Before I retired, going to the grocery store was just one of those menial jobs that you had to do occasionally so you could buy whatever food was needed to prepare meals and eat. We would go almost weekly because we were always running out of something that we absolutely had to have or just plain forgot to get when we were there last time. It was no big deal really.
Now, since retiring, we have to plan a trip to get groceries, checking our coupons for expiration dates (I never used coupons when I was working), looking for our grocery bags (which are never where we put them last) and making sure our checks were actually direct deposited. We get our monthly check on the 1st of each month, just like millions of other old people. And all those old people go to the store on the 1st or 2nd of the month. I mean why not, apparently this is what you do when you get paid. Getting your check is like a celebration. I think it’s some kind of old person rule. Go to the store the minute you get your check. Go to the store. Got to the store. Like robots. We did that too……at first. But let me tell you, that was a big mistake. The old people are all over the store, but mostly….in the grocery aisles. They seem to walk sooo slow, and I get it, they are sometimes in pain from various ailments and have to walk with care. I know because I have bad days with arthritis. But when I am feeling painful, I stay home. I don’t go shopping! And then they will stop in the middle of the aisles with their practically empty carts to talk to other old people with their carts. It’s insane! I swear they go the the store just to visit with each other, all the while blocking the aisles with their carts, oblivious to what’s going on around them. And then when they get to the checkout, OMG you might as well get a book out and read because you will be waiting a while. They wait until the very last minute to get out their checkbooks and write a check . Really who even uses checkbooks anymore? And don’t get me started on what happens when the store changes their layout. OMG!
Well we figured out early in our retirement not to go anywhere on those days. We would wait until a few days later to get what we needed. So on those first few days of the month while others are socializing at the store, we are at home eating popcorn for dinner waiting until it’s safe to go out.