I was in the grocery store earlier this week, working through the list of things we needed, when I realized the list also had several items we already have, but wanted to make sure we had enough.
That made me ask the question of myself – what is enough?
The answer, as usual, it depends.
In the time before the covid pandemic, I’d have a couple of cans of sweet corn in the pantry, and the same for peas and black beans, or packets of rice. Now I have five or six of each, plus several packs of chicken and other meat stored in the freezer.
All of this extra stock was driven by the inability to buy those items. We went for a period of maybe six weeks where finding chicken in our stores was impossible. Similarly with peas and sweet corn.
For the past month it’s been eggs.
I hear the refrain about supply-chain issues, but if the manufacturer can supply peas with onions, peas with mushrooms, or peas with jalapenos, why can’t they provide peas with more peas?
It’s not just foodstuffs or paper goods. We’ve seen empty shelves of laundry detergent, dryer sheets, and air fresheners.
As a result, my shopping patterns have changed.
I’m more aware of what’s not on the shelves, or available in the produce section. If it’s an item I use regularly, I make sure I have a good supply in the pantry. Not so easy with fresh fruit of vegetables, but I’ve learned the earlier you get to the store, the more likely you are to find broccoli, or peppers or onions.
I’m hopping these supply-chain “issues” resolve themselves, and my patterns change again, but to be honest, I’m not confident.