As I walk around Santa Cruz - and I am making a habit of it - I frequently see "Free Stuff" being given away by those who don't need it anymore. The "Free Stuff" I am talking about is usually offered, as in this photo, by someone who simply leaves it at the curb, with or without an actual sign, to be claimed by anyone who might be able to use it.
This kind of "Free Stuff" giveaway, which can feature furniture, appliances, and other domestic materials of all kinds, is in addition to those "Little Free Libraries" that have also proliferated around town, specifically dedicated to giving away books.
I may be wrong, but I think that this is a relatively recent phenomenon - something that has started happening within the last several years. Maybe it is just the inevitable result of the post-Marie Kondo urge to live more simply, with fewer things. Whatever the cause, it strikes me that this is a new feature of our community life.
We need to reduce, reuse, and recycle as never before, as we confront global warming. Fewer things and a much simpler life is going to be required of us, which means that these "Free Stuff" giveaways can be seen as a pretty good sign of an emerging social change, bringing us into a better kind of relationship to property.
I would like to hope that's true!
Image Credit:
Gary A. Patton personal photograph
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