- A car. As I was just discussing with Shauna, as long as I remain in suburbia, I think this has to be my next big purchase. It doesn't have to be big, or fast, or even all that pretty. Decent fuel efficiency would be nice. It cannot be red.
- A DSLR. I have a lot of fun with my little Canon PowerShot SD1300IS, and even with my iPhone in a pinch, but I know my photography will never reach its full potential until I have a better camera.
- A KitchenAid stand mixer. My mom has one, and it makes baking magical. Perhaps some day she'll upgrade to the larger model, and I will inherit her old cobalt blue one? If not, majestic yellow and boysenberry are happy colors.
- A kitty condo. The kittens quickly outgrew their 2-foot tall scratching post/hammock. I cannot wait to have the room for a 6-foot tall tower for them to climb (hopefully in lieu of my bookcases).
- An iMac and an iPad. These will be my next major technology purchases. I think I'd like to transition from a laptop to a desktop computer, because the big screen is so fantastic, and I don't need to lug a laptop all over the place now that I'm done with school. Plus, by supplementing it with an iPad, I would still have the option of mobility for basic computing needs.
Actually, now that I look at this list, I realize that I forgot to mention travel. Perhaps I'll do a different post about the places I want to visit. In addition, here are some smaller splurges that I would enjoy on occasion:
- Things I don't need from Etsy. Oh, there are so many things. Stationery, art, decorations, jewelry, cat collars, bags...
- Cultural enrichment. I miss D.C.'s free museums and $10 tickets to the National Symphony Orchestra a lot. Alas, the San Francisco Symphony is far more expensive. I'd also like to attend more plays, musicals, and museums.
- Random ingredients. I would love to have a fully stocked pantry of obscure spices. There are dozens of new recipes that I want to try.
- Throwing dinner parties. I really enjoy having friends over for a home-cooked meal, some good wine, and hilarious conversations.
- Books for my Kindle. There is so much reading that I want to do.
I also like to think about where my charitable contributions will go when I have an income. My heart always sinks when I am not able to give very much to:
- The Paulist Fathers. Newman Hall at Berkeley was a place of profound formation for me as a Catholic. I would love to do more to support their ministries.
- The Leadership Award. I received this scholarship from the Cal Alumni Association three times, and it was a huge help. I have donated time by grading application essays and interviewing applicants, but I want to help out financially as well.
- The Alzheimer's Association. My grandmother passed away last year after suffering from Alzheimer's for years. I intend to fight this disease by supporting the research and programs of the Alzheimer's Association.
- The Equal Justice Foundation. EJF funded all of my summer internships while at Georgetown Law. I want to support the next generation of public interest law students.
- All of the non-profits where I've worked/volunteered. It will be great to give back to HomeBase, the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, and the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies.
What is on your wish list? Which charities do you like to support?
