Recreational assistance
This afternoon, on impulse (warm sunny weather is so conducive to impulsive behaviour, don’t you find?), we went off to shop for recreational equipment. Down into the heart of the city, in a sector that only a few years ago was high on the avoid at all costs list for many in this area. Down to a sector which has lost its roof over the street, allowing the yuppiebirds to find a new place to nest. But I digress.
The store was wide open for business, and the variety of gear was fascinating for me (remember that I grew up with a Canadian Tire catalogue as the source of ideas and ideals). Bicycle pumps, kayak paddles, coils of climbing rope, T-shirts in silk, headlights (literally) with three light settings plus flash mode, freezedried foods and foldaway dishes, tiny tents, compasses and foldaway knives, backpacks for every vocation…
High on the needs list this year is a new sleeping bag for my spouse; her polyester crazycarpet bag has survived fire, water, wind and earth attacks. We were soon approached by a young salesperson who was knowledgeable, pleasant, willing to climb ladders to find stock and to spread a mattress so the potential purchase could be “tested” for fit. No hard sell, no attempt to collect commission or “brownie points” on the sale. Just good advice.
We’ve shopped at most of the camping gear places in the city, from Walmart to Latulippe; this one wins hands down. Oh yes, I’m now a part owner, so I’ll name my store: Mountain Equipment Co-op. Come on over.
