SHOPPING

Whatever has happened to a once loved pastime of going shopping in the city for the day....lunch out ...that wonderful surprise of finding new shoes you know you'll love , great shirt dress or pants ,then home with  arms full of bags....well maybe not but at least a few treasures that you felt you couldnt live without...
It doesnt happen any more. Is it because I work in retail that i don't shop much anymore or is there a general malaise in shopping trends...judging by the media hype and the quiet floors at work I'd say its true.
I can understand why I don't spend a day off work hitting the shops or browsing the stores...but I'm amazed that  there is such a change and swing away from ....going to town and shopping for the day.Sure in the big stores we get our occasional shoppers like we did before, country people here for the day or New Zealanders excited about our spectacular stores and range of brands But ...where is everyone else.....

My guess is this !!
We either go to the stores because we have to for groceries and essentials or we wait and hit with a vengeance when its sale time or special offer days or we take the time at home to  browse the internet for exactly what we want in the comfort of home where we can look with a glass of wine in hand all in our own good time.
Or we chose to wonder through more intimate interesting and smaller stores in places like Newtown, Leura,  Mosman,  Avalon or markets and the odd garage sale that are present every weekend across the state in the city and  and in regional areas.
if I had time these are the places where I would shop...
Unfortunately, as the decades go past we all try to keep the essence of each decade  and attempt to do it all but honestly theres not enough time ....for everything

The 80's bought us good living and fine dining and great books then the flood of great movies in the 90's  Then on to the 2000's and we have fantastic well written TV series like Breaking Bad, The Wire, Mad Men, Entourage and Dexter not to mention the overwhelming amount of interesting, stimulating, fun interactive pastimes on our I pads, I phones computers, I pods and social media.
So,the short answer is we are time poor but having a blast trying to :
watch quality cinema, read engaging,absorbing books, have fun with social media, enjoy our much loved TV series watched on DVD back to back (the only way to give the story justice ) learn new intriguing techniques on our computers and fulfil our curiosity with new knowledge, do our yoga and meditation, catch up with old friends, work 11 hours a day, keep up and enjoy family, meet new friends, visit the gym to swim and keep healthy,  cook appetising and enjoyable meals, try out special wines, fine dining and nights out at new and favourite venues,  spend time giving and gaining comfort, love and solace from loved ones..oh and the daily crossword and sleeping....
So if we wonder why theres no-one in the store shopping its because we are far too busy doing more interesting stuff then shopping......

and thats how we fit it in.......something had to go