When Caleb arrived, there was some switching of chores and who got to do what. For the past couple years in California, Sarah was the grocery shopper, and I think enjoyed going to Whole Foods in San Ramon. But, in all honesty, she now hates grocery shopping. And maybe you do too. I, on the other hand, love it. Now, obviously I think there are many factors that play into whether you hate or love grocery shopping. For example, if you live in Ashland, you don’t go to Shop’n Kart between 5-6pm. That’s probably the case with many other grocery stores in your town.
However, one of the things you never know about and often spend time trying to figure out is when the best time to go grocery shopping is. Often, it can feel like the basic probability theory in poker – you know, trying to figure out how often something will happen, or not happen. Trying to figure out when the store is going to be enjoyable…and when it’s going to be a madhouse that will make you want to pull your hair out.
I tend to go late in the evening. It’s become part of my Sunday evening routine. I do youth group, go back to my office and take care of receipts, get things organized for the coming week, clean off my desk…and then head to the grocery store. Last time I went, when I was checking out, the checkout guy said “Dude, people who shop here in the middle of the day are stupid.”
I know that not everyone has the ability to shop late at night…and I’ve been known to run in at 5:30pm to pick up one last minute item…but shopping late at night has been such a relaxing, cathartic experience.
I get my list from Sarah after she’s planned our meals for the week (we use the iPhone app Paprika for meal planning, managing recipes and making the grocery shopping lists)…and then I slowly just meander through the aisles, checking off items as I get them, price-checking everything to make sure I’m getting the best item at the cheapest cost…it’s almost like a game for me. And I’m not rushed…I can reflect on the day…debrief youth group in my mind…relax a bit before heading home…
I enjoy it. And the guys who work at Shop’n Kart at that time of the night know me, and are used to seeing me on Sunday evenings.
Anyone else enjoy this late night grocery shopping ritual?
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