Oceans of parking.

I kept looking out my window yesterday, and seeing parking spots. This happens occasionally, but not usually all day. At one point, 8 spots out of 12 were open, and rarely less than 4. One of my little gauges for how business is going.

The other guage, of course, is my cash register. The thing I didn't know was whether the drop off I started to see last August, (After 10 years of increases) would stabilize or continue to drop into a fresh year. Well, after August and the first half of Sept., I'd say bottom isn't here yet.

I'd hoped, planned and tried to get a good profit this month, instead it looks like I'll break even. Considering the drop, I feel as though I should be pleased that I was savvy enough to see it coming. All bills paid in full, no resorting to cash or credit, credit cards paid in full, employee taxes paid on time, etc.

So I want to emphasize that I'm in good shape; indeed, I've not been this solid in the fundamental finances since....well, ever. Mostly I scrambled those first 20 years, so the last five years, including this one, have been like a stress-free vacation in comparison.

But, dammit, I wanted to try to make money.

This is one of those times when I can't really tell what others might be feeling. Linda doesn't like me to talk about her store, much, but I think it would be O.K. to say her store is doing well. Perhaps used books are recession proof.

Comics obviously aren't. As I've said before, I started seeing in mid summer that beneath all the activity, my regulars seemed to be cutting back, leaving town, leaving comics on their shelf for next time. So, I had guessed that when the tourists started fading I might see a retreat. So I ordered according.

This is where my experience has really kicked in. I don't hesitate to prepare. The way my business works, most of my prime product is ordered far in advance and once I order it, I pretty much have to receive. But ordering just what I need is not the same as ordering what I need and what I want.

I figure I can order what I 'want' at an instances notice. Just pick up the phone, and say, I want that and that, and five minutes later I'm committed. And less than a week later the stuff shows up.

I've resisted both overordering and reordering, pretty much this month. Keeping in the base stock, the evergreens, but letting the stuff I buy for fun or at a whim or as an experiment go.

The other encouraging thing is how well books, new and used, continue to sell. With the used books, my margin is great and I have a constant flow of material. So that has turned into a real backstop.

Hell, I've decided to relax and enjoy the slower activity. There's a positive side to even that!