Even when I know I didn't order anything, I always get excited when a truck drives by, especially when it slows down near my house. I feel like one of those indigenous people from Melanesia who used to do strange rituals in the hopes that a more advanced civilization would bring them consumer goods, the symbol prosperity. These native populations would build air strips, hoping planes would land, and engage in other acts of sympathetic magic. It was called Cargo Cults.
There's more consumer goods available at stores. Delivery dates are still hard to snag, and Dan likes going shopping. He wears his mask, gloves up, and doesn't dawdle. He has lately come home with so much stuff I've put my foot down and put a moratorium on salmon, chicken, and lamb chops. "I can't close the freezer door." I complained.
I welcome the fresh produce, which we use weekly. Indeed, I'm probably getting more antioxidants and vitamins weekly than I did in an entire year before. I make fresh salads, cut up fruit, and make one pot stews with potatoes, carrots, and celery. I've made jambalaya with onions, green and red peppers, and celery, and with sausage and shrimp. The fresh produce gets used pretty quickly. So does the bread for sandwiches - both a loaf of rye and a loaf of whole wheat.
But the frozen bagels, frozen veggies, and meats have been piling up in the freezer. When Dan gets salmon, that gets made right away. So, I've declared before he can bring in any more meats and frozen goods, we've got to start using what we've got.
But paper goods are still hard to find. It's loosening up. Dan has found paper towels, tissues, and napkins. Toilet paper supplies are tighter. For the longest time, Amazon still didn't have any. I had gotten two megapacks from Walmart. And Dan snagged some at Safeway. A normal four pack.
As I once said in a blog post about supply chains, people take their social cues from the behavior of others and by visual sights. As long as paper goods aisles are bare in stores and as long as it's hard to buy online, people will hoard. So, even though I technically don't need toilet paper - I've finally used the megapack I bought hack at the end of March and I'm about to start my last megapack, which probably will last another month.
I periodically check online to see what's available even though I'm not really interested in buying. But I've noticed for a month that toilet paper still was not available for delivery. Walmart was limiting it to in store pickup. And friends were still looking for or talking about shortages. So, today, while idling surfing to see what's available, I saw Great Northern Quilted paper. A 12-pack from Amazon.
Yeah, I bought it.
I was curious and checked Walmart. They had Great Northern and Angel Soft and a few other brands. But Amazon was cheaper so I was happy with the purchase. I am not ashamed that I have turned into a semi hoarder that now buys a month in advance - just about to open my last 12-pack, time to restock. It used to be down to my last few rolls, I'll get some over the weekend.
By the weekend they'll be gone again. I don't want to be that hoarder person. But I also don't want to be the desperate procrastinator whose neighbor has to take pity on them and lend them a roll to tide them over.
On the other hand, disinfectant is still impossible to find. Dan keeps looking for some on every shopping trip and has been for most of April. I've searched online. Just none. I've got at least another month to two month of supplies left. But if I see some soon, I'll overbuy in a minute without a second thought. Who would have thought, just two months ago, we'd all be desperate for Lysol Wipes? Or settle with pathetic gratitude for some off-brand spray bottle from China?
We are all part of a cargo cult now. That's because our supply chains are still broken. We can now get toilet paper again because it's manufactured in America and they've ramped up supply. The chemicals for disinfectant wipes still come mostly from overseas where they are still providing for their own citizens first.
I'm wondering, if I build an airstrip, would Amazon send a drone with some Clorox?
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