as i travel from here to there craigslist has been a necessary tool in fulfilling my immediate needs.
just got into town and have no place to live? apartments to rent.
need to find a roommate? rooms and shares.
need furniture? furniture sales.
need a truck to get your new furniture home? services.
need a bike? bicycle sales.
need new bike parts? same.
need a ski rental? vacations listings.
need ski equipment? sporting sales.
need a job? job listings.
everything on this list i have successfully found via craigslist. subsequently, i have sold most of what i have acquired via craigslist full-circle on craigslist.
i really don't know how i would get on with my life without craigslist.
most of my friends seem to be pretty amazed at my suave bartering skills on craigslist. to me its not that i am talented, or brave, or even smart. as much as i would like to take their credit, i just have to be honest: desperation is key to craigslisting.
you must be willing to put yourself out there, willing to get a bunch of crap in your email inbox, and reversely, put a lot of emails out there that will never be returned. you must be willing to drive out of your way for perfect strangers. you must bring cash. you must bring pepper spray and/or a friend to a transaction. you must not be disappointed if you don't get what you bargained for. you must be willing to learn someone's abridged life story over a handshake and deal in a grocery store parking lot. you must be willing to give your semi-true life story in a grocery store parking lot.
in the end, you must be willing to be a real person, meet real people, and talk about real things with real money. i appreciate the vague honesty that craigslist brings to the marketplace. the sense of personal trust, nary even a feeling of appreciation and gratitude for a good cut on a deal.
craigslist is like a warm hug from the universe, giving you a supportive slap on the back that says: "YES! you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps in this world!"
and, my friends, what could be better than that? as desperate as i am, craigslist both feeds and staves my hunger for "things"; while all the while reminding me that indeed, they are just things... things that have negotiable prices, flawed histories, quirky owners... and nothing more, nor nothing less.
and so as i get ready to hit the road i get to brag about my best craigslist score yet:
i needed a car--and i got one.
i am now the proud owner of a 2000 subaru forester. and yes, i am joining the official car of the west club. i am even considering rewarding myself with some new mexico plates... because i have to be honest here, i don't plan on coming back east this time!
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| how pretty! and its the centinnial! how cool! |
