Shopping is not by normal account a risqué subject. It is after all a corollary of food and shelter, the two basics of existence. When however it entangles itself with psychosis it becomes another matter.  Shopping is then by equal candour known to animate a good deal more than the soul. From the Greek psykhosis meant “a giving of life; animation; principle of life.” As you might expect the popular rendition of the mental state surrounding shopping as a gleefully intended fixation is less forgiving than the functional norm.

Psychosis is a condition of the mind or psyche that results in difficulties determining what is real and what is not real. Symptoms may include delusions and hallucinations, among other features.

Portrayed in that manner, shopping attracts inviting hypotheses. Not the least of these conjectures is perhaps that arising upon completion of the event; namely, that shopping paradoxically defeats its own purpose. To be blunt, the shopping experience is frequently afterwards salted and corrupted by the act of having accomplished the goal. In truth, things seldom acquit themselves sufficiently to accommodate the full force and gusto of the initial enterprise.  It is frequently the act of shopping, not the object of shopping, which generates the amusement, preoccupation and suspense.  Shopping is the act of going shopping, buying and procuring. What emanates from that activity and purchase is entirely something else.

Notwithstanding this bipolar experience of hunting and gathering (notably two of humanity’s primary ventures) this is not to say that one cannot achieve enormous satisfaction from the thing itself (in spite of having taken all the fun out of the adventure). But the stomach is not yet full.

There is though a prolusion to shopping no matter the level, whether nutritional, domestic or artistic; that of course is need.  Or want.  Or wish. Shopping is by any enquiry first propelled by investigation for satisfaction of a requirement, whether palpable or allegorical. Certainly there are moments when retail shopping is merely diversionary, something to do in a mall on a rainy day.  Today for example is a rainy day.  In fact it is at times horrendously rainy, forming dynamic sheets of rain.

This morning after we had completed a site-specific shopping expedition (that is, buying required household goods and culinary provisions at the grocery store) we thought to entertain ourselves by driving in the pouring rain along a sodden country road to the wool shop in Carleton Place to see whether there were any additions to their collection of plastic farm animals. For some time now I have sought to buy a swan which they formerly carried but which I have been unable to rediscover. The two which I had previously purchased were given as gifts. Once again today I was out of luck. It remains a pending consideration, a source of further outstanding imminence. Though I may excuse my obsession by repeating a website description (below) investing the acquisition as a proper gift idea, I confess a moderate stimulation deriving from the collection process. The stuff is well made. And, yes, I did purchase several new models (including my favourite, the small pink pig). There are an astonishing number of companies which produce almost identical products, all of which proclaim their venerable manufacture using advanced vinyl and painting schemes (and in one instance, hand painted).

These animals toys are great for birthday gift, Christmas, new year, thanksgiving and other holidays, harvest theme party gifts, school classrooms rewards/prize or party supplies.

In 1935, Friedrich Schleich (1900–1978) founded Schleich in Stuttgart as a supplier of plastic parts. In the 1950s, the company became known as Schleich Figuren, producing bendable plastic figurines for the first time. In the 1960s, the company focused on producing licensed toy figurines (merchandising). This included the development, production and marketing of comic figurines such as Snoopy, Maya the Bee, Mickey Mouse and the Smurfs. Especially with their Smurfs figurines, the company became widely recognised as a toy supplier.

This trifling exploit speaks to the greater submersion; and that is the now diminished state of my retail interest. This unfortunate state of affairs is the consequence not only of aging but also of changing. Not only have I now in my possession virtually everything I could ever wish to have; but also have I little or no remaining interest in acquiring anything else. To remind myself of this pennywise pledge I investigated my two most recent purchases, things about which I have lately pined and for which by luck I was able to fulfil. It is so easy to store things away from sight. But vigilance is required to avoid a taint of hoarding. If something is beyond employment, then out it goes!  I mean, why bother keeping it? Unless of course it affords occasional use, ornament or enjoyment.