When you commute to work with your foot, it is amazing-and freeing-how you don't worry about the price of gasoline. I used to watch those plastic numbers go up or down on a daily basis. Now, I have not really seen a gas station in two months. I understand it is now over $3/gallon thanks to speculation, war in Afghanistan and the weak dollar.
But it is not like not having to worrying about gasoline prices has left my mind free to do more useful things. Instead, I find myself obsessing more about my clothes, in particular, certain accessories.
I have been desperately searching for the perfect satchel bag (a.k.a. messenger bag, "man purse" or "murse") and the perfect umbrella, two necessities I had not really thought about before the move.
In Atlanta, bags didn't really matter for guys. In fact, the slightly offensive name "man purse" certainly comes from middle America where they don't worry about having to carry around all the modern necessities on their person, all the time. They can just throw it in their car. Here, I am afraid, the bag is a necessity. Otherwise, your pockets bulge with wallets, blackberries, keys, Purell, gum, gloves, hats, pass cards, IDs, money and more.
But, what kind of bag? I have a good bag for work, but that is different than what I need for the weekend/nights out. I have looked at Jack Spade, looked at Gap and John Varvatos, looked at all the small shops along 8th Avenue. I want something casual, useful, and at least somewhat stylish (although too stylish, and you end up with all these unnecessary snaps and buttons). Leather or fabric? One big pocket, or lots of individual compartments? Big enough for workout clothes, or smaller so that you actually carry it around?
And, umbrellas. Again, something I never worried about before. I had a big one at home, and a back up in the car. Here, I suddenly need to consider size: too big, and the people on the street glare at you as if you are driving a Hummer to the Green Party Convention. I also need to consider strength. The flimsy one I currently have turned inside-out twice on the way to work this morning alone. But, it cannot be too expensive. Having lost two umbrellas at bars already, I realize that some people don't pay much attention whether that black folded umbrella is theirs or not.
Next up, hats...gloves...scarves...ear muffs?
