Great Escape: Shop Til You Drop

My husband and I often discuss the big differences between our hobbies. He loves to play golf, so he tries to fit in a round as often as possible, usually playing at least once a week during the spring, summer, and early fall. I always wryly point out that he found the one hobby that takes a minimum of four hours each time.

So then he asks me what my hobby is, and I find myself stumped. I mean, I love to read, but it never seems substantial enough to stand up to his golf addiction. 

The other day, he asked me a question that I am embarrassed to admit I have never asked myself, “If you had a day off to be completely selfish, what would you do?” Here’s the kicker – he said, “Be honest – don’t choose what you think someone else should do or what you feel pressure from others to do.”

My selfish honest answer: Shop.

I actually find it a little unbelievable that in 24 Great Escape columns, I have not written about all of the shopping possibilities in Old Town and Del Ray. 

Maybe it’s because when I have some time on my own, I feel pressure to do something productive or cultural or something that would impress outsiders. Or maybe it’s because most of my shopping these days is done online.

So this week, I decided to write about my real great escape – shopping.

I am not going to begin to list all the great stores in Old Town and Del Ray – we all have our favorites, and Patch’s Places is a great resource for whatever you’re looking for.

What I love about neighborhood shopping, especially in our community, is that many of the stores are locally owned. I like to get to know the owners and employees of my favorite stores. Coming from a small town, I feel more at home when I know my retailers. I also like the idea that my money is staying in the community.

One thing to keep in mind when shopping in the neighborhood is that not all stores are on the main drag or in the major shopping district.

I was pleasantly surprised last fall when my husband, son and I stumbled upon a hobby shop in Old Town that mainly sold trains, but also had other toys that caught my son’s eye. Shopping “off the beaten path” can lead to some fantastic finds.

But what about my addiction to online shopping? Local shopping is not just for those who can’t or don’t like to shop online.

Many of the stores are very tech-savvy with Facebook pages, Twitter accounts or even a simple email newsletter. A lot of times, you can get advance notice on sales or special deals for just following the stores online.

In my opinion, one of the best things about patronizing local shops over online retailers or big box stores is the uniqueness of the products the neighborhood retailers have to offer. Most of the items for sale have been hand-picked by the owners, so you can often hear the story behind your purchase.

So there you have it – my true, selfish great escape. Next time you head for the keyboard when looking for a gift, something to wear or an item for your home, instead, step out the front door and shop the neighborhood instead.