Fifty by Fifty

I turned 49 a few weeks ago. I don't often think about my age but 50 is a big number and I wanted to do something to memorialize my 50th year. A year long project, if you will. I like sweets too much and exercising not enough so losing 50 pounds was out plus I wanted it to be something fun that caters to my interests and encourages me to explore the world a little bit more.

I love Amazon. I am a Prime member and use it for everything from books to laundry detergent to dog food to electronics to streaming video. I love being able to read the NY Times Book Review on a Sunday night and immediately buy a book that peeks my interest - either in print or electronically. I am a fan of retail therapy - Amazon affords me that without leaving the house.

Oddly enough, my love of Amazon got me thinking about independent book stores. When I go away I always make sure I stop at local stores - three bookstores in Provincetown, The Provincetown Book Shop, WomenCraft and Now Voyager (when it was open) are favorites. I discovered The Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid in May and try and visit RJ Julia in Madison (CT) and Breakwater Books in Guilford (CT) a few times a year. When asked what my dream job is my immediate response is having my own bookstore.

Yes, I realize my Amazon addiction and my love of bricks and mortar stores might be viewed as a bit incongruent, so in my 50th year I'm going to explore it. My goal is to visit fifty independent bookstores by August 30th of 2014. I plan on making a purchase at each store - hopefully something from a local author that wouldn't necessarily come across in my Amazon feed.

What is my ultimate goal? Is it as simple as alleviating guilt? I certainly hope not but I'm willing to look at that angle. I have no idea where this year will take me but I'm open to both the internal and external journeys that are awaiting. Feel free to join me on the way.