Wednesday, July 05, 2006

My Imaginary Closet

Some privileged few who know me THAT WELL know all about my imaginary closet. I'm not so much a purchaser as I am a browser. Some people purchase on impulse. I am one of those that will argue myself out of the things I really want, writing them off as unpractical, not really ME or just too expensive to justify.

Don't feel sorry for me, though, because I will take that "thing" along with me in my imagination as I leave the store.... technically not really shoplifting! :) I will hang that item up in my imaginary closet and enjoy it there for weeks, months and years to come and never once regret not buying it. It's a gift!! I base this on the law of diminishing marginal returns which states (basically) that at some point, the more you have of something, the less you appreciate that thing.

Well, my imaginary closet works for me!! But my beloved mother-in-law, who was a shopper and purchaser to the core, could never understand this. She loved me in spite of it, but when we went shopping together, I made her crazy... which in reality only increased the pleasure of the item in my imaginary closet. Ahhh! The memories!!

"If you like it, why didn't you buy it?!", she'd say with exasperation.
"I don't need it.", I'd reply with a smile.
"Ah, GUFFF!!", she'd exclaim. (This favorite saying of hers was the combined sounds of frustration and disappointment, and always made me smile.)

Anyway, I say all this only by way of explanation....Can you make this jump?.... I have caught myself recently making mental notes on places that would be fun to visit without a child... you know, on a date!! Yes, yes, it's true. I am starting to take imaginary dates.
The most recent place I happened upon through and ad in the paper. It's called "The Whistling Kettle". Just checking out their website sent me on an imaginary date. :) So much fun!! I mean, just look at their menu! Yummy! Makes me feel like I'm back in Scotland. I really do need to get out more.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey! I have a similar "non-purchase" ritual. I put whatever it is in the shopping cart and while going through the store I think about the storage of said object - -the dusting, the cleaning .... plus, I have to have three GOOD reasons for purchasing it, and "because I want it," isn't allowed on the list.

Grace Whisperer said...

A kindred spirit!! Thank you, my sister for your affirmation! :) I like your rule about 3 good reasons. I'm not sure I've done that myself.... Oh, how my dear mother-in-law would've responded to THAT!! I LOVED your testimony (on your site), by the way. Reminds me once again that I need to get mine up!