If you have been reading me for some time you will know I don't like to dwell on individual coin finds. But every now and then I get a find that is somewhat different to the run-of-the-mill penny in the street . Today is just such an occasion. I found the most I've ever found in one hit, almost 10% of the Sidewalker Fund to date found in one moment of genius (or stupidity, depending on how you view my quest).
I live in an area that has quite a transient population so it is very common to see large items on the sidewalk like televisions, desks, lamps, hatstands left by people moving on. All these items are collected by the local waste management team, that is if they haven't been snaffled up by an opportunist "street shopper" first. If you spoke to a sampling of people around town I bet the majority of them would have at least one story relating to "street shopping". And I'm sure there are one or two that have furnished their whole apartment using this method!
I'm not curious by nature, but sidewalking has definitely made me more so. I have the proof that coinage can be found in the most bizarre places, and so it was the case today. I was walking along and I noticed a sofa waiting patiently on the sidewalk for a new owner. At that moment a flashbulb went off in my head. Whenever I used to need some small change I would go to my sofa and it would never disappoint me. Could it be possible that all sofa's share this coin eating attribute? I looked both ways down the street suddenly feeling a twinge of embarrassment at what I was about to do. All clear. I moved over to the curbside couch and slowly lifted the cushion closest to me. And to my surprise I found a quarter, two nickels and a penny. On to cushion two, one nickel, two dimes and a penny. I was starting to get the "fever", I no longer cared who was watching me as I continued to ferret around the sofa like a man possessed. I felt like a '49er panning for gold! The third cushion yielded two quarters and two dimes for a grand total of $1.32 in twelve coins. My hunch had been spot on, this was a first class piece of sidewalking.
Talk about throw the baby out with the bath water, or should that be, throw the coins out with the sofa...
-Luke Sidewalker
-Current balance $17.89
7 comments:
I try to make sure that I get all the coinage out before hauling a sofa out to the alley. But then again, I am the type of person who actually stops and picks up pennies off the sidewalk. While I have done a bit of street shopping in my day (we call it dumpster divining in my neck of the woods), I have never looted a sofa before; I might have to give it a try the next time I see one.
Cent-sational!!!!
Anonymous from Birmingham, UK
My trash is also picked through on the curb. When I tossed a gross damaged sofa, I labeled it with the sad truth - "My cat has peed all over this couch. I would not take it. Just gross" No one "stole it"
My cat was mad because we had moved and my hubby would not let it outside like at our old house. Peeing on my couch won his freedom.
.... I was popping over from pagan soccer mom's site.
Well played sir! What are your thoughts on the release of 319,000,000 new pennies at a cost of 1.4 cents each? will this effect the rate at which you near your ultimate goal?
I love the name "street shopping". When we lived in St Louis County.
You could always find great things some bran new at the curb. Here in the country finds are few. No one seem to throw any thing away till it is far from usable. I love you were right on the coins I never thought of that.
Thanks for all the comments.
Hit40 - I'm glad your cat managed to break free!
Mister C - I'm going to have to do some research on that story, it doesn't appear to make economic sense straight off the bat.
Grammy - It was a hunch, but I'm cursed now as I will have to check every curbside couch going forward!
Thanks all for the comments,
-Luke Sidewalker
In a million years, that would not have occurred to me. I love it! You're a smart one, you are.
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