I've gotten in the habit of walking for a couple miles each morning around my 55+ development. I watch the sunrise, listen to the birds sing and say hello to the many bunnies that also call this place home. It's a peaceful time and I can be all alone with my thoughts taking in the ever changing landscape.
On trash day however, my eyes are diverted to the curb. Not only are the streets lined with trash cans of all shape, colors and sizes, but I learn where people have been shopping during the week. I often see the empty cartons that once contained a new office chair, printer or television. Sometimes I'll find a broken bicycle or a barely used treadmill. Today, at the end of one driveway were several large Target bags sporting the famous red bullseye, stuffed to overflowing with more red and white Target bags. I happen to be a Wal Mart girl but to each his own. Whoever lived there must have been on a shopping frenzy!
What goes in must eventually come out.
Saturday, the association held its annual rummage sale. It's advertised in the local paper and cars line up early to get in. Usually people rent tables in the clubhouse to sell what they no longer have room for in their scaled down retirement home. And this year they allowed homeowners to sell from their driveways. This place turned into one giant garage sale.
The streets filled quickly with cars and pickup trucks cruising for a bargain. Paintings, golf clubs, mattresses, sweaters and t-shirts and Christmas decorations lay out in the hot beating sun hoping to be snatched up by a new owner. I watched cars and trucks leave stuffed with all kinds of goodies.
This is what happens when you get old. The space you live in gets smaller but your desire to go shopping increases. Maybe it's not so much your desire as the amount of free time that needs to be filled. I'm not one for shopping at rummage sales but tomorrow is trash day. I can't wait to see what's going to turn up. It's been a long holiday weekend with lots of time to fill the coffers again. Next year's sale is bound to include some really good stuff. I'm making a list.
On trash day however, my eyes are diverted to the curb. Not only are the streets lined with trash cans of all shape, colors and sizes, but I learn where people have been shopping during the week. I often see the empty cartons that once contained a new office chair, printer or television. Sometimes I'll find a broken bicycle or a barely used treadmill. Today, at the end of one driveway were several large Target bags sporting the famous red bullseye, stuffed to overflowing with more red and white Target bags. I happen to be a Wal Mart girl but to each his own. Whoever lived there must have been on a shopping frenzy!
What goes in must eventually come out.
Saturday, the association held its annual rummage sale. It's advertised in the local paper and cars line up early to get in. Usually people rent tables in the clubhouse to sell what they no longer have room for in their scaled down retirement home. And this year they allowed homeowners to sell from their driveways. This place turned into one giant garage sale.
The streets filled quickly with cars and pickup trucks cruising for a bargain. Paintings, golf clubs, mattresses, sweaters and t-shirts and Christmas decorations lay out in the hot beating sun hoping to be snatched up by a new owner. I watched cars and trucks leave stuffed with all kinds of goodies.
This is what happens when you get old. The space you live in gets smaller but your desire to go shopping increases. Maybe it's not so much your desire as the amount of free time that needs to be filled. I'm not one for shopping at rummage sales but tomorrow is trash day. I can't wait to see what's going to turn up. It's been a long holiday weekend with lots of time to fill the coffers again. Next year's sale is bound to include some really good stuff. I'm making a list.
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