Whether ’tis nobler to souvenir

Posted: November 16th, 2009 | Author: Shawn | Filed under: planning | 3 Comments »

ohio

How many souvenirs would Sue veneer if Sue Veneer could veneer souvenirs?

Yesterday I had snowglobes on my mind after reading about the TSA’s reminder that we can’t carry them on the plane. I’m not really worried about snowglobes in my carry-on bag. It did make me wonder about souvenirs in general though. Before you start a trip is really the only chance to make the not-even-remotely-important decision on how to handle souvenirs.

The true holy grail of souvenirism is the theme. Personally, I’ve never been much of a souvenir person. Sure I’ve casually flirted with the occassional t-shirt, fridge magnet, or coffee mug. Who hasn’t? The theme collectors are hardcore though. They giggle at us rookies with our mis-matched souvenir collections – 2 Cabo shot glasses, a Bellagio fanny pack, and an unidentified inflatible sperm whale. Pathetic. Theme souvenirists are the type that have a snowglobe from every place they have ever been. Or a picture of them with a ceramic gnome at every major landmark. I met a guy once whose theme was visiting every Hard Rock Cafe in the world. He had the pins and t-shirts to prove it. Definitely hardcore, and definitely dedicated to their theme. Perhaps the closest I have come to a real dedicated souvernir theme is Vegas. When I go to Vegas I gather up as many of those hooker trading cards as I can. You know the ones they hand to you as you walk up and down the strip. I have some really good rookie cards. Anyways, yea, the theme is where the souvenir ascends from harmless tacky trinket to a full blow reason why you will most likely die alone.

Taking this quandary to its logical personal level, and having a bit over a month before I embark on my trip, this is my time to make the souvenir decision. Do I either,

a) Swear off any and all souvenirs. Abstinence is the safest way.

b) Not really make a decision and end up picking up some odds and ends here and there. No theme, no use for any of it. Trinkets, chotchkies, fluff.

c) Latch on to a theme like a diabetic wolverine on Willy Wonka. Embrace a souvenir theme and let it motivate and entertain me throughout my travels.

I’m inclined to answer “a” since I don’t really want to buy, carry, or live with a bunch of snowglobes. What if I come to regret that though. Is there a cool theme out there that I would actually enjoy? What is your souvenir tactic? Do you recommend a theme? Do you perhaps want to buy my gently used ceramic turtle whistle from Nicaragua?

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// shawn

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ps: I don’t like the hard rock cafe.


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3 Comments on “Whether ’tis nobler to souvenir”

  1. 1: Lizzie said at 21:41 on November 17th, 2009:

    Why chuck hooker trading cards? It’s brought you this far. Dance with the girl who brung ya, I say.

    [Reply]

  2. 2: Madz said at 07:23 on November 18th, 2009:

    I’d say an AB punch…. plan to buy none… but if you happen to find the kelly kapowski circa 1991, waving the flag of whatever country you are in… how could you not pick it up?
    Basically allow yourself a couple of grab exceptions.

    [Reply]

  3. 3: Shawn said at 09:24 on November 19th, 2009:

    So if I am reading y’alls advice correctly, you are saying I should publicly declare that I am buying no souvenirs. But if I see a hooker that looks like Kelly Kapowski I should punch her in the abs then dance with her.

    Sounds like a plan, count me in :)

    [Reply]

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