We knew that something was going on with the neighbors across the street.
One of those large storage cubes, which sat in their driveway one weekend, was filled and hauled away the following Monday. Then, an advertised three-day estate sale—though both owners were alive and well—seemed successful, as folks arrived from 10-5 each day, most leaving with all sorts of goodies…furniture, lamps, lawn mowers, ladders, tools, exercise equipment. Purchases that were too large to carry away on-the-spot were tucked into the far end of their driveway for pick-up at the buyer’s convenience. That same week, people came to look at one of their two cars, and within a couple of days, it, too, was gone. Then, this past Saturday, the forty-something couple hoisted bulging suitcases into their already full car and hit the proverbial road, and we haven’t seen them since.
Wow, we thought. Did they just do what we think they did? Did they execute a major downsizing, selling almost all to move on and forever escape the upkeep of a single family home…maintenance, cutting grass, raking leaves, cleaning gutters? Have they possibly moved out-of-state, to someplace bereft of humid summers and freezing winters? Someplace where they can ride their mountain bikes year round? Wherever they are, they definitely seemed to have had a plan, and we wish them well. And that plan is sounding awfully tempting…
And the household items that had no takers? They were left alongside a garbage can on the curb at the end of their driveway…an uninteresting chair, a broken umbrella, an overpriced walking stick, a laundry basket, a kitty’s scratching post and…a full size leather sofa. What? The leather sofa I’ve been pining for, but wouldn’t spend the money on even if I had it? The leather sofa that would replace our 15-year-old tuxedo style one with its shifting cushions, impractical fabric and ill-fitting slipcover? That leather sofa? I am a die-hard dumpster diver and love a good find, so, being about 99.9% certain that it was left for trash pickup, we took a chance and shamelessly shuffled it across the street to its new home. Despite some scratches and claw marks, mostly on one arm (from their kitty, I assume) and a broken brace that caused some sagging (which W has since fixed), it is perfectly fine and quite nice.
A new beginning, hopefully for the neighbors and most definitely for their sofa.
I’ve got really nice fine art prints on all my walls–almost all of which I found at various times on the sidewalk. I think the furniture, at this point, was all bought–though mostly at garage sales, though it’s increasingly new, but when I was a grad student, I think practically every piece of furniture I owned was off the street.
YogaforCynics´s last blog post ..Walking With Waves
That’s great, drjay. I bet you’ve got an interesting place. We used to roam this huge flea market in Georgetown almost every weekend, and I think half of our stuff is from there. The rest is from friends and family, “Hey, we’re getting rid of this…you want it?” I’ve never had a knack for style, personal or otherwise, so it’s probably a waste of money for me to go “new” very often. And I kinda like looking at other people’s stuff. I once passed a house on trash night while walking Emma and they were throwing out two cardboard boxes full of old albums…I meant to go back and pick them up, but didn’t. I still regret that!
A great find. I am all for dumpster diving and in Berkeley everyone leaves their unwanted stuff out on the sidewalk (and it always goes). The kid is especially attracted to things he can use to make other stuff, which is how we have ended up with an easel (of sorts), an old antenna, a cat scratcher, and other various stuff.
I hope your neighbors are living a happy life free of stuff. And I hope things cool down for you soon. D. will be out there again next week and maybe he’ll bring some Berkeley weather with him (it’s downright chilly tonight).
Jennifer´s last blog post ..The raw and the cooked
Thanks, Jennifer. I think it’s a great find, too. And that’s cool that everyone leaves their stuff out in your neighborhood…kinda reminds me of Freecycle. And your little boy has inherited your dumpster diving gene! I may have to be a nosy one and ask the other neighbor what’s going on. Like I haven’t been nosy enough already. I’m always sayin’ “Mind your own beeswax,” and look at me…geesh.
Oooh, chilly weather…we sure could use that. I think we’ll have 90s for the next few days, at least, but hope it improves by the time D gets here.
Twitter: craftybird
What a fascinating story! I like to think that these people had an epiphany, realised one morning “we don’t need all this material crap” and had the first day of the rest of their lives. Then there’s the possibility that shifting all their material wealth pronto might have been enforced by debt; I hope not. But even if it was, maybe they’ll have a happy new start and realise that “things” aint important – apart from the food in your belly, the clothes on your back and the roof over your head…and best of all, if you are really lucky, someone to share those things with :)
And you got a sofa out of it! Nice condition, good colour too. I think every scrap of furniture we have apart from a bed and a computer table was “skipped” (we have skips in the UK rather than dumpsters, so we go “skipping”). I knew some enterprising folk who’d cruise the well off areas around Hampstead in the evening with their little van, looking for skips to investigate. They found a jaccuzi once! It’s amazing what you can find if you keep your eyes peeled.
Bird´s last blog post ..Red Kite Soaring
That is one heck of a nice looking sofa for the price :) Lucy seems to quite pleased with it.
I think I envy your neighbors. There are times that I wish I could just pack up a few things I couldn’t do without and move on, start new somewhere else. Sounds like an adventure.
ann´s last blog post ..How to have a little fun on the 4th
Twitter: junkdrawer
Oh, this is so awesome. Lucy has a look on her face like “Are we sure we can keep this? Cuz I quite like it and I’d be real upset if this was a joke or something.” Way to go, you! I wish your former neighbors well. Some days I’d like to downsize and save a bundle, but I love my “stuff.” That means you can’t have my couch, OK?
Kathy´s last blog post ..I Love Technology- Good Timing and People Who Know Other People Vacationing in New Orleans
Twitter: chrissymarie321
It looks really gerat there, as if it has always been…. I do love a good mystery, hopefully they are away to somewhere very interesting :D So many of my nicest things have been finds at car boot sales or similar…
Chrissy´s last blog post ..White Admiral
Twitter: Hugzbe4ugo
The sofa looks wonderful and Lucy looks a bit skeptical…sorta like “Can we keep it?” :)
Grace´s last blog post ..Blogger Comments system is not working
Good luck to the neighbors! (BTW, Lucy’s looking incredibly guilty in that picture!)
Lana´s last blog post ..Birds -amp Charles New E-Book
[...] A New Beginning Home July 7th, [...]
[...] this most of the time. Her favorite sofa, which now resides in the dining area, was replaced by this one, and yes, our house now looks like a consignment shop. So, come on over and pick yourself up an odd [...]