This falls under the heading of wow, I didn't expect this.
Since I moved to Georgia in 2012, I've shopped primarily at two grocery stores. Both were near the condo I lived in temporarily, and when I sold my house in Minnesota and bought one here, it was in the same area as the condo, so same two stores.
Fast forward to the other day. I had an appointment to get some work done on my car, but even though I arrived 15 minutes prior to my slotted time, they had no mechanics available and they'd get me in soon. Thanks. The only reason I went in on Thursday was because they said 10am appointment, less than an hour to install. I had a follow-up doctor's appointment that afternoon.
I also needed to get groceries. My plan was get out of the car place before 11am, go to the grocery store by my house, put the food away, and go to my doctor's appointment.
That's not what happened. It was after 11:30 before I got out of there. I punched the grocery store into my app, got the estimated time of arrival, factored in shopping time, and realized I couldn't do it. I would be late for the doctor if I tried.
Another factor: I drive right past the doctor on my way home from the car place. They also happened to open a grocery store recently right near the doctor's office. Like it's literally on the other side of the same complex of buildings. I did have time to stop at that store, do groceries, and make my appointment. I'd have to buy a thermal, reusable grocery bag to be safe on food temperature, but it was cool enough here that I didn't think it would be a huge issue.
I set my store app to the new location and noticed everything was arranged differently in this store than in my branch of the same grocery retailer.
I didn't expect to feel annoyed over shopping at a new location, but I actually was. I hated that things weren't where I expected them to be. My store is older, and arranged completely differently than this newly built store. What do you mean tortillas are on aisle 2? They should be on aisle 6.
And I was annoyed at myself for being annoyed. I found everything and only wandered lost for a little bit. The app guided me without any issues, but it wasn't my store. Which I guess was the bottom line. I'm too used to the stores I normally shop at.
I think overall this was a good thing for me. It woke me up to how set in my ways I've become. Not a fun realization, but maybe necessary. Next time I have to deviate my routine, I'm going to look at it as a minor adventure and not an irritation.
