These are wonderful responses, and although there's no silver bullet there are some great suggestions that I hadn't thought about. Of course it could indeed be the "second most important relationship in my life"! Luckily, my most important relationship is pretty easy going about all this; my wife doesn't care much about music and is understanding as long as I don't scare the horses, as the saying goes.
I hadn't expected to feel so unmoored by the retirement of "my stereo guy" and the relocation of his store. I'll just have to whack up the ginger, as Bertie Wooster might put it, and lean forward into a new store, hoping they are accommodating. It's going to take a few trips and a few stores; it's not in me to show up at a new place with a CDR, some of my own equipment/cables, and a picnic lunch.
I also appreciated the suggestion above to "dress accordingly"! I feel like I'm going on a first date!
I hadn't expected to feel so unmoored by the retirement of "my stereo guy" and the relocation of his store. I'll just have to whack up the ginger, as Bertie Wooster might put it, and lean forward into a new store, hoping they are accommodating. It's going to take a few trips and a few stores; it's not in me to show up at a new place with a CDR, some of my own equipment/cables, and a picnic lunch.
I also appreciated the suggestion above to "dress accordingly"! I feel like I'm going on a first date!