h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

if I'm shopping I know exactly what I want, usually exactly where to get it, and hopefully will be out of there as fast as humanly possible..

Ah, but I also ensure that I don't leave any visible marks or wounds.

"Honest, Officer, I spent the whole day in my backyard, planting begonias ... It couldn't have been me, manically mowing down the in WalMart "

There is very little on this earth that could make me go to wally-world.. *shivers*

The minute a Wally-World opens in Belleville, it will mean the end of life and small-town business as we know it !!!

In essence, that is what the local papers announced 10 years ago. Well, it opened, the limited malls and the walkable downtown core took a brief impact, and then life returned to what it was. W-Thing does good business, as do ALL of the commerce that pre-existed. Five years later, one opened in my smaller town, Trenton. The same prophesies of doom, and yet life continues. Mind, many have moved out of the downtown core, but that is because of two factors: ridiculously stupid lease costs of store-front properties, and an incidiously invading degree of minor lawlessness.

Lucky for you. They've destroyed many a small town here in the US.

That was the expectations, perhaps because of Small Town, USA. But for some reason, while they flourish here and provide some much-needed employment, the rest of the folks do okay. Perhaps because it's more of an old-boys-and-friends kind of town. Despite the better prices for some stuff, you still go to Ian for paint and brushes. Because he, and his father, and his grandfather, always gave a good deal.

That's good.. be careful though... they'll start slashing prices and doing more to make the locals compete on a field they can't afford til they go bankrupt.. that's their MO..

They have to post certain expectations, and agree to any number of limitations and conditions that the city applies, before they get the permission to build and then continue to operate. One has operated a decade, the other about 6 years ... While they do run weekly sales, they've not threatened anything local yet.

There may also be quite a number of considerations that they must meet, to operate on this side of the border, that US commerce terms don't demand. So far as I know, I haven't heard of any Canuck towns or cities being damaged by a Wally-World.

For myself, I get in there once or twice a year ... If I am seeking a specific something that locals don't have.

Possibly.. I can't stand the place and very seldom go.. there's very little one finds there that isn't elsewhere as well..

You are in a somewhat larger community than I am. About all they really offer is a bit more selection or variety of some products to choose from.

Of course, after each visit I must go to the basement for some self-flagellation. Atonement for having support one of those -heathen 'Murican businesses.

I'm very choosy about things anyway so I seldom go there... I get my fresh produce at a farm stand or farmers market during the season, at a natural foods grocer off-season.. my meats and seafoods from a local store, it is a chain but a local one, that has good quality and cuts to my specs.. etc etc.. so I really have no need for them.

Oh we never go there for food-stuff, other than perhaps an occassional tin of coffee grounds. It's more the electronics or household hardware stuff that we might drop in for. Our grocer has quite a large'ish set-up now, that not only deals in quality fresh veggies and fruits, and sea-food, (aside from the usual dry and canned goods) they also have a load of kitchen and bath stuff, kids clothes, a small pharmacy with a licensed lady behind the counter ...

For home electronics and such I go to different stores.. depending on what I want.. or I order online..

Hey, you ARE still on the continent. Has that bug still got you worn down?

Oh man... my doc is threatening steroids if I don't stop barking like a coyote... it has slowed down a bit but it's still somewhat there...

Just not letting go, eh? You do have my sympathy and wishes for improvement soon. I've had an assortment of lingering sinus congestions almost since November, and a bit of a recurring rattle-cough. But I've put that down to a simply weird and changeable winter season.

I think that's what ended up getting me in the end too... the end that has my throat anyway..

With any luck, and perhaps the actual arrival of summer then, you make become somewhat healthier. Or atleast sound less 'throaty' ... though some find that quite sexy. Just look at the popularity of folks like Kathleen Turner?