Freecyclin'

As I was contemplating moving (moving across the country without jobs or a home, which is even more fun than regular moving), I was wondering what to do with the handful of items that we really don't feel like carting with us to NC. I was thinking about the logistics of getting some relatively large items of furniture to Goodwill in our trusty Prius and/or Mazda. And it came to me that there just might be people who could really use our furniture. Not only that, but people who would come and get it from us!

This is the genius of Freecycle. People offer things they no longer want or need, and other people offer to come and get them. You can find all kinds of things there. The Lawrence board featured a bunch of beef ramen noodles, a tomato plant, a bag of kids' clothes, and a menagerie of other items. So I thought, "Why not? I'll give it a shot and see if someone wants to come and get this stuff that we'd otherwise be moving to Goodwill." Lo and behold, I received no less than 44 emails in a two-hour span. People were all over it! I mean, "What's-your-address-I-can-be-there-in-twenty-minutes" style. I've been glued to gmail with my pen and tablet in hand, tracking time stamps to make sure that the first responders get what they're interested in, and that I fairly move down the line if they don't want it anymore, etc. It's fun!

There's a line of 12 people interested in a chest of drawers, 8 people are all over the couch and loveseat, and one person - my hero - wants the Mazda's old tires and wheels. All I have to do is be at home and wave goodbye as these items find new homes this week!

Awesome.