Surreal Shopping...

Which would make a great fiction title, alas it is not...

A few of the companies I do business with have let me know that prices are going to go up if/when/for how long/who the fuck knows the tariffs happen. Socks, shoes, tights, spices, coffee...the lists go on and on.

So I've been doing a little shopping.

Brent bought a new phone, I bought new socks and tights and am probably going to get a pair of shoes even though I don't usually buy them unless they are on sale, but really isn't pre-tariff pricing a sale?

And we aren't the only ones. And not just smaller things but big ticket items too. Cars, appliances. Everyone who can afford to push up a purchase is. If you can get it ahead of the tariffs you are.

But next month the Trump administration will tout the strong purchasing numbers to try and show how Americans are full of optimism, even though it's the exact opposite. We are all worried that we won't be able to afford anything much at all after this month. Tariffs are going to push prices higher. Business are going to close. We've already seen businesses start to close with just the smaller tariffs in place.

And closing businesses is a cascade effect. Those people lose their jobs so can't go out to dinner, or buy extras, so those stores either cut back staffing or shut down, then those people can't afford to buy things and on and on goes the cycle.

It's already really expensive and we are looking at prices going up and the safety net going away. All of us that factored in Medicare and Social Security into retirement income are now wondering if those will be available.

Hell it's scary enough I looked at houses in New Mexico on Zillow today.

I mean we aren't planning on moving back, but it is so much more reasonable to live there so maybe we do?

I've talked about how weird it is to live in these times. Everything is falling apart around us but we are still living our lives. We still have to wear clothes and eat food and make phone calls and live in houses and...

It's just surreal.

Hard to wrap my brain around the fact that the country as I knew it is gone. And that today is the best it's going to be. That it just gets worse from here. Self inflicted catastrophic wound to the country done by voters. I will never understand.

BUT...I also got an email today that a film I produced* got a slot at a film festival so that's great. I mean the victories are still victories right?

Stay safe.
Stay sane.
Buy what you can afford to.
Take care of yourself.

*okay, I donated to a friend's go fund me to get his film made but it did give me a producer credit so I get to feel fancy with ZERO work on my part.