How do I spell that sound I make when I settle into a comfy chair days after a feast? Erf? Ugh? Whew? Whew will have to do, but the sound is more like a balloon slightly deflating, but not a whoppie cushion, thankfully. I’m glad I recently bought a new pair of sweatpants. I’m also glad I’m not driving to a mall, hunting for parking, jostling with crowds, and trying to find which brand to buy from. I’m shopping local, of course. I’m also mostly not shopping. And yes, sometimes shopping local isn’t an option. Reality, eh?

Elastic. What a wonder. Thanksgiving dinner was duck, wild rice, brussels sprouts, butternut squash pudding, and Finnriver cider. Pardon me as I pay attention to my overworked digestive system. I’m past burping, and I won’t describe what’s happening now. Jeans aren’t forgiving. Carhartt bibs are sturdy and don’t bind at the waist, but they’re meant for standing while working, not sitting in a chair while typing. Sweats exist for a reason, frequently not involving sweating. Gotta work on that later. 

Buying sweats is not shopping local, alas. But most of dinner was grown near my house. Nice. Friends benefited. Local businesses benefited, which also benefited locals I have yet to meet. Money stayed in the area, and if they shop local, then the money benefits more of us. Inevitably, some of that money will leak out into the larger economy. Taxes. Yep. But also, things that aren’t made in local communities. Globalization increased efficiencies, but not necessarily resilience. Definitely not community.

Last night’s dance and this evening’s dance will help me work off some of the accumulated calories. The place was packed last night. At the start, kids outnumbered adults. Finnriver Cidery hosts live bands and doesn’t complain when we decide to dance. The adults have fun (and some embarrassment) showing what they’ve learned. The kids didn’t need to be taught. They moved because it was fun to move. Finnriver also sells cider. 

That’s actually why they are there, as a cidery. I thought cider was cider. I guess it is, like wine is wine, but wine also gets much pickier than white versus red. And there are lots of types of apples, and probably many ways to harvest and process them. Sadly, my doctor effectively wags a finger at me about such beverages. 

(One consequence of small town versus big city life is that my doctor visits the cidery too, so I decide not to drink so I don’t have to hide it. Besides, my doctor probably has good health-like reasons for me avoiding such a fine beverage. I’ll still dance there, though. Besides, they have nice teas.)

I can’t drink it, but I can buy it and ship it. And they’re not the only option. Many farms ship food, as long as it keeps well. Locals also make stuff, including stuff that is elevated above stuff and is called art. Good luck finding the borders between stuff, craft, and art. It is local, but it is also more personal. I’m more likely to know the person, but whoever receives my gift also gets a story that is far more personal than yet another shrink-wrapped, branded trinket shipped from an overseas factory. There’s more to talk about when they unwrap it. That’s a bonus.

I am also shopping less. Yesterday was Black Friday, but I went to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park to get some nature photos. (Hey, the road was open – thought icy – and the snow on the ridges was fresh and pretty.) Today, I’m sitting here, typing this, maybe going for a bike ride before going dancing again. I have the time because I have less to buy. 

We are all aging, but most folks I know have aged enough and shopped enough and been given enough stuff that they don’t need or want anything more. The Baby Boom houses that bulged with families also bulged with furniture and things that the next generation doesn’t want, and the current residents no longer need. More has been replaced with less, which has been replaced with “help me get rid of some of this stuff. I don’t want to have to move it because I’m downsizing.” 

Consumables are more popular. Beverages? Sure. Candles? OK. Smoked salmon, cured meats, spices, teas, cheeses, all things that can be used and used up. And, they are things that can be shared. 
Sharing gifts is more than exchanging gifts. Sharing a gift is an excuse to socialize. It is possible to visit, have fun, and to at least temporarily put aside politics. 

It is trite, but visiting someone has become less common, and therefore more precious. Treating each other with friendship shouldn’t seem rare, but to me, that’s one of the best gifts I’ve received.

Another gift to buy is too easy to overlook. Charity and philanthropy are too tightly associated with tax credits and formality. Definitely give, if you can. I find it more fun to give locally, really locally like person-to-person. It is like shopping local, but can reach further. Look around. Listen. You’ll probably hear or see people who have legitimate needs. They may appreciate it more than you can know.

One twist on giving is to give to yourself. Sure, send that thousand-dollar donation to a charity; but how about taking your life up a notch by buying local things for yourself? Bacon costs ~$9 per pound? Yep. But a local ranch produces an excellent local bacon at $24 a pound. That’s pricy, but I get bacon, they get a sale, the money stays in the area, and the only paperwork is the receipt. Need a bowl? Find a local potter. Need a card? Visit your local printer. Get the idea, or do I need to belabor the point? It is easy. Get past any guilt and treat yourself. You may miss out on a tax benefit, but then they’re less likely to need the benefits from the government. And then if they shop local, and if they shop local, and if…

I don’t expect to recognize you on the dance floor. I’ll be paying attention to my dance partner, but I’ll also be watching for everyone else. I don’t get into mall parking lot traffic jams, but crowded dance floors are far more chaotic, and fun. I’ll just try to keep the bumped elbows and stubbed toes to a minimum.
Let’s see, tonight’s event at Finnriver is Holy Carp (Rock / Pop / Jazz / Americana – whatever it is, I’ll dance to it). Music starts at 5PM. I think $5 is typical, but I tend to give a bit more. (5PM? Hey, it gets dark early here. Why wait? There might even be time for dining and socializing after.)