Virtually every store in the area is selling the special eclipse glasses. I am guessing that this is not uncommon and stores across the country are selling them. Welding lenses are also okay, as duck has attested. However, it is not like the eclipse is making the sun any more dangerous. If you look directly at it any time with unprotected eyes, you are risking injuring your eyes.
Rosebud, you probably had a great view of the 1979 eclipse--you should have been about in the center of the path of totality.
2RedEyes, I'm with you. It is not so much actually watching the moon cross in front of the sun, but just watching the sky go from light to dark and then again to light. I hear that the cows will head for the barn and chickens will go in to roost as they believe that night is coming.
Bombbudpuffa, I think that is going to be the way it is. Other than the east coat and the west coast, the eclipse path is through some of the sparcest populated areas. I have read that many of the small town in the path are expecting big crowds. That is the reason I have decided to stay in Oregon instead of going to Idaho to watch it. I lived in a small resort type town there with very limited shopping. I image the one grocery store and the 2 gas stations will run out of everything. I anticipate traffic jams on the narrow winding 2 lane mountain roads. They are worried about cell service (which is spotty at best) being affected. In my younger days the crowds were okay, now not so much. I am happy to be able to sit out in my front yard and toke on a doobie while watching it all right here in Oregon.