Too Many Choices

 Making decisions about items to purchase has become inordinately complicated by the Internet.  Give me limited choices, and I can make a decision.  Put me on Amazon, and I become overwhelmed with too many choices for a simple purchase.  I find a few things that look like they will work for my needs, then I start to read the customer reviews.  Minutes turn into hours.  In the end, I have made no decision OR purchase.  The next day, I start all over again, ad infinitum.

Example:  I am in need of a couple of new garden hoses.  I want the expandable ones...lightweight and manageable.  The cheaper, the better.  I've been searching for over a week now, online, and don't find any that will fill all of the qualifications.  Something's gotta give.

More serious example:  Last week, I read that Corelle dishware older than 2005--at least in certain patterns--should be retired because of possible lead exposure.  I have a cupboard full of Corelle dishes, circa 1991.  My pattern wasn't specifically listed, but it's very, very similar.  Truth be known, I fell out of love with the pattern years ago, although I still love the quality of Corelle dishware, but I simply couldn't justify replacing my dishes at my age and income.  Could this be my excuse??

So I went to the Internet to see what was out there.  I've looked for hours.  I like Corelle; I don't care for any of their current patterns.  I considered going with all white dishes, but since my good china is also white, I wanted something a little different.  Then, too, the size and shape of bowls is important for dishwasher fit.  I've seen stuff that I sort of like, but it's not Corelle, so I end up reading the consumer reviews.  Here we go again....  Too many choices!  As with the water hoses, the jury is still out on this one.

If money were no object, I could buy whatever I want and not worry about longevity, but it's MY longevity that's on the line, here.  Plus...what to do with the old dishes?  Will Goodwill take dishes that aren't recommended to be used...or am I being overly cautious?  No young children or pregnant women live with me (those that would be the most affected by high lead levels).  I've been eating on those dishes for 30 years, and I'm still kicking.  

Every time I mention a need, someone tells me how I can find a product to fill it.  Just don't give me too many choices, or I'll bog down.  I'm bogged right now.  Too many choices are like quicksand.  Slowly, slowly sinking...