We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
We have a rather soft-quarantine going on here. Soft quarantine meaning pushing the limits of what is allowed. Not by choice, but because there are few places to go outdoors other than road hikes with friends, Costco, market, drug store. An hour of morning calisthenics in the living room before breakfast, of course, with adult music, is a good way to begin a day.
Rainy day with the goal of emptying two closets. So much crap that will never be used, and that Good Will would never want. (They are fussy about your old stuff - nobody wants it.)
I have a prosperous friend who added a 35X35' laundry room on the second floor when his four kids were young, above a new kitchen addition. Two washers, two driers, linen/blanket shelves on all the walls, and dedicated rolling racks all around: one for ski gear, one for hunting gear, one for bad-weather gear, etc. etc.
I praised him for this, but was green with envy.
Mrs. B and I are cleaning out two closets today. It feels good. Much of it is good stuff, but nobody would want it. The garbage man will need a $20 tip on Tues to get rid of it all.
"When in doubt, throw it out." The Collier Brothers never learned that. I have learned, over time, that most of our stuff is dumpster fodder.
What to do? Surfing in the intertube is a complete waste of life, like counting flowers on the wall. Reading Maggie's doesn't count.
Much of it is good stuff, but nobody would want it.
You'd be surprised what Nobody would want.
One of the peculiarities of Southern city life I learned in Montgomery, Alabama, was the ubiquity of trash day gleaning (even the truck crew did it).
Here in San Antonio, we have quarterly "bulk" pick up, and the gleaners cruise the streets a week in advance loading up on the damnedest things. Before you tip your trash guys, advertise in the freebies. Often turns out your trash is another man's treasure.
#1
Mike Anderson
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on
2020-04-26 14:12
(Reply)
If there were a junk pile in town we would gladly add to it.
In a college town, for reasons unknown, leases around campus all expire on the same day.
Move-out involves a great deal of abandonment.
Though real hippies are both thin on the ground and elderly, the day is called "hippie Christmas."
#2
James the lesser
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on
2020-04-26 15:27
(Reply)
Look for "estate sales" advertisements in your local papers and throw aways, etc. Often they are conducted by professional buyer/sellers, that is to say they will come out and take a look at your stuff and see if they want to buy any of it (real cheap) then they turn around and hold larger sales with the things they have gathered around town. At least they haul it away for you.
"Surfing in the intertube is a complete waste of life"
I don't agree. It can be a total waste of time and it can be educational. We should ask for ideas from MF readers.
I found a couple of youtube sites that teach basic Spanish and I have been spending a half hour a day trying to pick up some ideas.
I'm into wood working and just making stuff and I got a couple of good ideas from a few sites. I put one of those ideas to use on a project my wife has been encouraging me to finish and it's done, thanks to a video.
I would like to see what others have found, not just general but specific with a URL so we could take a peek ourselves.
Now there is an idea that to me just screams " Yes, hon, we will have to replace all that drywall in the living room ceiling. "
Speaking of trash and treasure, I have an acquaintance who works at the county landfill. He said one day he noticed a guitar case leaning against a pile. The case was in decent condition, and held a very good condition good quality flat top. The rule is employees are not allowed to take anything away. I asked, " Living room or bedroom? " Without cracking a smile he said, " Bedroom. "
Basement for me, in preparation to have old asbestos-covered steam pipes removed by a contractor. We have alleys here with junk guys cruising by at least once a day. Anything with metal gets snatched up. Doesn't matter if it's aluminum, copper, or steel, it gets carried away. Even old electronics, although if it's got a CRT they'll open the case, smash the neck, snag the copper deflection coils, and leave a mess.
