ThingsPondered

I am saying goodbye to a special place.  My mind, intuition, soul, heart, and soon bank account, know it is the proper time to pass it to the next family.  Therefore, there are no regrets mixed into my aches.  Nevertheless, it goes hard with me, saying goodbye to my sanctuary.  Sunlight, ubiquitous wood, glass doorknobs, porcelain kitchen sink, tiles from 1937, a back garden framed with tall privet hedges like “the secret garden.”  May the next wonderful family’s guardian angels watch over them as they love and create a home in this space.  And, may my guardian angels quickly take me to my next sanctuary.

I was induced to enter the Exeter Commons strip mall complex today for the first time because we received coupons in the mail and a friend hipped me to this being the official “Opening Day.”

I navigated the new traffic lights, roads, signs, and parking lot.   The store’s exterior perked me up:  large concrete red-painted  spheres  rest along the front sidewalk – a creative way to block terrorists from driving into the walls.  But it is highly visually pleasing and could be lovely to sit on.

I visited this morning – a drizzly Sunday at 9 AM (way before church services are done for most in this traditional God-fearing Lutheran county)- and was delighted by the low number of shoppers (although there are a disproportionate number of crying toddlers.)  A greeter offered me a map of the store.   Btw, this is a young person greeter – not elderly or infirm.

It is heart-warming that a plethora of bright-eyed perky sales associates of all ages stop to ask ”Do you need help finding something?”   They are a garden full of smiles.  Also, I had a lovely chat with the Pharmacy employees about transferring a prescription.

The store’s layout seems very similar to that of the Target on the western side of the county.  That makes shopping easier.   However, it seems to have brighter lighting – a good thing in my opinion. 

I had the flyer of coupons – mostly for groceries, so I proceeded to that wall.  I was amazed.  The local equivalent – Walmart – does not have a grocery section with perishable foods – so I was “gaga.”  Furthermore, Walmart’s  foods are not higher end. My taste in home design and aesthetics is more of the Target sensibility than Walmart.   

BIG BONUS right now – there are Store Opening Specials this week – so I bought items which were at reduced prices and used a coupon on top of that.  In theory, I saved $11.

My suggestion:    Go this week, if no other time, to take advantage of the opening week specials.

I really don’t care whether and when the U.S. government announces that the country is in a recession or a depression (although I doubt we will have a declaration of depression – what a downer.  Can you imagine what the emotion-driven stock market’s reaction would be?)  Folk signs of our recession have been clear for over a year.  All the while that Dubya’s toadies were denying it, we common folk in service and retail businesses knew it was here.

I remember reading a Wall Street Journal article about broom sales.  It proposed that declines in broom sales indicated tough economic times.  As the households of the rank and file feel the pinch, one of the money-saving decisions is to “make do” with the old broom instead of splurging on a new one.  Other industries show this making do with what we have: carpet cleaning and plastic surgery.  Both of these have experienced less activity over the last two years.  Many of us knew in which direction the country  was heading.

Saving versus spending.  I am not an economist.  Therefore, it baffles me that we citizens are urged to spend money that we do not have.  A less drastic, yet equally mystifying, notion is that we are encouraged to spend what money we DO have.  Why isn’t saving for retirement, for long-term care, for a rainy day, a good thing?  It sounds good to me.  Actually, it sounds downright mature and responsible.  I guess I will never understand.  Nonetheless, a depression will be a very personal challenge.

My grandparents and parents survived the one in the 1930’s.  I know intellectually that I can, too. But the practical aspects are utterly scary. 

Here is a site at which one can do a little relaxing (truly, how many Free Cell games can be played) while doing good at the same time.  It is www.freerice.com.  One need not be put off by the suffix “.com;” this is a charitable site associated with the United Nations.  There is an advisory, however.  A warning states that one may become smarter and I find it to be a valid risk.

