I usually make at least one trip to an out-of-town mall, and in recent years I’ve done a good chunk of my shopping online. So I wondered: Could I really do it? Wouldn’t I have to spend more, or settle for less?

I didn’t start shopping until a few days before Thanksgiving, so it’s too soon to say for sure. But so far, it’s been surprisingly easy to find gifts in Oneonta. So much so, in fact, that in addition to my shopping list, I’ve put together a list of 10 reasons to shop locally.

1) Nostalgia.

As a kid growing up in Oneonta, I always got excited when the holiday decorations went up along Main Street. Christmas wasn’t complete without a trip to Bresee’s department store, where, it seemed, you could find just about anything. I’d always look forward to seeing the moving elves in the front window, riding the escalator, catching a glimpse of Santa. Although Main Street has changed with the times, it’s still the same place. And looking up through swirling snowflakes at the old, familiar buildings still gets me in the shopping mood.

2) Local merchants.

They are friends, neighbors, volunteers and community leaders. And I figure if I don’t support them, they won’t be around to save me a trip out of town.

People are quick to say Oneonta doesn’t offer much selection, but sometimes that’s because they haven’t given it a chance. There’s a lot to discover.

For example, there are no toy stores on Main Street, but I know of at least two that offer wonderful children’s books, games, crafts and stuffed animals.

3) Local charities and civic organizations.

This time of year, local businesses and organizations are busy collecting food, toys and money for people in need. And the more time you spend in the community, the more opportunities you’ll have to participate. On a recent trip to the Southside Mall, I ran into a friend ringing the Salvation Army bell. Somehow, putting my money into that kettle seemed more meaningful than giving it to a stranger outside an Albany mall.

4) Weather.

The weather is not a factor because you don’t have to travel very far. So if there’s a chance of freezing rain on the day of your shopping trip, you won’t be distracted by visions of black ice on I-88.

5) Time.

Since you don’t need a huge block of time to shop, you can multi-task: visit a store and then stop at the post office or pick up a gallon of milk. And you don’t need a baby sitter. I took my toddler with me on a recent Main Street shopping trip — and had her home for a nap in the time it would have taken to reach my car at a big mall.

6) Parking.

You don’t have to drive around and around and around, constantly maneuvering around loitering drivers hoping that the woman walking toward that SUV with five shopping bags really is done for the day.

7) Short lines, one-on-one service.

I went to three stores on Main Street and didn’t have to wait in line at any of them. In one store, the proprietress spent at least 10 minutes helping me find what I was looking for.

8) No pressure.

If you’re indecisive, like I am, you can think about a possible purchase, or even go home and consult your spouse, and go back to the store the next day.

And if a gift needs to be returned, you don’t have to pay for shipping or make another out-of-town trip.

9) You can be outside.

On Main Street, you’ll find no canned carols, no crowds, plenty of fresh air.

10) You’ll be more creative.

Gift-giving is more meaningful when you think outside the box. So you can’t get one of those Old Navy sweaters in Oneonta. How many people really want them, anyway? From family portraits to massages, local merchants provide lots of more-unique goods and services.

So there you have it, 10 reasons shopping locally is working for me. Now if only I could bank the stress-fighting energy I’m saving. I have a feeling I’ll need it to keep my 1-year-old from pulling over the tree.

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Lisa Miller is a freelance writer who lives in Oneonta. She can be reached at lisamiller44@hotmail.com.