As many of you who have moved quite a bit like I have know, and even those of you who have only had the joy of moving once or twice, moving sucks. No matter how far in advance you begin preparing and packing and purging, it's not enough. Even when you have a team of professional movers come and do the bulk of the work, it's not enough! Usually at the very end you're left with a lot of leftover crap, especially if you have to clean the old unit by yourself. In addition to the broom, bucket, lamp, radio, and shower curtain, there's the odd chair, bookcase, fan, and closet full of odds and ends that never really see the light of day until it's time to move. What do you do with that crap? If you're anything like me, you toss it in the trash pile because if you have to move just ONE MORE piece of shit, you're likely to lose grip on that one last thread of reality.
Which brings me to Amanda Effing Palmer. Did you watch the video? The gist is: ask people for stuff. I watched it a couple of weeks ago so I don't exactly remember every detail, but I don't remember her talking about how asking for stuff will make you look ghetto or poor or selfish or, as people say in Hawaii, you won't look "chang". Asking creates a relationship between the giver and the receiver. And those two points got me. If Amanda Palmer (who is in no way suffering from a lack of wealth) can ask her fans (who are strangers to her) if she can crash on their sofas after a concert and not think she's being cheap, why can't I ask for stuff without looking cheap?
The video kind of brings a new perspective. Amanda Palmer used to busk for money, but instead of viewing that as something she did while looking for a Real Job, she says that WAS her job. And watching her say that, how can you think she was anything but sincere? Like that, the idea of asking for what you need, the way Amanda talks about it, like it's nothing more than asking someone for the time, lifted the taboo from asking. For me, anyway. It liberated my mind. Because as much as I don't care about what most people think of me, I don't want people to think I'm needy or selfish. I don't want people to know that I'm cheap (even though I am). According to the Ted Talk, that aspect doesn't even enter the picture for Amanda, and I'm pretty certain that if it did, she wouldn't even acknowledge it.
But why not ask?
So, the other part of my story is that we're unpacking, right? And space-wise, this new apartment is about the same as our old place except with a much smaller outside area and a much smaller kitchen. But there are other features that we can take advantage of if only we had the proper tools, and here's where you come in. I thought, "Why buy new stuff? Why not ask my friends and family first?" I come to you, my friends and family, with a list of crap we could use and would love to take off your hands if you have extras or are planning to donate to Goodwill. It is NOT to ask you to buy anything for us. I would hate that. Charlie would hate that. If you have any gently used items on the list, let me know!
Well, here goes:
- plastic hangers, especially the ones with those slots on top for straps
- oven mitts and/or pot holders
- wooden clothespins for hanging laundry
- beach towels
- a small laundry basket
Oh, and if you happen to need a desktop fan (or three. Really. I have three.), I can trade! Or just give to you. We also have a few little kid board games to give away as well. Just ask :D
