Don't Stand in Long Lines
Christmas season is coming. That means -- count on it -- long lines at what used to be called the Post Office, but which is now known as the United States Postal Service (by P.O. workers) or snail mail by everyone else.
The long lines will appear as if by magic or pre- arranged conspiracy approximately 20 minutes before you show up to mail your packages.
I hate to stand in line. That's why I avoid the main Post Office this time of year.
There is a way around this. No, I don't mean getting your things mailed today. That would be too obvious. Nobody does that. It's way too early in the month. I don't even mean UPS. I mean The Other Post Offices.
There are more than one. Most people pay no attention to them. All over town, usually in retail stores, there are mini-Post Offices. They are built into the wall somewhere. Well, not really in the wall, but along the wall.
People are creatures of habit. They go where they have been trained to go. When they think "Post Office," they do not think "up against the wall" -- unless they are thinking about some crazed Postal worker looking for revenge. Those people go to UPS.
Open your phone book. Look up United States Postal Service under United States Government. See where the alternative facilities are: contract postal units. The branch postal units are my second choice.
There are also private, profit-seeking mini-post offices: parcel mailing centers and mailbox rental centers. You pay more, but your time is worth far more than the extra fee.
Identify and locate the alternatives now. Otherwise, you won't think about them under the pressure of deadlines.