any Sailor Pro Gear Slim, or anything in that kind of smaller size range! No Kaweco Al-Sports for me either! I can live without those I think! Haha! I also have a dark grey body and red lid Pilot Kakuno (F) which at first I thought was maybe too light weight as well, but I got used to it now, and enjoy the nib, which does feel quite different to the lamy nib.
Sorry I've gone on for a bit too long!!!!!!
I hope you get lots of revenue from your you tube channel as you deserve it, in order to spend on your pen hobby. I'm certainly going to be watching more of your videos.
Hi Magdalena - your Lamy Safari "clipless" sounds really interesting! I'm not sure how to get the finial off but it does have a place on the outside for a screwdriver I'm just chicken about hurting it. :)
Your collection sounds very manageable and reasonable!!!!! I'm a little envious! :) Thanks for being here!!!!!!
Kudos to Coco, the happiest camper in this capper. So much for my No Buy July theme. An overnight in an emergency ward with just AliExpress & TEMU and I’m toast. Not to mention finding all the “deals” on Ebay… I’m avoiding the pen fest in Brooklyn to keep my sanity/bank account and find the joy in cleaning five pens (including the X750 you recommend) and deciding what inks I could you with them. Hope to join your fasting soon!
Hi @honnony
It’s a joy to listen to your chat conversations as you share such great thoughts to consider. While I haven’t committed to or written a pen/hobby fast yet, I am proud of myself for not giving in to the latest coffee/cafe colored TWSBIs or the beautiful Esterbrook X Bungabox pens. I have been exploring more ink bottles and colors. I look forward to the next chat.
Hi Marcell -- it took me a long time to stop buying TWSBI Ecos and I still don't rule it out forever but I filled a 24-pen case with them and I still haven't figured out how to write with more than one at a time lol. I do enjoy and use my TWSBIs regularly so, like you, new colors are tempting but I've gone along pretty well for awhile no buying new colors! :)
@@ChrisSaenz13 Status update: I succumbed and ordered the Bungabox X Esterbrook B last Wednesday and it arrived Saturday. No regrets as it is a beautiful floral pink pen. 🌸
I'm so glad to hear you are enjoying the hobby even more! I'm really proud of you, I think it's important to remember that all these media outlets's main purpose is to separate us from our money in one way or another. Like you said, the human connection is the real treasure! I'm looking forward to the currently inked and progress reports!
Hi Chris, thank you for the videos on this topic. I don’t usually comment, but I’d like to share my honest opinion. First, I want to emphasize that everyone decides what’s best for themselves. With that said, here’s my take on pen purchases. I currently own around 50 pens, mostly low-cost ones because I have limited budge. Lately, though, I’ve been feeling disheartened. It seems like there’s a never-ending cycle of new pen models and colors. I feel like a dog chasing after a ball - the owner throws it, the dog retrieves it, and the cycle repeats endlessly. Each time a new model is released, I find myself buying it, perpetuating the cycle.
I find the idea of pens fasting so interesting. I want to regain control and appreciate what I already have. However, it’s challenging for me. To tackle this, I’ve cut down on social media, where I often encounter an overwhelming urge to buy. When I see a new pen I try to think, “Do I really need this?” Some pens I’ve barely used, even after buying them. This broader perspective extends beyond pens. I’m starting to feeling around me, the constant pursuit of the unattainable.
It’s just my opinion, and everyone should do what feels right for them. I hope this encourages others to think from a alternative perspective. And once again, thank you for your videos! 😊
Hi @1bosolucas -- oh your analogy of the dog chasing after a ball really perfectly showcases my frustration with myself over repeating the same behavior mindlessly (purchasing pens, inks, etc) ... fun but going nowhere I'd say!!! :)
And even the dog gets tired of fetching the ball eventually. LOL
It's really so helpful to read perspectives - thank you for your comment - you've given me a framework with which to view the past behavior I've wanted to change and am striving to change. :)
@@ChrisSaenz13 Thank you very much for your kind response! I share the same sentiment-this hobby is fascinating, and buying pens can indeed be quite tempting. I, too, need to exercise self-control when it comes to making purchases. It’s not easy! 😅 I’m glad you enjoyed the analogy. I heard it in a speech years ago, and it stuck with me. Perhaps one day, I’ll be content with hunting for pens. 😁
I know it's going to be a good day when there's a new video from you to watch in the morning! I've been constantly considering some small side hustles that are fun things I'm already doing. You might consider seeing about offering a Skillshare class? Something on fountain pens and ink or penpals? Or how to start a niche youtube channel? You can do that from home. Or you could see about maybe offering an in-person class at your local library or senior center? They pay for people to do those things if you don't mind going out here and there for it.
Hi Jessica -- these are great ideas - thank you! I was thinking about developing something for the library ... that would be really fun ... and could also work (same class format) for the senior center(s).
