2/27/10 Two pairs of cross-country skis, two pairs of ski boots, and one set of poles, given away on craigslistWith the Vancouver Winter Olympics drawing to a close and New England in the middle of a bizarre multi-day rain/sleet/snow storm, I figured it was time for some winter sport downsizing.
Several years ago, after complaining to a colleague about my old cross country skate-skis, which I've had since high school, I was given two more pair of equally-old skate skis. And, predictably, I not only accepted the gift, but thought of it as a huge stroke of luck. In the intervening years, I believe I have used these two pairs of skis a grand total of twice, possibly three times. The other thousand days or so they have been stashed in the rafters of my shed.
Time to say goodbye.
Without a planned downsize for today, I decided to try my latest trick, which is to put up something on craigslist with a deadline. This, Dear Readers, is advice to heed. I posted the skis this morning with the note that priority would be given to anyone who could pick them up by today or tomorrow. Within a few hours, I had several people all willing to come ASAP. Ask any reporter: deadlines are motivational.
The skis, appropriately yet coincidentally, went to a family from my school district who plan to use them for some quality mother/daughter time. Ah, clearly a better use than clogging up my shed!
The downsizing lesson is to be careful what we acquire in the first place. I had no need for the skis, nor did I really want them, but when presented with an opportunity to get something for FREE, our minds tend to short circuit a bit.
I need to rewire mine so I don't end up with such clutter in the first place.
Your downsizing today made me think of all the material things that are pretty well useless to us BUT very meaningful to someone else.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea that your cross country skis will allow a Mother/Daughter to bond in the snow.
Perhaps who knows that little girl will someday become a gold medal champion in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games!
I agree, Meyrick -- one man's trash is another man's treasure. That's one of the interesting challenges of downsizing: trying to find the best "home" for those things I no longer want. Sometimes it's a lot of work to do that!
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