The other day, Dominick's was out of plastic shopping bags. At first, this seemed like an imposition, but I quickly realized it was a great opportunity to double my sense of smug self-satisfaction:
First, I was able to complain, "Isn't this a
grocery store? Shouldn't you have
grocery bags?" When offered paper bags as a substitute, I chimed, "Now, how do you expect me to carry all those? Damn..."
Next, I was offered canvas bags as an alternative. They were 99 cents a piece (which I was able to complain about), but they held more than the plastic and would carry easier than the paper. So, I bought three and had them load my groceries inside.
The best part was that I was able to pass by others already struggling with their inferior paper bags and shake my head slowly with those teary eyes that say, "Why do you hate the Earth, ma'am." It was a multi-layered sense of superiority and it felt nice.