Although the Covid-19 pandemic is still raging across the world, eventually, like all pandemics, it will end. The news and pundits all predict bad changes as a result of the pandemic. There are reports of product shortages, bare shelves at stores, logistics problems, supply chain issues, workforce shortages, inflation and more.
Of course we’re hearing this. After all bad news and dire predictions fuel clicks, draw attention and sell advertising.
Still, I have personally experienced some of these changes. My pools have reduced hours and unscheduled closures because of lifeguard shortages. My grocery store has less selection of certain items and some bare shelves. Prices have increased for many products. Even Amazon is unable to supply all of the items I regularly buy.
Our “just in time” global supply chain cannot function optimally due to the pandemic and its impact on society.
I wonder if this is a reset that we’ll eventually appreciate.
When I was a child, we had two grocery stores in my town. They offered limited choices – usually a store brand and one or two premium” brands. They were open from 9AM to about 7 PM M-Sat and closed on Sundays.
In fact, most of the stores in town were closed after 5 PM on weekdays and were closed on weekends.
We bought less stuff. It was more expensive and less convenient to purchase. Special items had to be ordered from the Sears catalog and might take weeks to receive.
Everyone maintained their stuff longer. Kids wore hand me down clothes from their older siblings. I rode a bicycle that my mother once rode as a kid. Few people drove new cars.
Items like kitchenware, tools and furniture were passed down from one generation to the next.
And it was fine.
It was pretty good.
In fact, it was fantastic.
Will we miss having a choice of every possible fruit or vegetable regardless of the season?
Will we miss being able to have anything we could possible desire to our doorsteps the next day?
Sure.
For a while.
But then we’ll adapt.
And life will become less about consuming and acquiring.
That doesn’t sound so bad to me.