Cohousing-L Mailing List: Buying Clubs: a flip side?

[Lynn Nadeau (welcome]

The question was asked of  how to save money by using big "consumers' 
clubs". Granted, sometimes making "politically correct" choices costs 
more than one has available, and then you do what you can. But do keep 
the bigger picture in mind. Corporations do "Rule the World", but we can 
put some sticks in their spokes, and maybe carve out some enclaves that 
remain local. 

I don't know what sort of local town community you have, but here in Port 
Townsend Washington (pop 8000) many of us have concluded that price 
savings are not the bottom line. We are fortunate to HAVE a local 
economy, and are doing our best to nurture it. Because it nurtures us. 

When my daughter was on the local swim team, I was struck by how many 
local businesses donated to their support, realizing that those same 
businesses doubtless also gave to the local marching band, food bank, 
domestic violence resource, hospital, Scouts, theater groups, etc etc. I 
buy my gas at a local pump and tell them I'm willing to pay their price 
because they support every carwash with their facility. 

We are also a destination for visiting travellers (sounds nicer than 
"tourists"). We  have a certain cachet as a Victorian Seaport, and 
because it is based in truly being a "local community" (not some sort of 
plastic facade)  we locals also enjoy walking about in an atmosphere free 
of Wal-Marts and Costcos. 

We shop at merchants who are individuals we get to know, who ask how our 
kid is doing, who remember what we like. We are providing places our 
teenagers can get their first jobs, without having to flip burgers at 
McDonald's. Our pharmacist personally knows many of those for whom he 
dispenses medications. If our roof leaks, the roofer lives nearby, and 
has to deal with it. 

If you go the route of buying on-line, or buying from a distant warehouse 
or distributor, remember to evaluate the bigger picture and make the 
choice consciously. 
"Cost" isn't just money.

Lynn Nadeau
RoseWind Cohousing
Port Townsend Washington
(where grassroots organizing recently kept both Rite Aid and Hollywood 
Video from locating)