I think I want a big HD TV. Yes, I know I said I had a 72” plasma in my previous post, but you should know by now that most of what I write is bullshit.

I blame this recent urge on the new paint. After six years, our home is finally beginning to feel finished, and I can’t help but think a nice flat screen mounted on the wall would work well with the overall aesthetic we’re going for (cross between a Four Seasons hotel room and a daycare).

I’ve even picked out the TV I want. It’s a Samsung 40” LCD, 1080p, with a contrast ratio of 20,000:1 and 3 HDMI inputs. I haven’t seen it in person, and I don’t actually know the difference between 720p and 1080p or what contrast ratio is all about, but it looks real nice in the Best Buy flyer.

Getting an HD TV is a slippery slope, though. First you buy a TV. Then you need to mount it on something. Then you need an HD box, and a monthly HD subscription. Add in Apple TV to stream downloaded programs, photos, and music. Don’t forget the Blu Ray disc player and the fancy new cables. Throw in a Nintendo Wii to use with the old TV that will now reside in the den, plus Guitar Hero 3 and Wii Fit, and suddenly I’ve got more debt than Merrill Lynch (insert laugh track here).

I worry that having an HD TV would actually make my life worse, not better. I should be trying to watch less TV, not more. If we have HD, I can just see myself sitting on the couch every night, pointing out the now-obvious imperfections on Teri Hatcher’s weathered visage.

So, despite the relentless advertising and words of encouragement from my friends, I’m going to resist the temptation, at least for now. Now if I can just resist the urge to buy a new 24” 3.06 GHz iMac, everything will be O.K.