Good stuff I got to do by being here

For years I've been wondering about all the Internet buying that people are doing. Whenever I looked into it, the shipping costs acted as deterrent. Last month I decided to try buying books. I started with a couple of sailing books I'd been meaning to read, one of which I could not find at home and the other I wouldn't buy because it was so expensive. I threw in the upcoming selections for the library book club and then rounded it off by spending enough to get free shipping. Half the books were coming from Amazon, the others were used copies coming from three different vendors.

The first couple arrived in less than a week; all were here in 1o days. The cheapest book cost $4.10 -- 11 cents for the book and $3.99 for shipping. None was more than $12, and all copies were quality editions, not the cheap drugstore paperbacks. This is like the world's best used bookstore. I went back to amazon.ca to see whether I had exaggerated the shipping costs and, no, the difference is huge. Last week I decided to order a sugar bowl and lid for our English ironstone set. I placed the request on Tuesday and it arrived (from Virginia) on Friday, at significantly less than half the price I was quoted by a china store in St. John's.

On a completely different plane, last night I went to Girls' Night Out in Old Placerville. Now that's a downtown that knows how to market itself. The Main Street of the old goldmine town runs for several short blocks. Most of the buildings are the genuine original article. The Cosmic Cafe even has gold mine shafts in the back, to which you can retreat with your veggie special and your subversive reading material. There are clothing stores, art galleries, antiques, bookstores, crafts, jewellery, restaurants, bars, hardware, kitchen and decorating stores. Mixed in are services such as hairdressers, massage, psychic readings, legal offices, the IOOF Hall and City Hall.

Main Street is not competing with the big box stores out on the highway and they have some great ideas in how to attract people. On the third Saturday of each month, they hold an "Art Walk". The galleries and other stores who wish to participate are open for extended hours and offer wine tastings, snacks, music and other treats. It's great fun. Remember, all year around the weather is pretty civil, so walking the length of the downtown is not much of a burden. Last night, Girls' Night Out for leap year, was way better than art night.

I had to go alone, which was a pity, but not enough to keep me away. Jim dropped me off and I went straight to the overflowing doorway of a grand old building. Here was a bank hosting a fashion show. All clothing was provided by Main Street shops, and the bank's expansive layout was perfect for the event. Pink brochures gave a list of participating businesses, and all you had to do was walk up one side and down the other to take it all in. Each business had a pink sign in the window stating what they were offering, e.g. food, drink, discounts, draws, free services, music, demonstrations, all kinds of imaginative treats. You could try your had at making sushi or take part in a scavenger hunt. The age range was from late teens to 80+. Dozens of businesses took part and we were lucky to have an especially warm evening.

As sole driver of the truck, Jim had to play chauffeur. He dropped me off and killed time at Home Depot. By the time he turned up downtown again I had noticed that there were a few men about, so I took him to the old-fashioned hardware store where they were serving Boeger wines. It's not often you get to admire the full range of John Deere regalia with a buzz on.

Routines and events

The first month of our stay was an experiment in adaptation. We had to situate ourselves geographically, everything from learning what to expect of the weather to finding the grovery stores and gas stations. We became familiar with the house and its features, making small modifications as we went (moving lamps, buying a dish drainer, etc.) The pets taught us to meet their needs.

Alongside the basic familiarization, we were also trying to make the most of our few months in Northern California. We registered for dance classes, went sightseeing all over the place -- Sacramanto, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco. We went to museums, the state capitol, parks, a play, the downtown art walk, film screening, wine tastings galore -- everything we saw advertised and could fit into our schedule. We volunteered and I joined the book club.

Part of keeping a busy pace was the time-limited opportunity for new experiences and part the need for social contact. Jim and I are well used to each other's company, but too much of a good thing is a definite risk in a situation like this. We now have acquaintances at our volunteer gigs (library and thrift store) whom we look forward to seeing, and the subtle comfort of familiar faces in stores.

I've mentioned some of our activities to C, the homeowner, and she was impressed by how much we are doing. It would probably be the same with anyone coming to live in our home. There's a tendency to pass up events close to home out of laziness and a sense that "We can do that any time." Perhaps we need to live our lives every day as if all opportunities are time-limited.