I often put down “shopping” as one of my hobbies. Some say it’s probably my only hobby. I’m not the only person who loves to shop, but here’s my take on why shopping is so entertaining, so interesting, and oh so mesmerizing.
When I step into a brightly lit shopping mall, I see colors, shapes, and a variety of things–other shoppers, clothes, shoes, hair accessories, electronics–things that I can touch, smell (ugh I absolutely HATE those soap/candle stores), and try. I don’t buy everything I see, but it’s often fun enough just to try them on, like that $400 Coach bag, or that $300 pair of jeans. I feel happy and bubbly as I take in all these sights, especially if a shopping trip includes a short stop at a dessert place. Maybe these things don’t appeal to everyone, just like football isn’t for everyone. Guys, especially, don’t understand why girls love shopping so much. Often it’s a bonding experience if several girls go shopping together. We learn fashion tips and styles from each other, gawk at skinny girls and Keanu Reeves-lookalikes together, giggle over hot chocolates together, and of course, exchange tips on anything from where to get the cheapest greatest haircut, to how best to wear a fragrance, to how to break up with the boyfriend without sounding like a bitch.
If I go shopping alone, it’s usually a “thinking time” for me. When I was in Lincoln, I loved going to the Gateway Mall on my own now and then to get some alone time. Sometimes it involved getting an item that I’d be too embarassed to buy in front of my friends, like that n-th pair of jeans that I really shouldn’t get, or a bag to congratulate myself on a completed project.
To me shopping isn’t all about going out and paying money to bring a product home. That’s just simply buying something, not shopping. Of course I love buying stuff too, I’m not saying that I don’t. But here are just my thoughts about why I’d spend 2 hours getting a pair of shoes when I could easily spend 15 minutes doing the same thing.