The main thing I was looking forward to in the US was going shopping.
With a huge market, and variety of choice, I knew I’d want to shop.
Even with our pathetic dollar, I knew/hoped the prices in the US would make for cheaper goods.
I was really looking forward to shoes! Sand shoes. Dressy shoes that come in different colours and designs.
And I wasn’t disappointed.
The US really is a shopping paradise. Choices! Lots of choices!
And cheap. But why did the dress and coat I really want in Bloomingdales cost over $400 and $2,000 respectively? They WERE gorgeous. But I resisted.
On my first full day in the States (after visiting Old Sacramento, I didn’t just shop), I hit Maceys.
Mr S said, “Don’t buy at the first shop you visit. Look around. We can come back.” But I know we don’t do that. Too many places to visit. And anyway this was The Post Christmas sales. (As it turns out, I did return as there was a stuff up with a pair of shoes – they gave me two different shoes, not a matching pair in a box, so I took them back. Luckily they found the left shoe of the right shoe I wanted. And while I was there, I bought the watch I saw and which spoke to me but didn’t buy on the first visit. No watch has called me in years.)
On that first visit to Maceys I bought:
- Boots for $30. (Maybe I should have 10 pairs?)
- Nike runners.
- Some other brand of runners.
- A Calvin Klein coat in the most divine blue.
- Micheal Kor shoes.
- A pair of green sling backs.
- Two pairs of active wear leggings. (I need these now I am a regular gym goer.)
- Mr S bought me two blingy costume jewellery bangles.
I could have gone really mad with dresses. So much cheaper than at home. But I have enough dresses.
In San Fran we hit the discount stores that take remaindered stock. Ross is my fav. Also visited the shopping centres which has Bloomingdales. The shopping centre had curved escalators!
In San Fran I picked up:
- Pair of red loafers
- Pair of blue Sketchers (With all my walking and exercising, I need new sand shoes. My current pair are wearing out and are ready for the bin. I was putting off buying new ones until our trip to America.)
- A gold Calvin Klein cardie. I have one in black and one in white at home. This will be perfect with all my navy work dresses that don’t suit the black or white.)
- Another pair of exercise tights
- A black top.
I also popped into several shops, including new and secondhand book shop, Costco and supermarkets. I always love checking out bookshops and supermarkets in other countries. I had to find a diary and some mascara I’d bought years ago but then the importers stopped bringing it into Australia. Both of which I bought. And:
- 1.75 litres of my favourite vodka at $US32 – less than half the price here.
- A lovely little Christmas tray
- Several different types of melanin. We can only get this by prescription. In the US it is on the shelf at Costco.
- Four books, including two I was so glad to find from a second hand book store as they are out of print and I couldn’t find in Australia.
- A double lined water bottle
- Foot cream
- Pens that write on glass
- Little place setting nutcrackers for Christmas (Second hand. They only had five.)
- Two Hamilton t-shirts
- Reading glasses.
Oh dear. I should have listened to friends who said to go over with an empty suitcase.
I had to buy a second suitcase. Luckily it will be very useful as it opens like an old fashioned suitcase, not one that has two halves. Easier to use when travelling.
On the way to the airport we stopped off at a factory outlet shopping centre where I bought:
- A pair of lined crocs
- Kate Spade handbag
- Pink sandals.
It is truely amazing the choice that comes with a big market. I saw some amazing variety in taps and furniture and electronic goods. But you know choice doesn’t make you happy and choice isn’t the same thing as freedom. It’s just more variety, “more permutations of the same meaningless shit”.
(I’m sorry. I can’t just revel, can’t take simple joy, in buying heaps of stuff. I have to question and interrogate my actions – a life unexamined is not worth living and all that. I’m reading a book about hope and may post on its message soon.)
I know I’ve bought a lot, and it seems incongruous with my posts about decluttering, but all these things will be used.
Now to make room for the new stuff!
lucinda sans 