Shopping as an Altruistic Activity

What can I say, I've been out there living life and haven't had time to write about it. Okay, really I've just discovered something else to do on the computer and my Internet connection is slow, so it has consumed all of my time. I've discovered eBay. Yes, I know what you're thinking -- she's addicted to shopping -- well, you would be right. Only, I already was, this just means I don't have to leave the house to do it. This could be extremely dangerous for someone with my anti-social tendencies, but fortunately, or unfortunately as the case may be, it isn't quite the same thing as shopping in person. But now I can have the thrill of the hunt right here in my own home. I can also get rid of all those things I don't want anymore and then use the money to buy new stuff. I'm trying to keep the amount spend about even with the amount sold. It's working so far.

It amazes me the things you can find, and sell on eBay. I put up some DVD's thinking I'd get a dollar or two and they sold for eight. It's also fun to just look around and see what other people are buying and selling. If I had the time (and better that dial up) I could get lost just browsing through the offerings. At first it seems like a daunting task -- there are so many possibilities, where to begin? But once you get into it, it leads you from one place to the next, then eBay starts giving you ideas and recommendations (like any good shopping site that wants you to keep shopping.) Pretty soon you're bidding on a lot of 50 doorknobs and don't remember even having that many doors once the glaze of addiction fades and reality sets in.

My husband thinks I'm addicted and is on a first name basis with the UPS man. He got mad at him for driving on our new concrete, but where else was he supposed to go? Me, I now having a speaking relationship with the Postmaster of our small local post office. (See, it's even expanding my social network.) Between eBay and my book swap site it seems like I'm single handedly keeping the post office in business. I'll bet the post office loves the advent of online shopping and exchange sites. Maybe they'll think about that before the next rate increase. Sure everyone is (okay, my Grandmother will never do it, but most everyone else is) using email instead of sending letters. But once you get through the email inquiries, there is the final exchange through the US Mail or some other carrier. They should be grateful. Think of all those lovely packages stacked up and waited to be sorted and delivered from one end of the country to the other.

There you go -- I have now logically connected shopping and supporting the government. (This didn't even include all those shopping indexes, sales tax, and jobs supported by shopping.) We're expanding our horizons, touching people from across the country and around the world. Pretty soon the world will be one mall with no boundaries, the only wars will be price wars, the only conflicts will come when there aren't enough Coach handbags, or scrapbook paper with sailboats, or diamond earrings for everyone. But then there will be substitutions, people will benefit from war and conflict by getting a good deal -- the ultimate goal of any shopper.