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Yard Sale

July 2, 2012 by 6 Comments

 

 

Picture by Chris Brogan

 

Do you know how much work is involved in a yard sale? A lot of people helped to make our yard sale on Sunday a success. We had great merchandise – some brand new, still in the package. We had low prices. We advertised on Craig’s List. We posted signs. Chris Brogan came by, took pictures, sent tweets. We just didn’t have many customers. Lack of customers could be attributed to our country location and the 85 degree weather of the day. Who knows?

Growing up we didn’t have much in the way of material things. Mom and Dad always made sure we four kids had plenty to eat and we had clean clothes to wear. I don’t ever remember wanting for anything.

I am not sure when it happened, but I have this affliction. Sometimes buying one of something is not enough. If I find a pair of shoes that I like in black, I also buy them in other colors.

If we find an author we like, we buy all of their books. At one time, we had every book that James Patterson had ever written on our bookshelves. (James Patterson is one of the most prolific authors alive.) We kept all of his books in case we wanted to refer back to them – OR – in case we want to loan a “story set” to a friend.

PROBLEM: We like many authors and we have all of their books – until now.

We are moving to Las Vegas. We have decided to take as little as possible with us.

STUFF: I once read an article about people like me who have a lot of stuff. We are not quite hoarders, but our homes are “cozy.” The article said that one day, our emotional needs will be met some other way and we will no longer need all our STUFF.

I guess that day has come for me. Since deciding to move to Vegas, I think twice about buying things. I no longer buy expensive shoes and handbags in different colors just because I like the style. I no longer buy something just because it is on sale.

CONCLUSION: Life is good. I don’t feel deprived. Actually, I feel quiet proud of myself. In the future, I won’t need to have a yard sale.

EPILOGUE: All of the unsold goods have been packaged and given to my sister in law for sale at her place.

Mom Pop Pow – Where You Can Do It If  You Try

 

 

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Filed Under: Brogan Thoughts, Moving to Las Vegas
  • http://raulcolon.net/ Raul Colon

    I like the backup plan of giving it to your sister-in-law. 

    Yard sales here culturally are kind of unacceptable. 

    I am moving soon and would like to take as little as possible for three main reasons:

    1. I don’t have a lot of money to pay people to move me. 
    2. I have less space where we plan to move
    3.  It is refreshing to start off with new things. 

    I went ahead and started donating my books etc to places where they can be read. 

    • dianebrogan

       How interesting that yard sales are culturally unacceptable. Why is that?

      Good luck with your move :)

      • http://raulcolon.net/ Raul Colon

        One of the many reasons things in this small island are not ok. People want everything new. When they buy something used it is from someone they know. 

        They don’t like to admit they paid full price. Many here are very superficial. 

        I would love to be able to buy things at a yard sale and sell most of my stuff. 

        It is heathy! 

        • dianebrogan

           How very interesting. When we get a good deal at a yard sale, we brag about it. That’s true, even when we know the person we are buying from :)

          Most Americans brag about anything they get on sale.

  • Sara

    As I embark on a similar experience of packing up and moving my grandmother I’m struck by how her collection of things has changed over the years. She’s much older than you, but like you she grew up with few material things but not really wanting for much. Over the past 70 years since she’s been out of her parents house she’s collected, purged, collected, purged and re collected.

    I have hundreds upon hundreds of books. I have beautiful artwork and sculptures and little knick knacks.

    What strikes me most is that few things are from the past 10-15 years. Most everything is from earlier in her life, before my grandpa died. I asked her about this and she just said that after he died things just never had that same joy because he wasn’t there to share them with.

    That summed it all up. It’s not the things, it’s the joy of sharing with the person you love that will sustain you.

    I’m glad you’re paring things down for your move to Las Vegas. You’ll always have the memories. And, well, it’s expensive to schlep stuff!

    • dianebrogan

       Thank you for sharing your Grandmother’s story. If you have time, you may want to take a picture of each item separately. The item may be gone, but the memory will still be there. When she tells you about it, you could make a note about it.