It’s officially THE shopping season. I probably don’t need
to tell YOU that. Heck, half of my friends have already finished their shopping
for the holidays.
I’ve always admired people who can shop for the holidays all
year long. This is the bunch that is super organized with a well thought out
list of recipients and gift ideas. They keep their list handy and use any
outing, be it a trip to the grocery story or a vacation to
Italy, as an opportunity to mark
another item off their list. I’ve been with friends who’ve gasped, “Oh, goody,
Safeway has 50 year old Scotch on sale. Now I can get that bottle I want to
give to Uncle Luke!”
I’m not a great shopper. I don’t enjoy the experience that
much. I never even enjoyed it when I was younger and could afford and fit into
tiny leather skirts or suede coats with tastefully appointed fake fur collars.
At one point, I did leasing for a local shopping center and my entire days were
spent in stores and around merchandise. You might think I’d be more inclined to
shop if I was getting paid for my time while doing it, but I didn’t.
Having shown my shopping skills are minimal, it might
surprise you to learn that I’m a good internet shopper. I’ll match the
purchasing power of my fingers with the best of ‘em! At the same time, I’m in
good company when I say I’ve had some bad experiences from buying things from
online stores, but these have been mainly apparel items. As long as it’s not
clothes or shoes, I think buying from the internet is the only way to go.
They predict paying sales tax for online merchandise will
soon be upon us. Until then, I say rev up those search engine skills, research
the best deal identifier through-sites and begin to reward those merchandisers
who pay for shipping with little or no minimum purchases. There are lots out
there. And there’s always e-bay and Craigslist; fun places to shop even if you
have to modify some of the specifications you’re requiring.
Even though I’m not an enthusiastic consumer of clothing, I
have enjoyed purchasing household items:
dishes, linens, knick knacks, kitchen gadgets, plants, etc. In recent
years, however, I’ve had a somewhat depressing awakening that many of you may
have also experienced.
Since retiring, I’ve noticed there’s nothing I need
to buy. OMG, this has been the most discouraging aspect of getting older that
no one told me to expect. Obviously, I don’t need work clothes or comfortable
shoes for traipsing through my day. I don’t need cute containers to carry lunch
items to the office, nor do I need any electronic items for keeping a
complicated schedule or task list. Man, it just hasn’t been fun to realize I
don’t need yet another set of silverware or placemats, or panties, or
umbrellas.
I was in hog heaven a couple of years ago when I got my cat
Kali from the Humane Society, not only for the obvious pet-loving reasons but
also because it meant I could go out and buy, buy, and buy: food bowls, pet beds, mats, snacks, grooming
tools and toys, lots and lots of toys. I even had to buy another basket just to
hold all the snacks, tools and toys. It was fun, but short-lived.
These days one of my favorite stores is the
bookstore at the Center for Spiritual Living. This is the home of my spiritual community, which
was founded by Ernest Holmes. It has lots of books – soothing books,
instruction books, history books and books to give as gifts. It also has
cultural items from other countries, jewelry and crafts made by talented Center
members, and a ton of Gods and Goddesses, Buddha’s, essential oils, and tapes
for mediation or relaxation. If I need a gift for a friend, I’m most likely to
start at this store.
I think the future of my shopping will be mostly for others,
particularly kids and grand-kids. I’ll never have to worry about running out of
things to buy for others. Also, doesn’t giving money count for something still?
I think it can be pretty impersonal, but do you really want ME to guess what an
11-year-old boy might truly want? Here’s some money; buy exactly what you’d
like and know that I give it to you with heartfelt love and a true desire to
celebrate your birthday, graduation, Christmas, etc.
Oh, and if you’re buying for me, well, like I said, I don’t
need anything, so better make it experiential. Let’s have a dinner together, or
go to a play, or a casino!
