Curb Shopping

Yes curb shopping... a form of dumpster diving KW style. Another new phenomenon that we have discovered in this life on the island.

Due to the small space, people living close together and limited land there aren't any alleys here. The trash is all put out on the streets just as we did in AZ. The difference here is people also put anything they no longer want out on the curb too. It is a way of sharing with others things you no longer want. This is what is done rather than donating to Salvation Army or Goodwill.

When we first got here and had brought things we found we didn't need we gathered them together and held on to them till we had enough to donate. In a few months we were ready and started to look for a place to take them. Much to our surprise we could only find 1 place in the lower Keys and that was a Salvation Army location. They even had a policy that you couldn't drop things off after hours. Donations could only be during store hours. So off we went to drop off the items.

Later that week we were telling friends about this when we were told about 'curb shopping'. The locals take whatever they no longer want and place it out on the curb. Usually within a few hours or at the most overnight it will disappear. It is a common 'exchange' process where when you no longer want anything you place it outside and then those that need it will take it home. Then when you get home with the items you are replacing (it is something you got that is better than what you had) you place that item out on the curb and the cycle begins again. This is common with EVERYTHING!

So a few weeks later we had cleaned out shoes and a few others things. To see if it really works we placed the items out on the curb in front of the house about 9 pm. Then just before we went to bed at 11 pm we checked on the items and they were GONE!!!! This was within 2 hours and we didn't hear a thing! What a hoot that someone who wears a size 6 1/2 women's and 12 men's would happen by our house that night and need shoes.

As time has gone by we have seen an amazing amount of items set out for curb shopping. This covers large things such as furniture down to books, clothing, once there was a cat stroller, computer parts, an old scooter that didn't run and so on. I will say it did take 3 days for someone to take the scooter that didn't run.

Now I am sure you are wondering if we have done any curb shopping. No not yet. Yes we do look since we take Dyna for a walk most nights and are always out for the next great deal but have yet to come across something that we want. But believe me we are shopping just like a local!