The Final Shoe Selection

A few weeks ago we had a very interesting string about the choice of shoes to take on a holiday that involves 6 nights on land in three different places, two possibly freezing and one tropical, plus 13 nights on a sailboat. Plotnik received much helpful advice. So, yesterday Plotnik and Ducknik went down to REI, which carries a 30 rating, which is to say Plotnik can stand being in REI for up to half an hour.

(A 30 is an excellent rating. For example, Circuit City has a 5. Nordstrom's Rack has an 8. Any storesy-worsy with the stench of scented bayberry candles has a 2-Minus. REI's 30 is equal to Guitar Center and the Acme Bread Outlet.)

He went to buy a lightweight waterproof windbreaker, a feat he accomplished by picking the first one he saw, which was absolutely perfect -- if perhaps $70 too expensive (OK, he had hoped to spend $10). It's a beaut, though, and should last until he loses it somewhere.

But then he had 23 minutes left of his half hour allotment of store patience, so he walked over to the shoe section, where the End of the Year Closeout was going on, or was it the Beginning of the Month closeout, anyway prices were Drastically Reduced on All Shoes You Don't Want. Plot looked until he found the WAS $75 NOW $35 marker. Those are the dark tennies.

The friendly salesman also brought over the light tennies, WERE $60 STILL $60. The problem was the $60 tennies were a lot more comfortable than the $35 tennies, but the $35 tennies were a lot cooler AND considerably cheaper.

So Plotnik turned to page 42 of the Da Plotnik Code and found this sentence: "When buying shoes, if you buy two pairs you'll only have to go back half as often." Excellent advice. He bought them both.



So now, his final shoe selection is complete: one (or both) pair of tennies and his ancient Tevas. This makes sense. Doesn't it?