The search ended before it even began

Normally, when there's a Part One of a search for something, there's likely to be a Part Two. Not this time.

I went to Costco today. I was hungry, but not so much for a couple slabs of pepperoni pizza, but for the stuff in the electronics section. Wandered around glancing at the HD TV's and laptops. Walked past the MP3 players and stereo systems. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted it - the object of my desire...

Since I began looking for the ideal camera, I had several criteria in mind, not the least of which was price. At least ten megapixels. Comfortable in the hand. Easy to maneuver. Not many bells and whistles, just something that has a decent auto mode, but still has manual capability, including focus.

My old Olympus C5050 had those criteria, but is no longer produced. It had manual abilities, but focus was from a menu, as was aperture and shutter speed. I do miss that camera, especially the articulating LCD display. If I could just find a camera that had enough stuff, I could look past the cool LCD display...

I'd been looking at the Canon Powershot G9, but after really shopping, I started considering a digital SLR. I considered Canon's Rebel XTi and Xsi. A few of Olympus' models. I'd always wanted a Nikon, but the price just was never there, until I sated my hunger tonight...

The pangs of hunger began to ebb at lunch. I'd stopped in front of the Nikon D60; no sooner had I picked it up and began to cradle it in my hands, I remembered that feeling. There's just something about an SLR. It just feels right. It's not so much the weight, but the shape. Every other camera I'd considered could be handled in one hand. But the feel of an SLR is such that you just have to grab it with one hand and cradle the lens in the other. Sure, you can hold an SLR and shoot with one hand, but...

I suddenly realized someone had stopped next to me - it was a Costco employee. Now, honestly, I don't take kindly to employees of warehouse stores intruding into something that was affecting me in this way. I felt, well, it was the whole "experience" of holding an SLR again. Then it happened - the guy said "Feels great, doesn't it?" I heard myself say "Oh God, yes!"

Marilee and I returned to Costco after work; my new Nikon is sitting here peacefully next to me. I'll put it to bed and play with it tomorrow, after recharging our batteries.