Tis the Season to Shop in Dayton and Waitsburg
For those of us who hate to shop, this is the worst time of year. Shopping for ourselves is almost always unpleasant. But at least milk and eggs, and socks and shoes can be bought in a hurry. You can dash into the store, knowing which choice you need to make (1%, Large AA, white, 10½), and then sprint back to the car and start breathing normally again.
But buying Christmas gifts is on a whole other level. It's pure drudgery. Like buying food and clothing, you have to do it you have no choice. But now you have no clue either. Since most of us "shopaphobics" are men, we have to buy a lot of stuff for women around Christmas. It's tough. As much as you'd like to, you can't give cash you just can't. And clothes are out of the question they'll just get returned, so you might as well give cash, which you can't. And tools are also out of the question the one area where you might stand a chance. If you buy her a TV or an IPOD, she'll think you were really buying it for yourself (which you probably were). So that's no good. What can you do?
It's easy if you live in a small town like Dayton or Waitsburg. Go to one of the local stores. Almost all of them are run by women (yes, it's true) and they're very happy to help you. And they're really nice, too. Us shopaphobics learned long ago that the secret to buying a gift for a woman is to let another woman pick it out.
Believe it or not, in our local communities, our shopping options are almost endless. There are gift stores and antique stores and hardware stores (they have lots of stuff besides tools) and art galleries and even a yarn shop and a bookstore (it's run by a guy, but you should be able to handle a book yourself).
Another great thing about shopping at local stores is that they can order just about anything. A black toaster? No problem. An art print that's not in stock? It'll be on its way tomorrow. And you can choose lots of jewelry. If they don't have it they'll get it, and call you when it gets here.
You may be concerned about the cost, but when you figure in the time and gas to go somewhere else, will you really save money?
Shopping locally also helps the local communities and the local economy. Part of every dollar of sales tax you pay goes to the local community where you pay it. So when you buy that toaster at Kmart, where's the tax money going? And, of course, all those shopkeepers in Dayton and Waitsburg have to buy Christmas gifts too. Why not help them out?
So, now, as you head out the door on that dreaded Christmas shopping trip, maybe your heart rate can be a little lower and your hands a little less clammy. And if she still ends up hating the gift you got her, at least you'll have someone else to blame.
Copyright (c) 2007, Blue Mountain News