Kitt Hodsden and I think alike:
Last time I went to buy socks, I bought 32 pairs of socks, all white, all of the same style. These 32 pairs of socks replaced the remaining 10 pairs of white socks I had purchased years before. I had decided long ago to optimize for efficiency, both at laundry time and in the morning. By buying socks all of the same color and style, I didn’t have to pair them when folding my clothes. I also didn’t have to worry about grabbing socks in the morning, I grabbed two socks from the basket and off I went.
She has found that buying novelty socks brings her joy, so has moved away from THE SYSTEM. But I still like it. I have found her “optimizing for delight” in other areas though. For a long time I only bought black picture frames, for a simple elegant consistency at home. But at some point I went screw it and started getting frames more suited to the artwork and it’s way better.
Novelty socks will also be unique – so very easy to sort, but not as quick to choose from the laundry basket. I have done the same as THE SYSTEM but find over time some socks will wear more in colour than others, so at this stage it is difficult to sort them. THE SYSTEM has a flaw…