Big Box Binge

When I got to the register at Trader Joe’s, I noticed the teenage cashier giving me a funny look. I can’t be sure, but it was probably because in my cart I had 5 bottles of olive oil, 6 bags of honey whole wheat pretzels, 4 boxes of Joe-Joe’s cookies, and 12 boxes of Chocolate Decadence cereal. I could almost see the thoughts running through her head: “Is she bulimic?” “Is she having a bizarre theme party?” “Is this part of some new fad diet?” I know she was hoping it was the last one, because any diet that requires consumption of large quantities of Chocolate Decadence cereal is a seriously awesome diet (if you haven’t tried the cereal, you must—it is soooo good!).

Alas, the answer to the question posed by my cart contents is not very exciting. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m about to move to the Mendocino coast, and along with other discoveries I’ve made recently about the area, I have discovered that it’s not exactly a shopping Mecca. There are some really cute boutiques in Fort Bragg and Mendocino, but they seemed to be geared more towards tourists (or rich locals) and are not particularly inexpensive. For the rest of us, Fort Bragg has an old-school Safeway, a tiny Sears (I really had no idea that they still existed in miniature storefront form), and a couple of drugstores. No Target, no Staples, no Trader Joe’s, and certainly no Ikea, that wonderland where modern Swedish design meets the family-of-four budget! So, I clearly have no choice but to stock up on all my favorite items in Big Box Heaven (aka, the SF Bay Area) before heading for the coast.

I also plan to try to make a lot more things myself. After all, I’m a relatively creative, relatively crafty sort of person (aren’t I??). Need a fun top and have no anthropologie? Make it! Need a cool art piece to decorate my new living room? Make one! Need some funny invitations for a party for all my new friends? Make them! Need some cool shoes for exploring the town and a new frying pan to replace the one ruined making appetizers for the aforementioned party? Er, that’s where it all breaks down, I guess, unless they offer cobbler and blacksmithing classes at the College of the Redwoods. But still, there must be some things I can learn to do for myself. Of course, if I’m going to get my DIY on, I’m probably going to have to make a few trips to the art supply superstores in the Bay Area before I move. Oh well, we can consider it part of my farewell tour.