chore work? being a caretaker?

over the past handful of years, I've come to the realization that I don't want to be a maker of new things. I started having these thoughts specifically about digital products and how I approach jobs and working, but it's evolved into more. these days, I am more interested in fixing things that are broken or improving things that aren't quite working as I want them to. when buying something, I try to purchase at thrift stores, via eBay, Craigslist, or a buy-nothing group.

in 2024, I read Blythe Roberson's America the Beautiful? and was reminded of all this. while driving to a national parks that she's never been to, and running into the same folks in different parts of the country, she starts to question what the hell are we doing? even trying to enjoy the outdoors turns into a consumerism nightmare. so I guess I'm asking, how can we better do nothing? how do we change our thoughts on non-paying work that we consider chores or care taking?

I'm incredibly drawn to artists who have incorporated some of these anti-consumer ideals in the artwork: almost all of Mierle Laderman Ukeles work is about this, Agnes Denes' Wheatfields for Manhattan feels apt, and Tehching Hsieh's work is so anti-making anything that it goes beyond the idea of care taking and into questioning everything we do.