Pluggers by Rick McKee for September 27, 2021

At least the lady pluggers have that big purse to carry the things they need. I wonder how we guys manage without such a “loadout” (as they say in the military). ;/

See that a lot ;-)

What about fanny packs? Doesn’t matter if they can wear them around their waist, they still put them in the cart.

Now, put the seat belt though the purse handle, to make it harder to steal.

I was in the checkout lane at Costco and the guy in front of me was making a call. I assume it was to his wife, because her purse, which was in his cart, rang.

My portable oxygen concentrator.

I do see this often, but I would never put my purse in the cart. Too easy for someone to walk off with the purse when your back is turned! Sometimes I will tell the woman whose back is turned to the possibility, and they always thank me, but never pick up their purse. I just shake my head.

Big purses come in two basic kinds — shoulder bags and bags with handles that you can put your forearm through — because those are the two ways you can reasonably carry a heavy purse. It is reasonable to put the bag in the shopping cart because you need your hands free to control the cart (you don’t want to be accused of being a ‘woman driver’) and your hands and arms free to reach for things on the upper (and lower) shelves. Hanging your shoulder bag on your shoulder is possible, but you tend to ‘round’ your shoulders in order to keep it on the shoulder while you push the cart, which leads to back pain (or so my physical therapist advised). As to why we carry large purses — there are a variety of reasons including carrying the day’s needs for class, work, snacks, pills, and extras for babies, children, and spouses. But basically, we carry big purses because we don’t have the pockets to put things in and even if pockets are supplied, they aren’t big enough and sturdy enough to hold today’s phones, etc.

Often I’ll grab a cart, push it around the store, not find what I’m looking for and take it back to entrance, putting backing to the row of carts.

That’s my lovey wife.

The thing’s too heavy to carry more than a few feet.

I never leave anything in the cart because I “roam”. No point pushing 50 pounds of groceries (with a bad back) down an aisle to pick up one item.

Are you a plugger if your purse was described as a tote bag in the catalogue??

I’m not surprised when at my employed grocery store bagging shoppers’ purchases into their carts or helping take shoppers’ purchases from cart to car.

My daughter and I shop together, so one of us is always at the cart. She carries a messenger bag (and I do too, sometimes) and we put them in the cart. No need to worry about someone snatching them. When we go to a restaurant where we might leave our seats (like a buffet), we can unsnap our shoulder straps on our bags and wrap them around our chairs, slid the bag under the chair and not worry about anyone grabbing them, or tripping over them.

You’re a plugger if you grab a cart because you forgot your cane.

Hmmm, at times.

The cart is our walker.

Am a 67 yo woman & have not carried purse or pocket book in decades. Why schlep it around & have to keep track of it?

If it does not fit in my jeans pockets, don’t need it. Wallet, cell phone, small spray bottle of alcohol, small bottle of hand sanitizer, keys, “Space” pen, tissues & pill box all fit in front pockets of jeans. State passed a law that stores cannot use plastic bags & either have to collect a fee or are allowed to charge for the bags (depending on where in the state they are located) I have been using my collection of plastic bags (husband always said “what do you need to keep them for” – now he knows), so I now need jeans with back pockets also – can fit at least 2 bags from my collection in each back pocket to have them with us in stores.

When we travel if will be away from our RV & can’t easily get back, will wear a day pack, back pack – not for my stuff – for husband’s. He needs cameras, spare parts, a place to stash his hat while inside, snacks in case his blood sugar drops, a place to put what HE buys (I don’t shop unless at Colonial Williamsburg & need a new period ladies cap or similar) & whatever else he brings. Once stopped going into the Smithsonian history building in the 1970s or early 80s as he had put the spare battery (about 8 lbs worth) for his portable VHS recorder/camera in my back pack without telling me and another time was stopped at the Library Congress as he had put his “Leatherman” tool in the back pack and had not told me.

If I am going out to a client and cannot wear jeans – I put whatever I need in my briefcase with work stuff. If we are going to a dress-up event (maybe once a decades if that often) I have made myself a modern version of an 18th century lady’s pocket – a tear-shaped fabric bag which ties around the waist under one’s clothing – for modern use made in black and closes with velcro + safety pin for backup – worn under skirt.

Carrying a purse is not something I have done for well over 40 years.