(5/5) The (de)evolution of a sneakerhead. Full article will drop on substack next week. --- And here comes our full circle moment: This is all interesting and post-worthy because this is exactly how I looked at things when I was a kid. I wouldn’t buy ANYTHING if it didn’t fit within my *extremely meager* budget. My main goal as a kid was to get swag for as cheap as possible. Thing is…who cares…right? It’s akin to driving an additional 30 minutes to save 10 cents on a gallon of gas…it’s just not worth it, right? I’m not so sure. It was worth it to me. It did matter. And in this land of plenty, it *still matters* to me. It matters to me that, for whatever reason, I’m able to swoop something for cheaper than anyone else. It does matter to me that I’m able to find a steal. As a matter of opinion - in this land of endless options, I’m still swaggerific enough to be able to flex something else that no one else can flex: a *cheap* pair of shoes. It appears as though my sneaker (de)evolution is simply based in seeking the one thing that no one else can claim. I’m seeking my individuality from the herd. As I reflect on my (de)evolution as a sneaker savant, it seems that the pursuit has mostly been driven by a desire for individuality —probably similar to many of you. Amid the hype and abundance of options, it seems that what sets me apart from the crowd in *my* head is nothing more than finding an exceptional steal. I find it funny how my sneaker collecting life has come full circle, bringing me back to the thrill of the hunt and the joy of finding value where others might not. For anyone caught up in (the mental illness that we call) ‘sneaker collecting,’ it'd probably be a good idea to take a step back to ask yourself why you're doing it. Otherwise, you just might find yourself buying some big, stupid, red, rubber boots.