I'm glad to hear your journey is progressing well :) I think focusing more on what one has has the added benefit of finally getting to the things I tend to postpone. For example getting some "better" (as in better fit) nibs for certain pens I love, but the nibs are the reason I don't grab them as often as I'd like but at the same time I don't want to get rid of them, cause I really love them. You mentioned it with the nib swapping, it's something I plan on, but didn't go for it yet (cause it's money and I so far bought other stuff for the same money/budget).
Hopefully you'll get to the state where I am, where I can watch the "new hot stuff" without having any urge to buy (ish, if it's my favourite pen model, then it's nagging me a bit). And the feelings you shared, I think that identifying what you feel is one half of the step to deal with it and adjust to "lessen their impact" on your life.
One thing that actually helped me this year was starting journalling for the first time in my life. I just write about any random thought I have and when I read back on it, it's pointed out things to me that I didn't realize. Made me focus on some parts of my psyche I want to fix. And I think it can also help support one's decisions like restraint too. Before journalling I kept making lists of things that I wanted and just making those lists made me look less at the "buy now" and just overanalyze all the lists I was making and journalling in a way is similar. More thought, less impulse/emotional reactions.
I'm looking forward to hearing about your journey and best of vibes to you :)
Chris, you're a joy to watch and listen to. I find your ideas both fascinating and inspiring. Also, love seeing the array of books behind you.
Hi @INCWorks thank you!
I enjoy using a single pen and ink for an entire week, the experience lets me reconnect with a pairing over time and explore a combination more deeply.
Hi @JosephDickson -- that's a really good idea -- I remember when my pen friend Annie did this! I just may try this one month. That would be very deep dives with 4 pens/inks given the amount I write everyday ... it actually sounds fun.
@@ChrisSaenz13I tried it this week and what I found is it made paper the variable that changed almost daily.
Kaweco Sport with Pilot Blue Black.
I used a Nolty diary with limestone paper, Kokuyo Campus, Travelers Notebook lightweight paper and Laconic. I learned a lot about the pros and cons of each paper selection. 😉
I've looked at pens on various websites, but none have really floated my boat, so I've still not purchased any pens. I reckon it's around 12 months now since I started my no buy......though I can't really remember the date when I started and the months seem to whizz by lol. With hindsight, perhaps I ought to have made a note of the date!
Hi Annie! WOW a year that's great! The time does seem to go by so fast! I am learning where my buying triggers are during this time ... :)
Trying to have a no buy myself. I can only use 1 pen at a time. I have 2 30ml and 1 50ml bottles of ink. That should do me for a good while. In addition to my collection (3 safaris 2 ecos 1 kaweco sport and a diamond 580 smoke rose gold) I have approximately 100 to 150 new assorted ballpoint, gel and rollerball pens. Don't ask, long story. LOL. Learning to use what I have. Also, have about 75 assorted notebooks, pads and journals. The I organize the more I find. 😂😂😂
Hi David -- don't worry ... I won't ask how you got so many pens/notebooks .... I can well imagine given the many ways I acquired pens, inks and notebooks over the past years. When I first came into fountain pens in 2016 I had so many gel pens and felt tip markers .... plus ball points ..... gradually I've written most of those dry with the help of other family. :)
I am still gaga over my newish King of Pen. Thinking of selling a bunch of other pens in order to buy a second one.
I endorse that completely. I’m seeking to further pare down my current collection (65) by hopefully selling maybe a handful more pens to help me buy my fourth KoP. This time, a colored urushi on ebonite one.
Oh that's cool - I have to admit I'm so wild about the Benu pens that I can now actually see myself selling off some others to increase that part of my collection. :) Not until after this pen fast experiment though.
For me; I really, REALLY enjoy being informed and educated about any hobby I have, and pens are no exception. But it is a huge trigger to buy. Mabe, I will consider a pen fast but AFTER the D.C. Super Show. After all, it's only seven days away...😅
Hi Teresa - I hope you got to the DC pen show!!!! It always looks fun when I see the videos and pictures from the shows! And a bit overwhelming! :)
@@ChrisSaenz13 it's very overwhelming, but it's the best way to meet the pen enthusiasts that most of us only ever see on UA-cam
I didn't think about it before this video, but with you comparing your buying freeze to fasting with food, I can't help but feel like if we send you a care package we are "force feeding" you in a way. I hope in your next update video you let us know if it feels like that to you. Would hate to do anything to make this fast harder for you.
Hi David -- oh no, I have not felt negative in any way about care packages ... in fact ... with not making any purchases ... getting a surprise of any kind (it has happened a few times recently) is just even more of a "treat" I guess you could say ... very unexpected and appreciated even more probably because of the fact that I'm not ordering things!
