$135 Cash, or $180 Credit?

... I packed my gym bag with a total of seventy-one CD's (a couple of which were double-CD sets) to take to the Amoeba Music store in Hollywood today. I can't remember the last time I was there to shop for music. My previous visit had also been to sell a few CD's sometime last year. I also included three VHS tapes: a couple John Coltrane documentaries--one of which I have on DVD now--and a concert by the famed Keith Jarrett Trio.

I love Amoeba. The first time I stepped into an Amoeba Music store was in Berkeley way back in 1996. I didn't visit the San Francisco store until 2002 by which time the Hollywood store had just opened. By far, Amoeba's Hollywood location is jaw dropping by comparison. I've spent hours in there. Mostly in their jazz room: my Disneyland.

I've never been one to download music much, I love buying CD's. But my music consumption habits have changed drastically over the years, reflecting the changes undergone by the music industry in general. The way I listen to music has also changed with internet and iTunes radio, even YouTube. As much as I'd love to see my shelves still stacked with CD's (and, of course, sexy vinyl, but that's a whole nother story), I just can't afford buying new CD's like I used to. Slowly, my first stop for music has been the iTunes Store, even Amazon. I haven't bought or downloaded a whole lot of music from the internet, but the fact that I'm recognizing a trend in the ways I consume-download-hijack music sucks! It sucks for everyone. There's even a free download for your computer that extracts high quality MP3's from YouTube videos directly to your iTunes library.

I haven't bought CD's in such a long time I don't even know how or what to shop for anymore. I'd rather save up and buy an attractive box set of a jazz artist's music over an individual album. It can be daunting at an Amoeba store but, despite a large selection, there are just other factors that come into play now. From reaching for a CD for the player to having it all at the touch of a key on the laptop. I love all kinds of music, but 95% of my purchases are jazz CDs--which, like my books, I just won't sell. It's easier for me to buy other genres of music via the download.

So, I'm financially strapped. Priorities change, right?

I opted for the cash. $135. It was more than i expected. (I imagined the sweet jazz boxed sets and vinyl i could've walked out with from the $180 credit). Seventy-one CD's. But I returned home with twenty-four. Guess they're not buying much R&B right now ... and so the slow jams, my Smooth Grooves collection, came back home with me.

On the way home i stopped by Target for cat food for the week (for my still unnamed stray) and made a payment on my Macy's card. Fortunately, i have enough to make a payment on another bill. This is how it be right now ...

Until the next hustle.