Clear-conscience shopping

          For the rest of the year, I live in a small town in Massachusetts that while lovely, isn’t close to much of anything. We have a couple of nearby good restaurants, but eating out usually means a drive of 45 minutes or an hour.

          Shopping is even more limited. And it’s not as though I’ve been aching to stroll through a Neiman Marcus or Saks. I was really excited last year to learn that a Target was coming to town.

          So, I’m in shopping heaven here in Florida. I have several Marshall’s/TJ Max to choose from, or if I want to spend a ridiculous amount on beachy, sparkly clothes (no) I could shop in the heart of Venice at the tourista shops.

          I don’t know if it’s because of all the snowbirds coming and going, but there’s also a preponderance of Goodwill and thrift stores here. I’ve written about the really fabulous Goodwill store that is just books and more books. And there are several shops of consigned women’s clothes that are good labels and are marked down to 50% off after they’ve been there a month. Fifteen dollars for something that in another life had cost fifty or sixty is fine with me.

          The other day I decided to go trolling for some dessert plates, and maybe a vase.

          I went to a thrift store whose proceeds go to the local animal shelter. No plates, but I scored a vase, a pair of earrings, a basically brand-new Scrabble game, and a puzzle for the next time the grandgirls visit. Total – under $10.

          

I think memories of Covid are still too fresh for me to consider this one.