Fear not, you will be able to indulge in shopping while on sabbatical.

You can give your Neimans card a rest while you channel your inner bargain hunter/huntress.

Regardless of where you are residing there will be a Commissary (another government/military term) locally known as FedMart.

The assortment of items varies depending upon who is running the store and their tastes.  Of most concern is that there are no alcoholic products nor any potential products that could be used as a weapon  or potential drug.

That being said, the selection is pretty amazing.  From Nike running shoes to Dorito chips to MP3 players.  You need not worry about any gray roots nor any stray hairs either, as there are ample choices in terms of hair coloring, perming and hair removal products.

You will be able to shop once a week and it is recommended that you arrive early as it can become quite a scene, especially when new items appear.  Case in point, pints of ice cream sell out in the first hour.

The array of food products is all encompassing.  Might I suggest that you get to know someone who is about to end their sabbatical so that you can learn some cooking tips and perhaps inherit their cooking tools (microwave bowls, utensils, etc.).  There are two microwaves in each dorm as well as a hot water dispenser and a large industrial size ice machine (like the Marriott).  These are also available 24/7.

Similar to your College dorm experience, you will be surrounded by smells of microwave popcorn and brownies every night.

As with your undergrad experience, dining services becomes redundant.  The menu is pretty consistent and you will get tired of Eggs, Chicken and Hamburgers pretty quickly.  Each Monday feels like Groundhog Day.  You do not need to eat in the Dining Room at all, it’s completely voluntary.  Some people choose to not eat any meals there.  That being said, during special occasions (e.g. Memorial Day, Christmas, etc.) they really go above and beyond with the amount of food and choices.  You will not starve at Club Fed, quite the opposite, beware the carbs!

At FedMart you can purchase packaged tuna, chicken and vegetables as well as pasta and a wide array of spices.  You have the potential to cook everything from Orange Chicken to Cheesecake.

For those WCCs with special dietary needs (Soy allergies, Vegetarians, etc.) you will find beans in every form available at almost every meal as well as available for purchase in FedMart.  For the faddish Gluten Free among you, you’ll need to man up and consume some Gluten.

In addition to the food choices there is an assortment of clothing available for purchase.  Nike, Under Armour and Champion are the preferred brands.  Work out shorts, pants, tops, sweatshirts, fleeces, socks, etc.  You can even trade in your government issue black shoes and purchase Timberlands if you so choose.  I’m not saying you won’t miss Lululemon and RLX but you will be able to find what you need for your stay.

Prioritize your purchases.  When you first arrive you will need your essentials (shower flip flops, extra towels, etc.).  For WCCs your essentials might include some of the L’Oreal products on sale (e.g. eye cream) as well as the scented oils and thick cotton robe.

For women (and some WCC men) there is an array of facial products available for purchase.  Facial scrubs, creams and makeup.  Yes, there is foundation, mascara, blush and eyeshadow for the diehard among you!  While Friends of F may be surprised at this expansive assortment (or as Aunt Cornelia would say “why the hell do you need makeup at Camp?”) the theory is that by providing products and services to make people feel good about themselves it will lead to a more positive environment.  Where do you think the expression Happy Campers comes from?