I have a guilty secret–a shameful addiction.
It’s not books, although I have far more of them than I have time to read and most of my shelves are double-stacked with books. But I don’t feel guilty about that particular habit, nor is it a secret from anyone who knows me–especially anyone who steps foot in my house.
No, what I’m admitting to you today is that I love office supplies and school supplies.
I always have. When I was a kid my dad would bring home computer paper: the green and white striped kind with the perforations at the edges. I loved that stuff. I can still conjure the smell of it. Nowadays I can’t be trusted in Staples or the back-to-school section of Target. I’m not sure what’s so appealing about those pretty pens, those reams of paper, those multicolored binders and notebooks. I even love paperclips and staples. I like the way pencils rattle slightly in their cardboard box. And on the rare occasions when I manage to visit this place in San Francisco? Beware! I can spend many hours and do serious damage to my credit card.
I know at least two other people who share my addiction. They’re both academics, which may explain a lot.
How do you feel about office supplies? What’s your guilty pleasure?
Kim,
I share your guilty pleasure and just tweeted about it the other day! I love this time of year and make a lot of trips to office supply stores to check out their back to school sales. Luckily, I have a friend who gathers school supplies for needy children so I have an outlet for my addiction!
Andy Eisenberg
Andy,
You’ve hit on a wonderfully generous way to feed your addiction!
Kim
The smell of shoes.
🙂
I like buying shoes. I’m not quite Imelda, but probably I don’t need 4 pairs of red Mary Janes or 5 pairs of black boots or….
I have mostly overcome my addiction. Not easy since we home school, so I have every excuse in the world to buy all the school supplies known to man, but I’m good. I have it under control…I SWEAR!!
LOL! Homeschooling would do me in!
I did homeschool my older daughter for a semester while we were in Europe, but didn’t have the time there to devote to accumulating school supplies. We might have managed a cool pencil sharpener and some nifty envelopes, however. *g*
It’s handbags and wallets for me. And suitcases.
I find suitcases very tempting–especially since I travel a lot–but they’re a lot more expensive than paperclips!