I do have a lot of ink and pens and hobby related things and I don't "need" anything ... so the one emotion that can at times creep in is guilt .... but I always put things to good use and pass along anything duplicate or that doesn't work out for me ... !
I think where this differs from food is actually that I'm looking most at the financial aspect of the hobby in this fast ... I'm not comfortable being so out of balance financially I think. It was a good case in point when I bought the carrier for Coco ... that was truly a needed item ... boring to buy but in every way something that was a wiser use of resources vs another pen for instance! Hope this makes sense! And thank you ... hope my letter reaches you or got there already!!!!
I’ve only bought a birthday Benu this year in May. I’ve been trying to use some pens that I haven’t used in awhile. I just inked up a Pilot Metropolitann which is a favorite that I hadn’t used in a while. We can enjoy what we have right?
Hi Kathy -- yes we sure can (enjoy what we have) -- more and more lately I have wondered what ailed me in always pursuing more pens with so many great ones already here. :) I have to believe I formed habits + I was enabled quite a bit lol.
Being a vintage pen, mostly, person I really understand waiting. Would I like to get everything I've wanted? Sure! But I have a fixed disability income that stops my impulse buying. 😁 I watch all the time, but I also pass on probably a hundred pens every month. (I've been paring down my Esterbrook selection to pre 1953, right now, that I'm looking for (though I wouldn't pass on an Esterbrook Safari, for the right price. 😁)
Limited my purchases. This month, I did get one. A transitional era Esterbrook SJ. First one I've ever seen "in the wild," and I got it for CHEAP. (Majority of the transitional Esterbrook pens out there tend to be the J, and nothing else. I have yet to find an LJ, and have almost all the J colors...) Not a rare nib (it's the lower end 1550 extra fine posting, which was kinda the throwaway for accounting), but still. Vintage, you either can't be picky on your nib size, or you pay more.
Being mindful in your habit can help. You can have the sales information when you don't NEED to buy. And like you said, just because you get information about something, doesn't mean that you HAVE to look at it.
Right now, I have enough. Limited selection of inks right now, but enough right now. Have certainly enough pens. Have a few notebooks. Have writing paper and envelopes, even some blank inside greeting cards. Even have postage stamps. I don't need more right now.
Stick to your guns, and you can keep your "pen fast!"
There’s a rare red oversized vintage Esterbrook pen that seems to have on the Anderson Pens website for what seems like ages. I’ve often been badly tempted to buy it. The price ($600) killed the urge every time.
@@sajjadhusain4146 I've seen it. Wish I'd started my collecting earlier (the 1980s. 😁)
Hi Paul -- I think it had been over 3 months since I had to purchase stamps .... and that's something with letters going out almost every day!!!! :) I'm looking forward to being much stronger in my resolve and being able to selectively research things and still stay with my pen fast!!! Right now it feels like finances also stop me from impulse buying too ... at least in the pen hobby since there were other actual needs that come first. :) E-bay is one of those places I don't look at much right now because I still feel tempted by the Jinhao and Moonman pens. Keeping busy with all the "real" writing and stuff has helped a lot!!!
@ChrisSaenz13 One thing to remember with Jinhao and Moonman/Majohn: you've probably already gotten the nib in the pen. Unless you have a nib you have to put in something, do you REALLY need that new color or design?
Helped me right away with my vintage Esterbrook obsession. I prefer the pre 1953 cellulose acetate for the "Dollar" models through the double jewel J series. And really only want an example of each color and model. Don't need "rootbeer" and the lighter copper. Don't have to find an "icicle" pattern.
With Esterbrook there were 6 colors only, through at least the double jewel J series: black (which was either hard rubber early on, or an actually decent plastic before many others were using plastic), red (not "dubonnet red), gray (not silver), green (not grass or fern green) blue (which surprisingly didn't pick up names from collectors), copper (not "rootbeer" for darker examples). And "mackerel"? Who knows who came up with that. Icicle looks cool (like pinstripe), but it's just what they made for the standard colors in the mid 1950s, particularly in England. Just a collector name.
Jinhao especially can come in almost as many colors and patterns as the LAMY Safari. Unless you want to collect (and they ARE cheaper than LAMY), do you REALLY need it?
Sure, there's still going to be the one that just speaks to you. 😁
@@paulherman5822 Oh god, I actually feel the same way about two other pen brands besides original Esterbrook. If only I had seen and started collecting many of the choice older pens I can no longer get - at sane prices, anyway.
I mentioned the Safari to you in another comment. It’s a really good one to have from the vintage Esterbrook treasure trove.
Please do mot be too harsh with yourself. You needed a carrier for Coco. I see that as a choice/priority. Next month, commit to putting all the funds away ao you are not temped. Consider your discipline. You are doing this
Thank you Edward! :)