STOOPING

STOOPING...it's a thing!!>>>>>>>https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/what-is-stooping-the-money-saving-practice-is-taking-social-media-by-storm/ar-AA11W5KM>>>>>>>I owned a place in Washington DC and used to visit there a couple times a year. When we were there, i would take daily morning walks to the Woodley Park area (National Zoo). Along the way, was a long block of brownstone houses (which are sometimes broken into apartments) with a long stone barrier along the sidewalk. The custom in the area was for people to leave "stuff" out on the "stoop" that they wanted to dispose of. Free. I called it the "second hand stoop sale"...but no money ever exchanged hands. I left things there too as our condo didn't have a stoop outside and wasn't in a "walk friendly" block.>>>>>>>What kind of things did people leave (that i recovered)? A full-size Igloo cooler (which i gave to my mom when we moved). A writing desk (that i had to get a guy to help me carry to our condo and up the 36 stairs). The suit (dress and jacket) that i wore to my niece Brandi's wedding. Many books and magazines (which i read then re-donated). Four unopened bottles of SPF 45 sunscreen (still in the plastic wrapper). A big spaghetti/stew pot (which i gave to my mother when we moved). A 18" Calphalon skillet, undamaged (which i moved to NM then to Costa Rica, on which i "crisp" pizza still). Eight wooden dining chairs (which i cleaned up and re-donated). Four place settings (plate, saucer, bowl, coffee cup) of lovely dishes (which i re-donated). 36 bottles of IPA beer, still in cartons (in front of a liquor store that was closing). A wall plaque of a French saying...and a pillow with a black cat (Chat Noir) in front of the Eiffel Tower.....and a three-hook hanger with decorations of fleur-de-lys (French)...same house/same time. A $20 bill (on the sidewalk...at 0400....mine!). A "Hello Fresh" shipment...still cool...with insulation....a complete meal for four! A duffel bag with an iPhone 10 and clothes (left that!). Stooping was very welcomed. People could get rid of "stuff" and not have to haul it away. We got to benefit from their bounty. And then, "regift" things as desired and able. When we sold the place in Washington, i left A LOT of stuff for the "stoopers" and, as i said, gave a fair amount of it to others (my mom, my sister, neighbors).>>>>>>>I would do the same thing here in Costa Rica but the culture here is very different. Things here are used until they are "dead". There is absolutely no life or use remaining. When i have things that i don't want, need, or use, i give them to the animal rescue thrift store in town or, more likely, to our housekeeper who is hap-hap-happy with anything that we give her (t-shirts, extra bananas/plantains from our grove, tea/beans that i've bought too much of). There is no reason to throw away anything that has a use or purpose to someone. We don't keep much...and use what we have. I've bought some things at the animal rescue thrift store (mostly when i was working there)in an effort to "recycle". A t-shirt from someone else that i'll wear to exercise in the morning works just as well as the $28 tee that i saw at the La Paz WaterFall Gardens yesterday. And, when i get sick of it, i know what to do with it! Stooping is like FreeCycle....but more immediate and random. It certainly made my morning walks more interesting!