Have I fallen out of love with shopping?

This has been  a long term love affair.

There was a time when a trip to the mall felt like an outing. Today, it feels like an endurance event with fighting for a parking space, listening to music that could wake the dead, and the reality that a designer hand bag now costs roughly the GDP of a small island nation.

Somewhere along the way, online shopping quietly rewired my brain.

Now I sit in a comfortable chair, coffee in hand, compare prices in minutes and read reviews from people who apparently hold PhDs in air fryers and linen pants. It is so easy to click Buy Now and wait a mere 24 hours for the UPS driver, who probably knows me better than some relatives.

Have I become lazy?

Perhaps.

Smarter?

Possibly.

The truth is, I still love the hunt. I am a tactile person and still dedicated to seeing clothing up close and personal, but I have changed the hunting grounds.

The internet never closes. It doesn’t make me walk three miles for socks. It never tempts me with a scented candle I didn’t know I needed until it was strategically placed beside the checkout.

I still enjoy bookstores, farmers markets, and quirky little shops while traveling. They offer something Amazon cannot…surprise, conversation, and a sense of place.

Maybe it is age. Maybe it is economics. When everything seems overpriced and 50% Off somehow still feels expensive, the thrill disappears.

To be honest, Old Navy athletic wear is just as durable and stylish as Lululemon at less than half the price

These days I don’t shop for sport. I shop with purpose.

Madison Avenue and the upscale suburban mall may miss me and for that I am sorry.

I will always hold the memories close.