Could You Have a Stationary Addiction?

When I walk into an office supply store I am in heaven. My kids know that once I am inside, we will be there for hours. Office supply stores are like my Disneyland. I love the smell of the paper, and the plastic binders, and the Sharpies and the Post-It Notes. Everything is crisp and new and so organized. If only my office and my life could resemble the clean, neat shelves of the store I would be complete.

Its safe to say that for me buying office supplies is definitely an addiction of some sort. In fact, a quick search of Google says this is called Papyrophilia and describes it as an obsessive love of paper, and by extension, all things stationary.

How this obsession began seems to be both genetic and environmental. My dad had whole offices stuffed full of supplies ready for use. He loved going and buying new office supplies for his stash at home. Like me, one of my brothers also developed a love for office supplies, but my other brother didn't. So while I think that this can be passed on to ones children, it is not always the case. I myself have two sons, and neither of them got the office supply bug.

As you may have guessed, this obsession can even become an emotional crutch (addiction). If I am having a really bad day, I go buy something for my "office". It doesn't have to be large or expensive. I've been known to be soothed just with a pack of brightly colored push pins and a new notebook. The cheapest thing that made me all smiley inside recently was a package of purple staples for my one finger powered Paper Pro stapler. I don't know why office supplies do the trick for me, but I'm sure it's related to all the other shopping addictions people are known to have.

If I can get my fix and get out of the store for a few dollars I am proud of myself. I do have to watch my spending in these stores because its so easy to start buying things that I don't need, just so that I'll have enough. Enough for what I'm not sure, but I tend to buy extra of things like they are going out of style. One of my new favorite things I even have an excuse to buy is purple pens from Paper Mate that actually write with purple ink. If you haven't guessed yet my favorite color is purple. Since I am not a student and don't have to write in "blue or black ink" I write almost everything with purple ink, and it makes me happy, literally.

My husband has gone with me to the office store (or any store that has a stationary section) and gets a huge kick out of watching my face. He claims that I light up like a little kid and get all silly grabbing this and that 'till my arms are full. He knows to get a cart as soon as we walk in or he will end up carrying all my stuff so I have my hands free to grab more things.

After he started teasing me about my little "addiction", I started wondering if I was the only one who felt this way about stationary. I had never thought about whether it was normal or not. I started watching other people in the store to see their faces. Soon it was apparent that there were others just like me! My husband will sometimes comment to them "oh, so you're one of them too, aren't you?" Its funny to see them admit it with a quick blush on their face and a giggle. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one with a weird thing for office supplies.

My favorite office supply store has one of those member clubs. You know a person like me opens every mailer they send too. Wouldn't want to miss out on anything at my favorite store! Right now I have several of their coupons in my back pocket and I have been seriously looking for an excuse to get down there and spend some money. At the moment I can't think of $50 worth of stuff I have to have in order to get $10 off at the register. Darn. All I need is for one of the kids to say they have a project due and then I can rush over there and pick out supplies for them. Waiting.....waiting.....Hmm. Might need a Plan B.

Eventually I will get to the office store again. Some people look forward to holidays like Christmas and 4th of July; I look forward to Back to School shopping at the big box retailers. For a mid year stationary fix, January is great for all kinds and types of calendars and appointment books. Maybe this year I will buy stationary products for people on my Christmas list. BINGO!! Cool, now I have to go, um, shopping!