Economy

I went shopping this week. Place I've gone to for 50 years. The mall is emptying out as the leases expire. Parts of the parking lot sold for new retail and new housing. The stores are stocked with leftovers. There are no bargains. We don't shop retail any more. We go online, and I really hate that. Shopping was a big event. A day out, often with the family when younger, lunch or dinner, purchases to be proud of and enjoyed. It's all kaput.

Half the stores are independent retreads given discounted space. Stuff you'd find on eBay. Costumes, jewelry, smoothies. Vending machines where you deposit money, like when I was 5 years old. I went to a thrift store. Picked over. Just buy and toss the junk, some sucker will pick it up. Best Buy is running slim. Didn't see a discount laptop, like on their website. In fact compared to 3 years ago when I went there the place is sparse. But you can buy a $7,000 Super HDTV. There are so many streaming services hooked up to various brands I can't name any of them. And there are $3,000 refrigerators. For your McMansion I guess. I don't think I've ever been in a house larger than about 2400 sq feet. Surely not. Most of what I own they don't make parts for anymore. Good on me I don't need anything. You can only wear one pair of pants at a time.