Shopping really isn't fun in these days

[wiseheart]

Useless whining behind the cut. Feel free to ignore. I just needed it off my chest.

Mostly because you can only do it in certain time slots. 9-12am is for people beyond 65. I still have 1.5 years until I reach official hag age, so I show up when the food shops open (usually at 7am) and try do get everything done before 9am. Which is not easy, because I don't get all the food items we prefer in the same shop, so I have to go at least to two every time. And since I don't have a car - or the strength I used to have even 2-3 years ago - I have to come home between rounds and load off the booty before I restart the hunt.

As a rule, I love shopping for groceries. It's really inspiring, and I find lovely things sometimes... if I have the time to do so! But one can't browse in leisure when one has only two hours for doing it... and that in different places that often lie in opposite directions!

Of course, I could go after noontime, but by then even the biggest supermarket's air is full of various germs, despite the flimsy masks the wearing of which is mandatory in these days. And I'm deadly afraid of taking some of them home to Mum, even if it isn't the monster of the decade. She's old and fragile - there's a reason why she hasn't left the house for two months!

So I try to do everything between 7 and 9, often carrying more than I should because of the tight time slot, and ruining what's left of my back. By the time it gets better, I have to go a-hunting again, and we're back at square one. Yes, I could have stuff delivered, but I don't want to do it - again, because of Mum. Delivery people go to all possible places (that's what they're there for); it's just not safe.

I also miss visiting the craft shops terribly. Half the time I don't even buy anything, I just love browsing the shelves, seeing what's there, getting new ideas. Right now I'm putting together the design of three (!) baby books I have to deliver by October, it would be more necessary than usual. I leafed through my paper supplies today, and if I have to, I can manage. Of course I can; I'm used to make do with what I have. But on such occasions I love to have multiple choices, which are just not available right now.

Yes, I know many people would be grateful to have only such problems; and when it comes down to the bottom of it all, I'm grateful, too. I'm just missing the small things that used to give my life a little colour, is all.

Comments

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

At least if I'm not shopping at the same time as the old people I get to avoid that thing they do where they block the aisle and just stand there for 15-20 minutes staring at the shelf and not moving. (Why do old people do that?)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Perhaps they can't see what is written on the packages?

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Because we are thinking

'If I was to get that, what would we have with it? Do I have the right ingredients in the cupboard to cook 'X', or would I need to go back to the vegetable aisle to get 'Y' or 'Z'? Is it worth going all the way around the shop to get back to the start of the one way system to get them?

'Why do they always put the vegetables at the beginning anyway, before you know what protein you are buying for them to accompany? And if I buy this which day will we eat it? It will have to be early on in the ten days I am shopping for if we have 'Y' with it, but if I just use cupboard stuff to make 'X' have I been past the jars of spices yet, because I know I won't have enough Za'atar left.

'What a pity they don't sell Za'atar here. Could I just use oregano and thyme? Is there enough oregano out in the herb garden yet? Perhaps it might be better if I just don't buy this and we send out for pizza on Sunday?'

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Something like that, yeah. *g*

[meathiel]

We went shopping today and also had a look around but it's not fun. In most stores every customer has to take a basket, so they can control how many people are in the store. Fun when you are three people. And they've blocked all the benches so my dad couldn't even sit down in between.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

No, it is not fun. I do understand the reasons and even happen to agree with most of the restrictions, but it is definitely not fun.

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

{{{hugs}}}

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean - sigh. I've found too that, at least in my area, prices of groceries have gone up almost double in price. So, even if what I want is available, I can't afford to buy certain items like I did before.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yes, prices have definitely gone up.

[red-day-dawning.livejournal.com]

Hag tag, haha. Crazily, my life has barely altered. All my groceries were delivered anyway. Most days I’m not able to leave the house anyway, so the stay-at-home rules haven’t affected me. The only differences are that some of my medical appointments are over the phone, and I have to take an Uber to actual physical appointments instead of public transport, to minimise contact. Which costs more than I’d like.
I see the toll it takes on others though. When I speak to neighbours across the fence they sound so frustrated. It’s so hard on the extroverts, who require social contact and stimulation for their mental health. My mum is having such a hard time staying home. She sneaks out to the shops and only tells me afterwards, when I’m phoning her to make sure she’s ok. And she’s nearly ninety! I can’t seem to convey the importance of limited contact to her.
Prices have gone up. It makes it harder to stretch my budget. And I worry for all who have lost their jobs. Social services are stretched harder than ever. And those without have even less. Also, I hear the Aboriginal population has been hit really hard with all that has happened.
Do you have online craft stores? Some things are so difficult to buy online, the things you need to see and touch.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I've never bought anything online. Well, that's not entirely true. I bought some videos from Amazon once, due to a gift I got from an online friend, but for that I had to ask someone 20 years my junior for help. I'm completely hopeless.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I try to only go food shopping every 7-10 days, but none of the 3 big shops have everything we might want. I do miss being able to do the shopping on Monday at Shoprite, then pop into Marks and Spencer's on Thursday for a couple of things and to the small local shop on Saturday for their nice bread buns...

Not to mention meeting a friend for coffee once every week or two in a village a few miles away.

So we eat well enough, and I can always make coffee for myself but, yes, the colour has gone from everyday life.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Exactly!

[akane42me.livejournal.com]

I miss shopping very much, and completely understand. I love to browse, look at every little thing, just enjoying the variety, with no intent to purchase. I just like to get out and see things!

So much to be mindful of these days, what we have to do to avoid contact and keep from bringing the virus in on things. I get very anxious about it at times.

Someday this will be over. Meantime, I'm so glad we've got phones and the internet to help us stay connected.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

So am I. Sometimes it still gets frustrating, though. Especially when I'm starting a new craft project and can't go a-hunting to the craft shops. Of course, it helps with being creative, making do with what I have at home instead of what I'd like to have. *g*

[akane42me.livejournal.com]

I'm ready to get to the grocery store once in a while. I'll have my mask and go early when it's less likely to be busy.
I want to go to a craft store too, to look in person at paper twisted cord and other ideas for my gift bag handles. I looked online, but I'm not familiar with the stuff so I really want to see it first hand.

Gosh, I miss being able to browse at leisure. Go away, virus.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Amen. I never got the hang on this online shopping. I need to look for myself, to take things in hand, to browse... Perhaps tomorrow I'll get a small chance of that. Even if I have to do it wearing a mask and gloves.

[akane42me.livejournal.com]

I am ready to get out and about just a bit, and will try for early opening hours when things will be uncrowded.
Emphasis on just a bit.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Hugs. Here the delivery people leave the groceries on the step so you only see them a few seconds.

[disthrainsdotte.livejournal.com]

True, it is the small things that are missed the most. All I can do is to hope this virus (yes Corona, I am looking at you) can get booted out. The sooner that happends the better.