The Age Of Convenience

 When I was growing up, the only access to books we had was our local library.

Annually of course, we had that greatest of events, the Scholastic Book Fair.  And even more occasionally - maybe once a year - we would go to our local big city where we would go to an actual book store.  The store itself - a relic of the late '60's/early 70's, with its haphazard shelving and narrow rows and towering heights (at least to a child) was what I have always associated with a "good" bookstore; the modern version of over-lit fluorescent lighting, wide aisles, and organized sections is not for me.

And then, when I was at the age of Middle School, my town got a bookstore.

Suddenly, books were only a short car drive away, available (for purchase) all year!  Yes, one was confined to the stock on hand - but still, the wonder!  I saved my allowance and bought books (some of which I have to this day).  One bookstore became two, and then one day I discovered "Chain" bookstores were a thing.  The literary world was my oyster.

And then in 1998, I found a place called "Amazon".  Suddenly, there were no boundaries.

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One wonders if, in years to come and histories are written, if this will be called "The Age Of Convenience".

We have at our fingertips the ability to order anything from almost anywhere and have it delivered to our door.  Not just the ordinary things, like books or clothes or groceries.  Exotic things:  Skyr from Iceland, tea from Japan, every imaginable cat toy upon the planet. Shoes that are in my actual size, not the nearest fitting size I can find.

The even more amazing thing is that we scarcely have to wait for such things if wish. Once upon a time, ordering things and waiting for a month was considered expedited.  Now even a four day wait is considered excessive; I can get things in 24 hours or less if I desire (and am willing to pay).

Truly, we live in an age of miracles.

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The Age Of Convenience is, of course, built on two foundations:  cheap, reliable, abundant energy and a wealthy economy.

Cheap, reliable, abundant energy fuels the modern world.  It allows the use of hothouses in locations they would never traditionally be.  It allows the manufacture of items that once upon a time were handcrafted (or simply did not exist).  It allows these items to be transported across the world in relatively short periods of time compared to most of human history (via sail, cart, or foot).  And it allows these items to be dropped in our stores or at our doors sometimes with hours of our ordering them.

The other aspect is that for convenience to be worthwhile, it has to be marketable.  Companies, be they single owner, family businesses, or corporations, are in business to yield a profit.  Convenience is a way to secure profit by providing items easily - at a price.  Take away the ability to make money from a convenience and the convenience will disappear eventually - after all, there is no point in providing a service at a loss.

Without energy being cheap, reliable, and abundant, goods and services do not move quickly or as freely.  Without wealth, there is no incentive to offer convenience, at least on a large scale.

In that sense, we live at an apex of history.

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What happens when The Age Of Convenience ends?

For some of us - mostly older, but also those that have for various reasons chosen a simpler lifestyle - it will be a return to form.  Certainly it may inconvenient - after all, I have gotten just as used to being able to get almost anything quickly - but I can adjust; after all, we have likely mastered the art of doing without or making it out of something.

For those that have never lived in this reality or have forgotten, it will likely be very difficult.  Not having instant access to a thing or perhaps the thing not even being available would be hard, especially if that had not been true their your whole life.

But perhaps, not essential.  Because convenience is, well, convenience.  It is not essential.