Today, I participated in that time honored and most loathed tradition. Well, loathe to most women…I went bathing suit shopping.

Guys, feel free to tune me out on this on, you may never “get it”, my girlfriends will.

Summer is here, I’m not exactly sure where my bathing suit is, from the move and unpacking, it could be in my 10×15 box, so, I decided it was time for a new suit, especially since there is a pool not 100 yards from my apartment, and I am done working every day at 3pm (5pm Eastern) I need to partake in some sun and fun in the pool.

So, off I went to Kohl’s to look for a suit, they always have good deals as I am discovering. I didn’t see anything I wanted at Walmart and Target is next, who knows maybe I’ll find…the one, or at least the one I can tolerate right now.

Bathing suit shopping, unless you are a Victoria swimsuit model, is not the most pleasant experience. There are things to shove, move and cover. Luckily I did not have to experience my hell in front of other people, no Loehmann’s Department store changing room! Or Syms, a nod to my NY/NJ friends. One giant room with lots of mirrors and the only divider between benches is a narrow board that has hooks on it. Lets get undressed and pretend not to look at each other while discretely trying to cover up the bits we don’t want seen and it’s not easy to cover cellulite in certain areas!

So, I picked up a bunch of choices and headed for the dressing room. Now, don’t, for a moment, think that it was easy to select what I did. I wanted a tankini, for those of you not in the know, a tankini is a two piece bathing suit..basically a bikini with a tank top. It’s still a 2 piece, and it covers what needs to be covered.

There are so many choices; long, short, straps, tanks, strapless, tied at the neck, skirts, shorts, bikini bottoms.

There I am in the dressing room, in front of three mirrors, oh gee, fun! I pull this part and push that part, move this and try to conceal that. Show cleavage, don’t show cleavage, be respectful, look good.

I think I tried on at least 15 different tops and 2 bottoms, and one full suit that was really cute, black dress like thing with polka dots, I’m not ready for the full skirt thing. One bottom won out, 2 tops, for now at least, need to look at myself at home, where the lighting is better and there’s only one mirror and I can try them on again, no pressure.

I might try a few other places this week, summer is here and it will be here for a while, besides, I’m going to need a suit for the Bahamas this winter, right?

So, in conclusion, for all my friends out there, I feel your pain, know that you’re not alone and one day, they will in invent a suit that you can spray on and it flatters you just right! Until that day, us girls have to stick together (who else is going to tell us our suits are riding up and something is about to pop out!)