Disappointing home stores

Recently my wife gave me my Anniversary gift.  It consisted of camping gear,  mostly consisting of items that I either already had or didn't need.  One item was great though,  a Gerber Machete with nylon case.  A bit over the top,  and really not something that I will ever need on a backpacking trip, but none-the-less awesome!

When I was a kid I lived in Tigard Oregon and my house backed up to a school which also had a large forest attached to it's property.  I used to spend hours in that forest with my friend Joseph,  building forts, fashioning spears from sticks,  and overall relishing the woods and my boyhood freedom.  Some of my best memories of that time are attached to my fathers machete.

I found it in the garage one day and asked if I could use it.  Of course, being the responsible dad, he gave it to me to mess around with, along with instructions to be careful.  I would spend hours in the woods carving paths through the underbrush,  pretending I was Indiana Jones, or Davy Crocket.

So, it goes without saying that when I got my anniversary gift,  I couldn't help but keep the Machete,  even though I will probably never use it.  All of the other gifts (one double sided fork/spoon aside) I returned to the total of 62$,  which I planned to take with me to the proverbial "outdoorsman's candy shop," REI, and purchase a few things that I have been needing, or wanting.

As stated in my previous post I have been trying to go lighter with my backpacking load and so I figured that I would start with a trial.  I was planning to get a cheap 20$ hammock that they advertised online to attempt a trip with solely a hammock as my sleeping arrangements,  just to see if I could handle it.  I of course had other ideas of things that I could purchase if in event the hammock was not in stock.  My list looked a little like this:

1. Black Diamond Head Lamp (due to my lack of a quality light source after my other headlamp kicked the bucket)
2. Hammock
3. Liquid fuel stove
4. MSR Dromedary Bag, 2 Liter
5. Vibram Fivefinger Classics
6. Vibram Fivefinger Treksports
7.  Titanium Cookware (Snow Peak or REI Ti-ware)

I proceeded through the store, searching for the hammock first.  I found after asking that they did not have it in stock.  I tried to locate a 2 liter MSR dromedary bag to no avail.  I scoured the store landscape for a liquid fuel stove or titanium cookware that would serve my needs while not being overpriced.  And lastly,  I went to the footwear department and inquired after my favorite shoes.

After about an hour and a half I gave up, threw in the towel, and purchased a cheap Black Diamond head lamp.  I had not found any of the things on my list except the most trivial item,  although it is probably the most needed for my next adventure.  I was disheartened and decided that from now on I will simply shop online, even though a picture is never as good as the real thing.

Hopefully by spring I will have all of the things on my list and I will be able to truly decrease the weight that I have been lugging around for the past few years.  It will be amazing to have my pack under thirty pounds including perishables for a 2-3 day trip,  and I can't help but think that my back and feet (due to the lack of support given by the Fivefingers)  will be better off for it.

So, in conclusion...........Buy me camping gear or give me money for birthdays, holidays, or any other reason that you can think of!!!!!!  Gear is expensive,  but in the long run worth it.