private Set<Integer> getDefaultItemIds( Integer gender ) throws MtvException {
        Element inventoryElement = inventoryCache.get( gender );

        UserInventory defaultInventory = null;
        if ( inventoryElement == null || inventoryElement.isExpired( ) ) {
            logger.debug( "Default inventory has expired.  Retrieving new inventory from the MPPS server." );
            try {
                defaultInventory = mtvIntegrationUtil.getDefaultInventory( gender );
                inventoryElement = new Element( gender, defaultInventory );
                inventoryCache.put( inventoryElement );
            } catch ( MtvException e ) {
                logger.debug( "An exception was thrown getting the default inventory.  put something in the cache so it doesnt block" );
                inventoryElement = new Element( gender, new UserInventory() );
                inventoryElement.setTimeToLive( 1 );
                inventoryCache.put( inventoryElement );
                throw e;
            }
        } else {
            logger.debug( "Default inventory has not expired.  Using cached data" );
            defaultInventory = (UserInventory) inventoryElement.getValue( );
        }