Uh.......it depends. If my crockpot broke, I would be hunting for a new one right away. If my best white platter broke, I would keep my eye out but not kill myself to get one. If a lamp broke, I would be on my way to the lamp store. And no, I don't need the same thing. It depends on the degree of need. An item used every week needs to be replaced right away. An item that is primarily of beauty will wait for something else to come along that I like as well. I can't even imagine anxiety over a lamp or a bowl or a favorite vase. My car---yes. Washing machine--yes. That's about it.

Red

I weaken at the knees, scream, shout, (maybe even curse), cry and then I regain my composure and immediately wonder if there is some way that it can be repaired. If I love it, it probably can't be easily replaced. It more than likely was given to me by someone special, I've searched high and low and finally found the item, or I put time and effort into making it extra special (refinishing, sewing, painting etc). I don't run out and try to find another, rather try to figure out how it will stay where it was proudly displayed or used.

Aside from obvious household/home necessities, I can only think of a couple things I would want to replace with the exact/almost exact item:

My Bissel Pro-heat something-or-other carpet cleaner. Love this and would need another one ASAP if mine when down.

My popcorn popper. It's the stovetop kind with the hand-crank handle. I own very few kitchen gadgets, and this item I would scour the internet for if broken.

That's about it. As for decor & keepsakes, of course I would be devastated, but I would not run out to replace. If it's decor, I figure the right thing will show itself sometime. If it's a keepsake, I go with the idea that I have the memories and feelings associated with it, and memories and feelings ARE tangible. The stuff is just stuff.

Those chips add character!
Life is short, don't sweat the material items!
Sue

Bumblebeez: Funny that you should mention that it's an Emile Henry bowl, since I've been thinking of buying a nested set of three that's on sale locally--and I was wondering whether they hold up well. How long had you had it before it chipped?

Btw, I brought a side dish to a friend's house recently and brought it on a new platter for them to keep. During clean-up, I hit a corner against the sink and chipped the platter. I took it home with me and will get her a new one. Took less than three hours to chip it. Ugh!

The things I really love can't be replaced if they break. I have certain things I LIKE, and if they broke I would just replace them if I had the money for the replacement. But for it to be something I LOVE it would have to have sentimental value, and those things can't be replaced. And yes, I cried when I broken a piece of Waterford that had deep sentimental value. I never replaced it.

I had a blue glass nursery rhyme themed bowl, plate, and cup set that was my first born son's (now 24) when he was a baby. He never used it, really, but it was the first nice thing I purchased for him and it was more of a keepsake item. I was saving it to give to him when he had his first child.

It was on display up on a quilt shelf in my youngest daughter's room because I thought it complemented her decor. When we were adding on to our house and they were demoing part of the garage, the bowl and plate fell off the shelf and shattered - completely unrepairable.

I felt nauseous and cried, and still regret that I didn't take them down before they started knocking down walls outside.

I felt much the same way when I came home and realized one plate from my china set was mysteriously missing from my hutch. It was part of a set that my mother gave to me when I was 18 and first married. I'm sure the cleaning person must have broke it and didn't tell me. Luckily, I was able to find a replacement plate on replacements.com, and I'm fine with that. The sentimental value is more in the set itself, rather than one specific piece, and I don't feel the regret that I do for the irreplaceable little blue glass set.

Meg, I've had it for 9 years and it is part of a nested set. I've always thought they had a beautiful glaze and I've treated them carefully but still used them often enough.
They are pretty, casual, serving bowls at Christmas and Valentines Day.

I guess saying I love a bowl or something purely material and even something with no sentimental value is an exaggeration, but the everyday beautiful common objects in my life
give me joy when when I use them and just look at them.
I put effort and, of course often, money, into finding the right things and so when something breaks it means starting over with more effort.

I don't compare things like family, pets, health and mostly my spiritual life with "stuff" but it's fun to talk about it here!
I know what is true and real in life.

Bumble I know what you mean. I adore my yellow ware bowls for cooking and use them often. I have broken a couple over the last twenty years (not me actually but a guest and a spouse) and I did immediately go on the lookout for them.

I also miss some special things I lost in a divorce. I fondly think of them and while I haven't replaced them, I have to just treasure the things I kept that he probably misses :oP Like his baby christmas stocking and a 17th century shoe (and if he's reading, I'll trade them for the candle mold and my cast iron!!!)

heh heh

That's why god made pique-assiette :)

And off to the dictionary I go: Pique assiette is a style of mosaic that incorporates pieces of broken ceramics into the design.

LOL flyleft!

Thank you graywings. I was reading that post saying now what in the heck is that?

If it is important to you, as was the Hallmark mugs given to dh and I years ago by my now deceased parents, who were also our best friends, and mine, hit our tile floor and shattered, as they are signed and dated, and in orig. boxes collectables, I immediately did a search on e-bay, found it, bought it and a tremedous weight was lifted from me, as it also was in orig. box. That was a happy xmas after all, that year.

We were married maybe a year and kitty got up and knocked over one of our toasting goblets. I dove and almost caught it. Broke at stem. Irreplaceable. I was so bummed out. Then realized this was a sign that the two truly do become one. That was some 19yrs ago. Every time I dust it I am reminded of that thought and am never sad.

My family just learned a very important thing. My bro in law passed when kids were 8-13-15. 13yr old's birthday was just a few days after the tradgedy. He was given my BILs wedding ring. It has been some 13years and while away working there was a robbery at his house. The ring was taken. My sis went to pawn shops, we searched CL. Nothing. My son was more impressed with how hard she tried to find it rather than being upset with it being gone. Then he told her that although the ring was special it was not his dad. It was a bummer but not worth crying over. Wow!

If I can replace it, I do so immediately. I don't like having chipped stuff when non-chipped is available.

Heirloom and vintage--I can live with chips and cracks, if I like the piece enough. I collect William Manker pottery, and it's way too hard and spendy to find pristine pieces.

Depends on the item. We and bought and sold stuff on EBay for YEARS -- so many items can indeed be replaced! :)

For really USEFUL items (the items WORKS for you every single time you need it) then I will replace it -- if possible! :)

For truly irreplaceable items (whatever that term means to you!) then I have a good weep, make a pot of tea or mix a martini, breathe deep and move on.

For sentimental items -- remember the person and your memories. And take really good photos of the important stuff. And write down and stash the important details in a VERY safe place. Always handy for the next generation! LOL!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage (who can always live with chips, cracks, blemishes and flaws! LOL!)