Purplevision

Have you experienced the REI effect?

I went into a store last night to pick up my latest fashion favorite: Patagonia long underwear. I have taken to wearing a Patagonia shirt with shorts and wool socks. The combination makes me feel summery (the shorts) and keeps me comfortably warm (since it is the middle of deep, dark winter here) while I sit at my computer keyboard, slowly gaining mass from rich food and lack of exercise.

But you get into an REI and suddenly feel - transformed!

Look at all this cool stuff! Suddenly I want, daresay need, an avalanche beacon and a GPS watch and -30 Degree sleeping bag. All of a sudden I am that guy who gets up at dawn on the weekend for a 10 mile hike through winter snows only to break fast with water and a powerbar on top of a mountain summit. I am that guy who needs a 4x4 with a roof rack because he actually has gear that needs to go in a roof rack and the mini-van just cannot take the roads I need to travel.

You go into an REI and you suddenly feel sporty, athletic, healthy, brimming with vim. Even if you arent that guy you feel like you could be. The possibilities all seem possible... if you just had the right gear.

Which is actually a lot easier than being sporty or athletic or, god help me, getting up at dawn. :)