kandas-adventures: Retail Wanderings

We went to the mall after school last week. We spent 4 hours there. We love to see the decorations, the performances (Irish dancers and carolers were on schedule that day), the window displays, and of course, Santa.
It's very easy for me to go to the mall and resist temptation. Despite the sales and discounts offered by desperate retailers, I bought nothing that day.
I just keep asking myself, "Do I need this? Will it be outgrown in a matter of months? What if I saved the money so we could go on a fun vacation instead?" We've already decided we're not taking a winter vacation this year. No ski school for the girls, no ski vacation, no hot tub under the starry sky for me. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't be saving. There's the summer vacation which could be in jeopardy, too. I have to think ahead.
So this season it's all about "Window Shopping." Admiring but not buying. Experiencing but not taking stuff other than memories home. Returning to the car with empty hands but full hearts. Being awestruck by all the choice and opportunity, but not feeling denied of anything. Being thankful we have a vehicle to take us safely home, and a house to return to, when so many in the world have nothing. I know the shop owners hate us, and wish we'd just buy something, anything.
It's not that I don't buy anything. We always make time for a pastry from an independent, locally owned coffee house. I do make a point to support small businesses. I just have trouble with the chain stores at the mall, the giant department stores, and especially slave-wage employers like Wal-mart. When I was 19 I worked in retail, pulling double shifts at the mall through the holidays, and I've never understood the craziness that grips most Americans to "buy, buy, buy" from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Sometimes I wonder, wouldn't it be fun to have so much money that you could buy your kids whatever they wanted? How great it would be to really turn Little K's bedroom into a jungle, as she's always fantasized about. Only $10,000 for the stuffed animals we'd need...

One animal here, another animal there. Truth is, a lot of Americans live this way, buying things on every outing to the shops, but most of the "stuff" is quickly forgotten. It adds up to a lot of debt for very little ongoing pleasure.
Luckily I have the girls pretty well trained. For them, just going, just looking, just being part of the hustle and bustle is enough. They don't have to end up in a line at the cash register. In fact, they'd rather not wait in line. Being able to just say, "OK, let's go on to the next shop!" is great freedom.
We went to a big nursery this past Sunday and looked at all the displays.
I admit there were some exquisite decorations and gorgeous plants there. A nursery is my kind of place, and I could have bought out the store if I hadn't controlled myself. The place is locally owned, too, so it even met my ethical criteria for spending.
We did end up getting one thing: a bird feeder. It was on sale, I had a 40% off coupon, and my husband has been wanting one for a long time. We brought it home, filled it with seed, and waited for the birds to discover it. We'll enjoy it, and the birds will too, for years to come.

Today I am off to the shops without the girls. I have a list. First stop: the train shop, to buy 3 curved sections of track for the train under our tree. Next stop: the grocery store, time for more milk and eggs. Last up: pick up photos so I can make our Christmas cards and finally get them in the mail. We'll see if I can keep to my list and not come home with any extras!