Craigslist Junkie

That's me. I'm rooting around on there all the time. Do I ever really score stuff? Once in a while. For example, my $40 tanker desk. Also my Vespa. And my car. I just got a nice little Macbook on there last week too. Otherwise Craigslist could be the biggest time-waster in my life. Not including my day job, that is.

So Denver is not exactly a design mecca. Imagine, if you will, boatloads of teal, oak, and brass for sale. You have to be patient, and persistent. Weed through other people's mistakes trying not to let it depress you. If you're really intent on something it will show up. Eventually. Unless it's a classic leather chesterfield and you live in a cow town, of course. But you must search often. As in every single day, and sometimes more than once. I know you're cool and unique, but there are always other people looking for the same thing. And they can be annoyingly adept at getting there before you do.

I don't know why but I'm much better at selling items on Craigslist than scoring stuff on there. Maybe I'm selling my stuff way too cheap. The trick is the right pricing, good pictures and information, and waiting it out. Unless you need cash right now just list it and forget about it. If your price isn't jacked up, someone will come along. They will probably lowball you, so determine the lowest you'll go ahead of time and try to stick to it.

One last thing. It's not just you, Craigslist transactions are ALWAYS awkward. As so astutely pointed out in this great post at The Brick House.

My Philosophy

I'm not an organized person per se. But I'm trying to be. There is something about the messiness of life that appeals to my inner child. I was never much of a girly kid because I was always trying to keep up with my older brother and his bruiser friends. I couldn't be a sissy and stay in the gang, right? Not saying organized is sissy, just that it's not exactly punkrock either. So now that I'm grown up, I'm working on a few things to control the mess. I like to keep in mind however that, try as I might, the stuff of life (mine anyway) can't be compartmentalized and boxed up for all eternity. That just doesn't seem healthy. So here's a general list of my goals:

+ Keep it simple. I'm not very good at this, or not as good as I'd like. Getting better.
+ Purge. It's liberating, so why don't I do it more often? And why do things always creep back?
+ Follow through. Abandoned projects be gone. Half-assedness can go too.
+ Change is good. I'm great at this! It drives my husband up the wall.
+ Maintain convictions. See above.
+ Find balance. Watch the OCD tendencies for example. Life is too short.
+ Keep insecurity in check. Comparison is the thief of joy.
+ Be brave. I'm still going to be criticized so I might as well do whatever the fuck I want.
+ Don't judge or be a jerk.  Same thing. Unless it's for entertainment purposes.


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