Priorities

Warning: A rant is below should you dare to read
I have been battling with my mind lately. I thought I would get some of it out, being recently inspired by a friend who did the same.
Orange County's materialism has always bugged me. Perhaps its the one thing that has always been nagging at me, reminding me that OC will most likely not be my home for the rest of my life. So many things have brought this on, the most recent being my mission trip to South America. While there I lived differently, mainly with less "things". What I notice here is that everyone NEEDS to have the latest and greatest. What they have works, but it is not the newest, and therefore it is not good enough, and frankly I am sick and tired of it. Everyone is so concerned about new shoes, and new purses, new cell phones, new cars, etc. It's all about keeping up with the Jones's and its disgusting. I feel I can say that bc I have been a victim of it myself.
How can we be so concerned with if we have the latest model or not, or if we have the newest shoes, and what are the celebs wearing? I am sure I am looked down upon at my work for not always buying new clothes and accessories, and still wearing clothes from , gasp! 2005. There are so many people around this world that are in need. And here we are, in want, falsely believing that new purchases will improve our life, and yet, still wondering why we are not happy.
What sparked this? My desire to buy the droid. I am switching to verizon. I will have to get a new phone. I wanted the droid. Sure it costs $200, but it's so useful! Will I break it? Probably. Can I get a very good phone for next to nothing and use that money for something else? Yes. And still, my selfish self wanted the droid. Well, I am not going to get it. I kinda need a new purse, my black one is almost falling apart. Can I still use it? Yes. No new purse it is then. I need to start standing up and living out what I actually believe in, and stop giving in to the disgusting materialism that is Orange County.