little miss independent

One of my favourite bloggers recently posted accolades for the return of Starbucks Eggnog Latte (you know who you are Amanda). Almost as though a bell went off, I began to salivate a few words into reading. I love eggnog lattes and I can't wait to indulge in one (I'm pretty sure they're not here yet - we're still on pumpkin spice and friends). Ditto gingerbread lattes. More salivation.

This year, however, I won't be buying mine from Starbucks (insert group gasp here).

The other night I went to the premier of a documentary made by some friends of mine, called Independent America: The Two-Lane Search for Mom & Pop (http://www.independentamerica.net/). Hanson Hosein and Heather Hughes, two journalists from Kelowna, drove across America with their dog Miles last summer, avoiding all interstate highways, corporate chain restaurants, motels and stores. Along the way, they interviewed customers and owners of Mom & Pop shops and documented the growing retail insurgency and its effects in little towns (and even ghost towns) along the way. Who knew shopping could be so political?

It was facinating to learn the havoc large corporations wreak on communities economically - not just because they take business away from the independents, eventually forcing them to close, but in terms of wages (low), and the percentage that's put back into the community (miniscule).

I've always preferred independent restaurants to chains (everything from McDonalds to Olive Garden), not only because it's nice to support local endeavours but because you get something different. Sometimes it's better, sometimes it's worse but it's never not an adventure.

I've also lived quite hapily hating Wal-Mart and McDonalds and their ilk, although mostly for reasons of sheer snobbery. Watching Independent America, I realized there's a deeper issue at stake than the proliferation of tacky living and cheapness. It's like a corporate conspiracy, destroying all remnants of originality. Every town in North America looks essentially the same. Of course there's the obvious - McDonalds, Starbucks and Walmart, but who out there doesn't have a Safeway? or a Costco? Is no one immune? Then there's Pier 1, Home Depot, Chapters (in Canada) or Borders (in America), HMV, Gap, Blockbuster Video . . . where does it end? Why do we need to travel? Why step beyond the city limits?

Admittedly, there are flaws to independent shopping. You have a smaller selection, higher prices, less flexibility, and sometimes, yes, crappy service. But you also get something different. something unique. Tomatoes fresh from the garden, an original work of art, an out-of-print book. And the knowledge that your money is going to a person that lives in your community, who will then spend it in your community, and not some wanker at the top of the corporate food chain.

So I've decided to try the 10% rule. At least to start with. That's the amount of purchases I'm going to aim to make local. Only 10%, at least for now. It's not much, when you think about it. It's picking the Bean Scene over Starbucks, Mosaic Books over Chapters (they have a coffee shop inside as well), Blonde (clothes) over Le Chateau or the Oriental Supermarket over the "exotic" aisle at Stupid Store.

I realize I need big box stores for some things - especially as the mom's & pops become fewer and farther between. But if I can shop there when I can, I know it will make my life more rich (if more expensive at times) and definately more unique.

And I like the Bean Scene's eggnog latte - even if it's served by a girl with more rings in her nose then I have in my entire jewel box. Perhaps I'll treat Amanda to a cup when she gets here.