Who:
Dee Wanger
Northern Colorado Sierra Club Member
Where:
Fort Collins, CO
I'm not so sure why there's such a fascination about examining a stranger's or neighbor's discarded items, but it seems a trend that's here to stay. I, too, love garage sales, and have come to regard them as one of our society's ultimate forms of reducing, reusing, and recycling. I've recently created new rules for my garage sale meanderings. I only use my bicycle, ride the neighborhood looking for signs (rather than reading the classified ads,) and am only willing to buy what I'm able to transport home with my bicycle. Yes, sometimes, I look pretty ridiculous riding with large items strapped to the bike, but it's a rule I diligently follow, nonetheless.
As it turns out, Aug. 6 was the date designated for our "All Neighborhood Garage Sales." Bonanza! My family joined the fray by putting our treasures out on our driveway (all the proceeds went to our 16-year-old daughter's Dec. 2005 Mt. Kilimanjaro/Serengetti Safari trip.) I further contributed to the fun by walking the streets with my neighbor, Carol, and buying a few books, candlesticks, teaching materials, and a puzzle. I didn't create demand for the manufacture of those items, and saved the collection of the resources at the same time. Besides, it was great to get in some quick visits with like-minded neighbors.
After the sale, my husband, Mark, and I rode our bikes to a local park to watch an ourdoor volleyball tournament. Then, as we were trying to decide whether or not to take the innertubes to the Poudre River for a quick float, the wind kicked up. Clearly, we were meant to finish the day with a sail on the motor-free lake. So, the day was filled with giving AND taking from our amazing Earth!
