Despite the fact that I had spent the last week getting rid of smaller versions of such objects and contemplating the possible fates of the bigger versions, I found myself looking at the piles and thinking about whether we should stop and investigate. Surely we would have some great use for that set of four dining room chairs; or the nice bedside table pair. Or, the whatever. So it is with our late-20th-Century and early 21st Century North American habits of having too much and needing even more. We apparently need some kind of national cure regimen where the entire population goes into rehab. The news today reports that the level of U.S. household debt is currently equal to 94% of the Gross Domestic Product. Most of that debt is probably in mortgages, but a bunch of it is in the things that we have and the things that we set out on big trash day, if we have one.
Here in Point Roberts, of course, we don't have big trash day because we are currently fortunate to have any kind of trash collection, let alone special fancy trashpickup arrangements. Nevertheless, it would appear as if there may have been some cross-border infection.
We were away for a week, and our cross-the-street neighbors were away for that same period and an additional few days. So, when we returned on Sunday evening, they were still away. Surprisingly, in front of their house a couch and love seat had come to rest. With 'for free' sign. The couch and the love seat were not the property of our neighbors. Just as over the border in Tsawwaasen, anyone who wanted could pick up that couch and love seat, but if no one did, no big trash truck was going to come and dispose of it on Monday. Or Tuesday. And by Wednesday morning, it had collected an additional hundred pounds of rain which would only make it a more alluring find.....not. Even for those who need more.
People! What are you thinking? It's one thing to put something out for free in front of your own house, but it's downright uncivil to leave it in front of someone else's house without getting for their agreement. Granted, if you have a free object, it's more likely to be seen and taken away if it's on a more heavily traveled road, but if that's your argument, then I suggest you leave it down on Tyee where you're likely to be observed doing such a thing.
Here's the unwanted couch: if you recognize it, call its owners and tell them it wants to come home, RIGHT AWAY.
As an alternative, get acquainted with Point Roberts Interface where you can put a picture of your unwanted objects for sale or for giving away. You'd need to pay a small fee to get on the interface list, but it would be the civically responsible thing to do. And the object won't get rained on. You can reach the interface here: point-interface@pointroberts.net or, if that doesn't work, try paws@pointroberts.net
