Final Stop in California

We could not check into our campsite at South Carlsbad State Beach until 2 pm. So, with an hour to kill, we figured we would pick up a few food items and maybe have a late lunch. We pulled into the nearby Costco and were immediately confronted with a parking lot that was virtually full. On a Tuesday afternoon at 1 pm, you could count the number of empty spaces and still have fingers left over.   At the edge of the lot we found the required two spaces needed to park our van. It should be mentioned that this particular Tuesday was March 10th, the day many of us awoke to read the CDC announcing that higher risk Americans should stock up and stay home.

The crowd inside matched the packed lot outside. Shopping carts completed the pattern of full capacity. Except ours. Our bulk-ready shopping cart contained three small food items. When you live out of a van, loading up at Costco is not an option. Our cart also stood out amongst the masses in one other way. Virtually every other cart contained a 48-roll pack of toilet paper. We had to work to see a cart without a pack and our cashier later confirmed this observation.

We asked ourselves, with everyone buying as much toilet paper as they could, should we join in? After all, our van contained exactly 2 ½ rolls. We didn’t succumb to this temptation as we were pretty confident our modest supply would last us until we returned home in a few days.

Happily, there were no signs of panic in the aisles. Everyone was polite and patient. Most people in other locales are as well, I suspect. But I did wonder, as I observed the crowd, if living right by the Pacific Ocean makes these citizens mellower than the rest of us. If so, probably only up the point that one of them sees someone else taking the final two packages of Charmin off the shelf.

The Road Home

Another reason we did not buy any toilet paper is that we knew we could stop by stores in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma if we were running out. No worries – right? So…first stop: a Sprouts in Yuma, Arizona to pick up some food. Julia decided to walk down the toilet paper aisle. There were 3 small packages remaining: 4-roll packs each. That’s 12 rolls total on the shelf. She picked up one pack, deciding it was a reasonable hedge in case we were delayed in completing the 1,200 miles back home or some dreaded stomach bug invaded the van. She left the other 8 rolls on the shelf, knowing some other shopper was probably running low at home.

The next day, we had to drive through the parking lot at a Big Lots store in Gallup, New Mexico, in order to get to a gas station next door. We observed a lady leaving the store with several packages of toilet paper in her cart. However, they were not all the same brand – a sure sign supplies were running low in Gallup. We filled the van with diesel and headed east towards home, not stopping again except for fuel and rest.

Final toilet paper entry in this travel blog: around this same time, a friend texted me a photo of the empty toilet paper shelves in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We decided our 4-roll purchase in Yuma was a smart move.

Fortunately, we returned home with the Yuma package unopened and our original 2 ½ rolls sufficing. Vans are built for traveling light and camping anywhere they please. This makes them great for exploring – and social distancing. But a van is not the best living arrangement when the CDC recommends to “have enough household items and groceries on hand so that you will be prepared to stay at home for a period of time.” So here we are, back at home.

Cheers,
Bob and Julia