I’ve been told by friends that I tend to be particular. Which, depending on who you ask, doesn’t always read as Medium Maintenance. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Being particular usually just means you know what you like and what you don’t. It’s good to keep an open mind, but some things are black or white.
Pickles, for example. People like them or they don’t.
If I’ve owned something long enough to trust it, that means I’m pretty sure I like it. Not in a honeymoon way. In a lived-with-it, reached-for-it, stopped-questioning-it way. These are a few things that earned that status for me.
Wombat Keyboard
I’m a Mac user, and while Apple’s designs are sleek and modern, sometimes I just want something familiar. I use a Mac mini, and something about the Magic Keyboard never really worked for me. The color options are limited, and honestly, it’s too thin. It feels like a laptop keyboard detached from its context.
When I’m at a desk, I want desk things.
So I went looking for a desktop keyboard. Which sounds simple, but because I’m Medium Maintenance, I had a short list of requirements and no patience for compromise. I wanted a real keyboard with visible Mac commands on the keys. That alone eliminated a lot of options, which I actually appreciated.
After a lot of clicking around, I landed on Wombat Keyboards. They have a range of colors and styles, and you can choose your switches. I went with the Pine Professional in pink with linear red switches. It cost less than the Apple Magic Keyboard, feels substantial, and doesn’t make me think about it anymore. That’s the trust part. I sit down, type, and move on.
Harry Josh Hair Dryer
I’ve owned my Harry Josh blow dryer since 2020. Most hair dryers I had before that barely made it to the two-year mark. To be fair, I used to use them a lot. Between the pandemic and going blonde, I try to avoid heat when I can, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.
I’ve had this dryer long enough for the company to shut down and come back. Mine still works like it always has.
I originally thought about writing a full review, but the exact model I own, the Ultra Light Pro Dryer, is no longer made. The current option is the Harry Josh Pro Dryer 2000. Even though mine is still going strong, I’m considering buying the newer version and reviewing that instead. Worst case, my boyfriend gets a very serious hair dryer upgrade.
Depression Glass
This one isn’t a single object. It’s a category.
I collect swung vases, but what I don’t talk about as much is the vintage depression glass I use regularly. I thrift most of it. I use it for displays, for crafting, to hold rhinestones or beads, and sometimes for food. It’s not precious to me in a way that makes it fragile. It’s just… there.
Part of what I love about depression glass is the color. I missed the era of colored glass the first time around, and I’m clearly still drawn to it. Even though I appreciate minimalism, I’m also pulled toward things that are bold and a little decadent.
It’s survived decades before it got to me. It’s survived my house. That feels like trust.
Plain White Kenmore Appliances
This one is specific and not specific at the same time.
When I say “plain white Kenmore appliances,” I’m not talking about brand loyalty. I’m talking about simplicity. Appliances that don’t try to impress me. No touchscreens. No soft buttons that feel like old iPod controls. No personality.
Most of the appliances my mother owned were extremely simple. When they finally reached the end of their lifespan, I was already well into my thirties. That stuck with me.
Now that I’m moving into her house, I’m shopping for appliances and realizing how hard it is to find anything basic. Every time I see soft-touch buttons or digital panels, my mind immediately goes to, “If this fails, the whole thing is done.” The idea of a computer in everything still makes me think about system failure instead of convenience.
The plainer it is, the longer it seems to last. That’s the trust.
Conclusion
I’m realizing that owning something long enough to trust usually comes with comfort. Not excitement. Not novelty. Just the absence of friction.
A lot of this also comes down to circumstance. What I reach for, keep, and rely on says as much about where I am as it does about the thing itself.
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