Last night I slept on the floor next to my queen size bed. I enjoyed it. It was considerably more comfortable than I would have expected, and when I woke up I felt refreshed and ready to get up- a change from my usual routine of falling in and out of groggy consciousness for the 45 minutes following my alarm going off.
I had considered going bedless before, but what made me finally try it was the possibility of moving across the country in the eminent future. Beds are expensive, and I really don't want to buy one. More important though is my long-held inclination towards minimalism. I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a Minimalist, because I would have a hard time defending the five monitors I'm currently looking at while holding that title, but I like to question what I really need to be comfortable and or happy.
I'm a big believer in Hedonic Adaptation. Basically it's the idea that once you're used to something it ceases to make you happy. Critically, it's the complete opposite of what our culture believes: that discomfort is suffering, luxury is fulfillment, and buying things makes you happy. That how expensive your car is and how often you get drinks at an expensive bar are how success is measured. This popular falsehood means that everything we do, everything that is considered normal in our culture, needs to be critically examined and judged. This week it means examining the perceived necessity of a mattress.
Look, while it is a big up front cost, the money really isn't the issue. A good new mattress might cost $2000, but it lasts 10 years. If I find it extremely uncomfortable or that it's negatively impacting my sleep, I will buy one. But in addition to the belief that it's better for your back, I just like the idea of being bedless. It's freeing. I want to be able to fit everything I own into my car and move when necessary, and unless I get an enormous van, a mattress will never be a part of that. And frankly, it would make me feel like kind of a badass. And the pursuit of badassery is always a noble motivation.
