It seems like starting each week with a question is a good idea.
I've been noticing a lot more when I buy things in Dryden and when I don't, and the distance I've been willing to drive has been shrinking. When we first moved to Ithaca, we spent a lot of time in Corning, including shopping trips, because we knew where things were. It wasn't convenient, but since we were seeing family there anyway, it wasn't too far out of the way.
When we bought the house, I made periodic trips to Auburn, Binghamton, and Elmira to go to Lowes or Home Depot, but I do much less of that now. Partly there's less to do on the house, partly I haven't been thrilled with the quality of things I purchased there, and partly I know where to find things locally now. Even the Home Depot on the south end of Ithaca feels far away if I can get something at Bishop's in Lansing.
I used to go to Cortland on a regular basis when Woodworkers' Warehouse was there, but since they've disappeared in bankruptcy, I don't go there very often any more. We visited Staples there recently when we were already in Cortland, but Cortland feels pretty far away lately.
For groceries, I do some shopping in Dryden and some in Lansing or Ithaca. The Exxon at the corner is convenient for small emergencies, and Ludgate Farms has all kinds of extremely tasty stuff and isn't far from me. If I'm in the Village of Dryden anyway, I'll stop at Clark's, especially since they're the only place I've found here selling Freihofer's cracked wheat hamburger buns. Otherwise I normally go to P&C in the Town of Ithaca or in the Village of Lansing.
I used to go to Ithaca Agway a lot, but the Dryden store is a lot easier to deal with. It's smaller, but that's convenient in its own way. If I'm just going to Agway, I'm always heading to Dryden.
There are lots of other categories - restaurants, gasoline, clothes - and you can't find everything in Dryden. It's either a plus or a minus that Dryden is surrounded by shopping options in Ithaca, Lansing, and Cortland, so shopping often means crossing a municipal boundary or two.
Most people don't notice boundary crossings. Some (like those in Bethel Grove) don't have much easy option for shopping in Dryden anyway, given geography. Others shop where they work, not where they live. Where do you shop?
Posted by simonstl at June 21, 2004 08:50 AM