16. Shopping in Brick-and-Mortar Stores
Shopping was once a social experience, involving visits to bustling malls or local shops. Browsing aisles, chatting with store clerks, and meeting friends for lunch turned errands into outings. Discovery happened by chance, not algorithm, and purchases were made with hands-on confidence. Unlike today’s solitary online retail, these in-person trips created memories and fostered local relationships, making shopping about more than just transactions.
