Moving your family to a completely new place involves many sacrifices—adapting to a different language, adjusting to cultural shifts, managing a new school environment, navigating a different education system, dealing with higher expenses and lower salaries, and living among strangers. This meant that we limited our shopping to the bare essentials. But, as always, we shopped together as a family. My parents stayed back in Chennai, as there was no need for them to relocate, so we managed two households. Shopping trips, though rare, brought us some joy during this phase, and finally, we returned to Chennai.

We never let go of our habit of shopping together—everyone enjoyed it. However, by this time, my parents were old and rarely accompanied us. I relied on my wife to choose whatever clothes were bought for me; she knew better than I did what would suit me, and she was always right. Our children were now grown, and we allowed them the freedom to make their own choices, though within certain limits. As our elder son went to college, our younger son neared that stage, and I was transferred to another location. Managing three households, we labored through this period and eventually found some stability after our elder son went abroad for higher studies.

When our elder son returned to India after completing his Master’s, it was a memorable visit. He brought back many things for all of us, and my wife eagerly went shopping with him for a new grinder and washing machine, relieving her of some routine chores. For the first time since I bought those ready-made clothes years ago, my son got me some ready-made outfits. He convinced me to try on several, putting aside my reservations about whether they would suit me. This marked a change in my dressing style. Although I still didn’t quite reach my brother’s level of style, I was at least a quarter of the way there. My son, in a way, pushed me into the world of fashion, rekindling my interest in ready-made clothes, which I continued to buy for years.

After our second son also went abroad for his studies and secured a job, life began to brighten. For many middle-class parents of that era, the dream was to send their children abroad for higher education, hoping they would establish a comfortable life for themselves.

Within five months of my retirement, we landed in the USA, and our real shopping spree began. Before we left, we indulged in shopping for ourselves and our children without worrying about finances. By this time, my parents had passed away, and it was just the two of us shopping together.

Chennai’s shopping landscape had changed significantly. We were no longer limited to Parry’s Corner or Mount Road; T. Nagar had become a major shopping hub, especially for women. Spencer Supermarket had emerged, along with other large chain stores. We moved from shop to shop and locality to locality, enjoying window shopping and real shopping. Even then, I still relied on my wife to choose clothes for me. Whenever I tried to pick out my own, it usually ended in disaster. To this day, I have never shopped alone.

Shopping in the USA was a different experience. It wasn’t clothes we were after; the mall culture hadn’t yet taken firm root in Chennai, so the scale of American stores was awe-inspiring. On our first day in the USA, our elder son—while our younger son was doing his Master’s at university—took us to what appeared to be a massive store. We were amazed to see everything being sold under one roof, from footwear to food, clothes to condiments, and electronics to everyday needs. Walking around these vast stores was like completing our daily exercise. With my sight still intact, I would marvel at the array of products, the various brands, and the unfamiliar terms, often asking my son or daughter-in-law to explain. Language differences between American, British, and Indian English added to the learning curve.

Every visiting Indian seems to make a stop at Walmart or a Dollar Store. Walmart, true to its reputation, sells everything from “pin to plane” at seemingly cheaper rates. But one should always pick and choose wisely, and don’t get carried away thinking you could buy a plane at a bargain price!

This shopping adventure continued throughout our entire visit.

Continued in 89. Shopping Hopping - Part 6