Because it is so cold here I usually layer up heavily. This year Massachusetts is even colder than normal. Frequently that includes multiple layers of sweat pants, one over the other. Some of the places I used to shop were a little more upscale, not much, but a little. Such as office supply stores. My transportation is disabled transit, which in these neck of the woods is called Dial-a-Ride. They pick the person up at their front door and drop them off, then come back to get them later. They have a rule that at least one hour and thirty minutes has to be between picking you up and returning for you. Because of the situation with the homeless, most of these places do not have benches or anything to sit on outside.

When my leg and with it my lower back start hurting I have to sit, and that means on the ground in front of the same store to wait for my pick up. People tend to make loud comments, seeing me sitting there like "Look, honey, someone's sitting on the sidewalk" and then make a big detour even if it means walking in the street. Or, "Look at the bag lady." Now I seriously don't see how my small back pack and my somewhat scruffy sweats deserves that. I've even been checked out by cops and security for sitting on the sidewalk waiting for my ride to return. Office supply stores do not have indoor places to sit. Same for going to the local Barnes and Nobles. I finally stopped going because I hated the reactions I got sitting there, but I had to be able to reach my ride when they arrived and not be where I couldn't see them come up and vice versa. Dial-A-Ride is only required to wait a set number of minutes and then they are going and they have a fifteen minute variable to either end that is for them and them alone, not the rider. So if they come early, I'm out of luck. Plus I'd like to get away sooner if I can.

Mostly I shop at Wal-mart, not because of the prices entirely, but because they have a formal bus stop with benches at the front of the store where I can wait for my ride without getting the comments. Tomorrow I'm going out to pick up some stuff I forgot yesterday like dogfood and I'm going to Walmart. Big Sigh.

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