It’s funny how we get used to our home environments.

We know where the glasses are in the kitchen. We know to watch out for that bump when navigating the drive-thru at the bank, and we know exactly where to find the low-fat, honey wheat bread at our favorite grocery store.

But sometimes shaking thing up a bit – breaking out of that old routine – is a good thing.

So on Sunday, when my mother suggested traveling across the state line for groceries, I said, “sure.” And before you yell at me for not shopping locally, let me point out the trip was a break in my normal grocery shopping routine, and it’s one I will not be repeating any time in the foreseeable future.

I should have known taking a road trip in the rain wasn’t a good idea, but what the hey, it was good family time. My oldest two decided to stay at home and play with family, so it was just my mother, the youngest girl and me.

I was even prepared. I had a list and everything, even down to the dry-erase markers I need. See, I had been reading all those financial articles that said making lists was the key to keeping costs down. And even before we left, I set out the parameters — it was going to be a go-in-and-get-what-was-on-the-list trip.

Pulling into the parking lot was like a fight for the last loaf of bread in the face of an impending hurricane. Cars were shuttling quickly back and forth throughout the parking lot with no regard to incoming traffic.

And did I mention it was raining?

We hurried into the store, fought for a buggy — and I realized a fatal flaw in our plan.

I left the cotton-picking list in the car, and of course, it was a monsoon outside so there was no going and getting the list.

The trip quickly went down hill from there.

I guess, in hindsight, my first mistake was heading into that store hot with no concept of what I was looking for or how to find it.

So up and down the aisles we went, and the pile in the buggy grew with each pass with things I knew weren’t on the list. By the time we made it to the grocery section of the store, I was ready to make a speedy exit out the door.

I couldn’t find a thing I needed — in any way, shape or fashion — but my buggy was full. I was disgusted with myself and my experience.

And to top it all off, as disappointed I was in the selection, nothing prepared me for the reactions inside the store.

The people were horrible! I mean absolutely horrible, mean, insensitive and downright rude. It was nothing like shopping here at home.

The nicest people in the whole store were the associates. How often does that happen?

Dorothy had it right when she said there’s no place like home. That shopping experience made a believer out of me.