Normally I love the Ypsi Food Co-op, and we shop there all the time. Every once in a while I walk/bike/drive down to get something and get asked for my membership card, which I don’t have, so they look me up, and then I get shot down.

See, it is an individual membership, so only Bridgit is an actual member. This annoys me. The idea is that in running the Co-op one membership buys you one vote. But I don’t care about voting, I just want my 4% discount (which is only on some stuff). Bridgit could have just as easily gone down to get something. The food all goes into the same kitchen. For some reason this has got me riled up today and I have resolved that the next time this happens to enact my new plan: get a membership.

That is right, if I am asked for my membership I will just pay the $200 to become a full member and buy my goods. Then I will cancel my membership in protest. I was hesitant because I would have to carry around $200 just in case I wanted to buy a loaf of bread, but my wonderful wife (who is not down with this plan at all) had the idea that I could just put it on the good old credit card.

Alternate plans include creating a trust or a corporation and signing it up. If I make the whole family part of it we can all get the benefits of membership, but only with one vote. The cost of creating a trust or corp is the only downside. Bridgit thinks I should try to change the system (which only works if you are rich, or in a movie), but I am grumpy/lazy enough that I will just work within the system. Besides, I don’t have a vote anyway.