All
of the other places that my wife and I have lived had immediate access to a
variety of both small shops and national chain stores. Now, where we have
decided to make our home, there are a number of stores nearby but not as many
as we have grown accustom. For many of the places that we once frequented, we
have to drive a little further than before which, we are finding, is actually a
welcomed change from the places where we once rested.
Just
down the road we have many of the essentials just by different names than those
that we are used to seeing. There are local eateries, small gas stations, and
other stores that line the main thoroughfare just down the street. And, while
it seems further than it really is, there are a few of the national retailers
just a little further down the road including the local Wal-Mart. On a side
note, this is the first Wal-Mart, or any large store for that matter, that I
have ever seen which has separate buggy parking.
All
of the other stores are either the same distance that we are used to driving or
are a little closer than they once were. Ollie’s is a perfect example of this
as it is now about 20 minutes away when there were a couple of others that we
used to go to that were a 25-30 minute drive from our previous rentals. But
there are replacements that are much closer to us including BB’s and some other
local stores that offer the same if not better prices.
The
only stores that could be seen as inconvenient are the ones that we don’t use
regularly. If we need to go to Staples, Bed, Bath, & Beyond, or Babies R Us
they are no longer 10 minutes down the road. However, at least a couple of
them, Staples for certain, are near my office and usually those trips can be
done quickly in the middle of the day. But, again, many of the things that we
once purchased there can be found elsewhere and, at the moment, we are still in
the process of exploring the local area including the towns immediately around
us as well as the Reading area.
We
have everything that we need at a convenient distance from our home. There are
plenty of options out there some of which we have already fond while others
are, as of yet, undiscovered. However, when compared to our previous houses and
apartments, we are the most comfortable and relaxed being ever so slightly
removed from the retail commotion. We have space, we have room to breathe, and
we still have access to everything we need.