In the spirit of educational software, there are 13 subject areas with questions to answer.  They are:

Art: Famous Paintings

Chemistry: Basic Symbols, Full list of symbols

English: Grammar, Vocabulary

Foreign language vocabulary:  French, German, Italian, Spanish

Geography: Identify Countries on Map, World Capitols

Math: Pre-Algebra, Multiplication tables

For each correct answer, 20 grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Programme.  Spurring one on is a wooden bowl which fills up with the rice as one plays.  Incorrect responses show the correct answer.  Then, the learning comes from the software’s frequent returning to any question missed, giving a chance to use what has been read.

It is an all-around good deal and banner ads support the site.

Kids’ Gift Ideas for Lean Economic Times

Step One

Tell the kids in an age-appropriate way about the economy.  Explain that people are losing jobs and Santa wants to help them, so he is giving some non-elves work.  Some of the work is fixing up slightly used toys that silly families gave away.  Continue to explain that because these regular moms and dads are beginners in toy fixing, they might not do as good a job as an official North Pole Elf. So, if Santa decides to give our family any of these toys we will feel privileged to help him and the whole world.  We will feel grateful that Santa trusted us to be grown-up enough to enjoy these gifts.

Step Two:

Go on-line to your local Freecycle.  You can find yours by going to http://www.freecycle.org.  Arrange to secretly pick up some perfectly useful items.  Some may need a smidge of cleaning, but often the toys or items are in great shape.  While you are at it, consider what you might be able to offer to others.

Step Three:

Go on-line to your local Craigslist.org .  Under the large “For Sale” category, there are sub-categories.  You will want to check under “Free” and “Barter.”  Many win-wins can be gained at craigslist.

Step Four:

Greatly reduce your children’s television watching.  Alternatively, if you have the capacity to record the programs and then skip the commercials, please do that.  Our kids are victims of mass marketing efforts now.  If you can reduce their exposure to commercials, you will help reduce their TV-induced greed.

Step Five:

Similarly filter print materials, such as newspapers and flyers, which your kids see.  In my area, the Sunday newspaper is the edition full of toy store flyers and inserts.  That is not hard for me to “edit” before it reaches the little ones.

Step Six:

(Optional)  Whisper a prayer of thanks that you have children, that there will be a Christmas of some sort, and that, in the grand scheme,  this is a lighter challenge.

Back to the Future is the name of a series of three successful movies imagining what could result if someone had opportunities to go into the future, back to the present, back to the future, and so on.  It is mind candy: thinking of all the implications and possibilities to right wrongs, get revenge, or achieve wealth through the unfair advantage of knowledge of world events to come.  The third movie in the series actually exchanged time travel between the present and the past, with happy endings for all. In these days of concern about finances, going Back to the Past can create a happy ending for you, too.  I recommend going to back to the days of bartering.

Of course, bartering existed before civilizations developed tokens representing work or value.  These tokens were money.  However, even after the introduction of currency, people have bartered.  In the informal setting, bartering happens among neighbors, friends, family.  It is often couched in terms of “doing a favor.”  The favor is then returned with a different good or service.  Furthermore, a concern for insuring that value is always perfectly matched (keeping score) is frequently absent from these arrangements.  Participants feel that it will all come out even in the end.

On the other hand, one can barter more formally and with strangers. There is a barter category on Craigslist.  I recently completed a barter arrangement through a Craigslist ad which was delightful.  The other participant and I really felt highly satisfied.  It was a win-win scenario.  Becky (not real name) advertised an offer for website design and set-up know-how in exchange for special project house cleaning.  I seized upon this because I have long wanted a website.  She seized upon me, I guess, because I was as eager as the family dog responding to “Do you want to go OUT?”  So, we were both able to help each other with services we could not perform for ourselves.  (Check it out: www.marenmorganthomson.com!)

Hence, there is a way to get possessions or work you desire without an outlay of cash.  Whether informally or informally, consider a barter agreement.  It is painless to the pocket.