Distancing from each other vs. Garage sales

While setting up for a garage sale this last weekend (trying to eliminate thirty plus years of accumulation and four households of "stuff") I listened, via radio, comments made by some host or other about how infatuation with social media and electronic delivery actually pulls at the threads of community (my words) and destroys social interaction. No argument there, just look around and you. People of all ages staring at their pads, phones, or whatever busily thumbing, flipping, or sliding away at screen. Oblivious to those around them. Thank goodness those three fellow Oregonians were paying attention in France last week.


We all talk about it, and blithely participate.


So to my point. Most of the people (with the exception of the early morning first day pickers) were from the neighborhood. A rough sampling of visitors put the most distant home about one and half miles away. Of course we ran ads in the local paper (web site) and Craigs List so the entire metropolitan area knew about the sale. It was fun talking with people, heard some stories, and met a couple new to the immediate area.


It is sad to think "community" may be dying. Do your part to save it and visit some garage sales in the neighborhood.