Surplus and Survival

A project I'm doing later this week requires me to wear a safety vest.  Not knowing where one bought safety vests, I started my search at the closest big box hardware store.  I found out that although it had an extensive online selection, only the very expensive models were carried in their stores. The others had to be ordered.  Since I didn't want to pay a lot of money and didn't have time to wait for anything be delivered, I moved on to other options. 

A quick Google search told me that a nearby camping/military surplus gear store carried safety vests.  Although I hadn't been there for many years, as soon as I saw the store name I knew exactly where it was. When the boys were in Scouts we got a lot of their camping equipment there, and when Son Tony was in high school he bought fishing crickets there to feed his gecko.  I've always enjoyed browsing the store's aisles to see their eclectic collection of merchandise.

This morning I was there shortly after the store opened.  When I walked in a friendly associate showed me where to find their selection of safety vests and said to let her know if I had any other questions.  It didn't take me long to pick out what I needed, then I decided to look around the store.  As I browsed I noticed the product selection had changed since I'd last been there. 

Now there is less recreational outdoor equipment and more survival gear.  The camping cast iron cookware was still there, but it was surrounded by boxes of military MRE food and emergency rations.   I didn't see any of the paintball guns and ammunition that used to hang on the wall, but there was an aisle devoted to bulletproof vests.  The selection of  hiking boots was about a quarter of what used to be, replaced by racks of military surplus gear.

I looked around for a couple of minutes, then headed towards the cash register.  When I passed the counter where the cricket cage used to be I didn't hear anything.  The cashier verified they didn't carry crickets anymore, but if I wanted to I could still get a cup of fishing worms.

Five years ago today: Faves