In September, the Light Changes question

This story is included in 'In September The Light Changes'.

In this short-story, Holleran surveys and discusses the various attributes of the bagboys who are employed at his town's two supermarkets. He also examines and compares the history, ambience, and clientele of the two supermarkets. But the bagboys themselves are the primary focus of his attention. He quietly and surreptitiously observes them, and it's clear that for a single gay man in a small town, this has become a small but significant part of his weekly routine.

I can identify quite well with this passive preoccupation. For most of my life, I've often chosen my supermarkets, drugstores, department-stores, gas-stations, variety-stores, restaurants, auto-repair shops, banks, etc. based on the physical appearance of the employees. Embarrassingly, this has even entered into my considerations when choosing a dental or medical clinic. Where others would give more weight to practical considerations ( quality, cost, value for money, etc), I've often given preference to how good-looking the employees are. I don't mean to imply that I've ignored the more practical considerations. They also enter into my consideration when choosing a business to patronize. But privately I've always had a proclivity to shop at, or deal with, businesses with good-looking employees.

Long ago, I used to drive several miles out of my way to get my car filled at a gas-station that had a handsome young attendant. I also get my prescriptions filled at a drugstore that has a good-looking pharmacy technician, although it's also further away than some other drugstores. And I drive out to a supermarket that has several good-looking bagboys, rather than going to my neighborhood supermarket in a closer, more convenient location.

This has nothing at all to do with cruising, or with commencing any sort of personal relationship. It is completely platonic . It's just an idiosyncrasy that adds some fulfillment to my daily routines. I wonder what other folks here might think about this. Does anyone else relate to this ? Is this odd or dysfunctional, or is it just an innocuous quirk ? Is it a positive or negative thing ? (I suppose it might have elements of both). It would be interesting to know what others think.

At any rate, I am an old man now, retired, no longer preoccupied with the daily obligations of a job. And so the superficial interactions I have as I go about my daily routines have become a more meaningful part of my life. I did identify with Holleran's discreet interest and preoccupation with the busboys working in his town's supermarkets, and I enjoyed the story.