I’m on a mission. Not from God, exactly, but a mission nonetheless.

As Independence Day nears, I feel it is my civic duty to serve my country in the only way I know how. This is the time of year when even people who aren’t particularly patriotic start flying their flags, suspending bunting from their porches, and decorating cupcakes in red, white and blue frosting. This is great.

What isn’t so great is the product blitz that followed Sept. 11. The terrorist attacks brought about a mammoth display of patriotism, the intensity of which hasn’t been seen in decades. It’s heartening to see people walking around in T-shirts emblazoned with eagles, flying little flags off their car antennas, or painting the stars and stripes onto the side of their barn. But if I see another bumper sticker of Calvin peeing on Osama bin Laden, I may defect to Canada.

OK, that may be a little drastic. But in honor of the Fourth of July, I’ve amassed a whole range of affordable options to celebrate our independence in style. Pee-free.

Old Navy always has been a July 4th clearinghouse, from its legendary $5 flag T-shirts to its fabulous $5 stars-and-stripes flip-flops – both of which are suitable for men and women. The store has added to its line with adorable strappy tank tops for women with a red-white-and-blue heart against a gray or indigo background. But the real sparklers in the group are the tablecloth and dish towels, which double as napkins at a picnic, inspired by Old Glory. All you need is $12.50 for the tablecloth, $7.50 for the towels, and voila – fabulous, flag-waving fun. Old Navy has a store in Augusta and Web site at www.oldnavy.com.

At Filene’s, men can find Ralph Lauren’s striped polos or – my favorite – the red-white-and-blue checked oxford. Women can find cute Ralph Lauren T-shirts as well with Western-style logos or go upstairs to the home department, where all-American tableware, including plastic picnic cups, steel ice buckets and barbecue sets, is on sale for 50 percent off.

Porteous in the Bangor Mall has a mind-boggling selection of patriotic goodies, from a convincing-looking “These Colors Don’t Run” T-shirt to a classic Americana quilt. And at the Gap, men can find freedom from briefs with star-spangled boxers (on the sale rack, no less). For women, Gap has navy-and-white striped tank tops and T-shirts that get a Fourth of July kick with red trim on the neck and sleeves. These nautical-looking styles also would be suitable at a Bastille Day celebration (a la Martha) on July 14.

For something a little more rock ‘n’ roll, check out the Independence Day line designed for Target by Stephen Sprouse. You may know Sprouse better for his graffiti-covered Louis Vuitton bags that were in all the fashion mags last fall, but, needless to say, the Target collection is much more affordable. Visit the Portland store or go to the Web site at www.target.com and click on “Americana.”

This year, it will be hard to find stores that aren’t selling an extravaganza of red, white and blue. The options will be plentiful, the temptations many. So I urge you to choose wisely, and go Fourth in style.

Reader suggestion

Dear ShopGirl,

I discovered your column by accident one day and now check it regularly because you do cover some “guy” things. I consider myself to be a top-notch retail bargain hunter and therefore feel compelled to pass on my latest discovery: on Route 1 in Searsport there is a little place called Hard To Beat Hardware. Eclectic would be a modest description. They carry new and used hardware, tools, collectibles, etc. If you ask for something that the owner is out of, he just might offer to run home and take from among his personal possessions. What’s more, he will even negotiate on price! Absolutely incredible. Check it out sometime if you’re in the area. Must stop now before I get too carried away.

Cheers,

Carlton Wiggin

Dear Carlton,

Thank you so much for writing. I usually use this space to answer questions, but it’s rare to find someone so enthusiastic about a shop, so I knew I had to pass this one along. Now I know where to go if I need a new – or used – Allen wrench. With all the shopping I do, it’s more likely I’d need a hammer and saw, though, to build more shelves in my closets.

Happy shopping!

ShopGirl would love to hear from you. Send questions, comments or suggestions by mail to Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329; by e-mail to kandresen@bangordailynews.net; or by fax, 941-9476.