MamaThunder
03-25-2009, 05:36 AM
I had heard other neighborhoods have been doing this more over the last several months due to our current economic situation. I thought it was a good idea then, and more so now.
I am one of those folks who knows my neighbors. I have 3 dogs that I walk, at LEAST twice a day. I'm also a very outgoing person, probably would say I talk too much, and try to be helpful when I can. (I do like helping others - it makes me feel good.)
Before Thanksgiving, one of my neighbors knew that my husband is handy with cars, and we knew he had knowledge of how to deal with a rodent issue. (didn't we all have those this year?) So while my husband spent four hours in our drive way making our neighbors' vehicle safe to drive several states away with kids in tow - the neighbor made our house harder to rodents to enter, safe for our dogs and cats still, and set traps and told us what to do.
Ok - so we weren't out any money for a guy with bug knowledge. He was only out the cost of parts. (not much, and it's the labor that really gets expensive when talking about cars) And they were both out the same amount of time on the weekend. I think that helped, that they both did work at the same time, no one was sitting around on their **** while the other one worked. But DH did offer to show him how to do this repair, he just wasn't interested. And now we both have a set deal in place that if they need something car wise, they know they can easily offer a bug thing for us. (and look - it's just now buggy time for the yard. Whadda know - maybe I should ask if he knows what do do to keep the mosquitos as far away from my mosquito attracting skin as possible? They flock to me. They run from my hubby.)
Another potential barter that just came up - and made me decide to write this post was because of another awesome neighbor. My son had seen her house, and she had these amazing flowers blooming through these crazy weeds and overgrowth. (lack of yard upkeep for sure, and you can tell there use to be some effort there.) I've been trying to stay out of my yard too much, cuz I get OCD on it, and I'm just renting. Don't want to go too crazy. I've also seen that yard when walking dogs, and not seen the family - so I've just kept on truckin. Well, my 11 yr old son says to me the other day..."mom, do you think I should go ask the people at that house with the flowers coming up in the weeds if I can help them do their yard? Maybe they can't do it for some reason?" WHAT A GOOD BOY! Well, long story shorter. (and my OCD shouting for joy about getting to help him tackle this yard) We found out that she was divorced a few years ago, xhubby was the yard person, loved doing it actually and she actually can't stand it. (kinda how I am with cooking and laundry. told her we could trade jobs any day. LOL) She's usually just hired someone to cut grass and weed eat. My son is just learning to mow, so I offered his extremely cheap services (and besides the cheap payment, he's earning an unused basketball goal) and my extra effort in the flower garden and weed management and getting the grass back to decent shape is going to help me in a barter situation for a PET SITTER!!!!!!!
Now with THREE DOGS AND TWO CATS and the dogs that aren't the type you can just throw in the back yard and expect them to go - that is the best unexpected news EVER! Usually we hire our young neighbor, but they go out of town at the same time too. Have you ever looked at the rates for a kennel or a dog sitter? For more than one animal? For more than one day? For a major holiday? Insane right?
So as we were chatting, and she was saying something about her garage not working - I said, well, my hubby could probably take a look at it, and if it's something he can't fix, I betcha he could at least tell you what is needed to fix it so you aren't paying for crapola you don't need. WHAT A GREAT IDEA! (I tried to tell him that before also - but he doesn't think it's a needed job.) And it gives him a chance to do stuff that he can show my boys handy things to learn that he wouldn't be needing to do to this house.
Then her comment was,
"I sure wish there was something like 'Freecycle' but for Bartering. But like more in your neighborhood. [not the whole city/area] An, I'll scratch your back, you'll scratch mine." And if it's done with the neighbors you live by - you're not as likely to get "burned"......and make sure you're setting up guidelines and boundaries with it before you give any of your "services".
Unfortunately, there are people who will take and take and take from others and make you want to give up on the good others can do and enjoy doing. Just try to remember what makes it good.
We can make our streets into real neighborhoods again. Know each other when we do have our "block parties" say "Hello..........insert name" - instead of the basic "Hi" when you pass and generally look out for each other.
So - what do you guys all think about that?
Where would something like that get it's start in McKinney?
How would it break down?
Any other ideas?
(suggestion: instead of finding every reason why it wouldn't work, if you have a reason why it wouldn't work, could you mention it, and also mention a possible solution? appreciate it.)
I am one of those folks who knows my neighbors. I have 3 dogs that I walk, at LEAST twice a day. I'm also a very outgoing person, probably would say I talk too much, and try to be helpful when I can. (I do like helping others - it makes me feel good.)
Before Thanksgiving, one of my neighbors knew that my husband is handy with cars, and we knew he had knowledge of how to deal with a rodent issue. (didn't we all have those this year?) So while my husband spent four hours in our drive way making our neighbors' vehicle safe to drive several states away with kids in tow - the neighbor made our house harder to rodents to enter, safe for our dogs and cats still, and set traps and told us what to do.
Ok - so we weren't out any money for a guy with bug knowledge. He was only out the cost of parts. (not much, and it's the labor that really gets expensive when talking about cars) And they were both out the same amount of time on the weekend. I think that helped, that they both did work at the same time, no one was sitting around on their **** while the other one worked. But DH did offer to show him how to do this repair, he just wasn't interested. And now we both have a set deal in place that if they need something car wise, they know they can easily offer a bug thing for us. (and look - it's just now buggy time for the yard. Whadda know - maybe I should ask if he knows what do do to keep the mosquitos as far away from my mosquito attracting skin as possible? They flock to me. They run from my hubby.)
Another potential barter that just came up - and made me decide to write this post was because of another awesome neighbor. My son had seen her house, and she had these amazing flowers blooming through these crazy weeds and overgrowth. (lack of yard upkeep for sure, and you can tell there use to be some effort there.) I've been trying to stay out of my yard too much, cuz I get OCD on it, and I'm just renting. Don't want to go too crazy. I've also seen that yard when walking dogs, and not seen the family - so I've just kept on truckin. Well, my 11 yr old son says to me the other day..."mom, do you think I should go ask the people at that house with the flowers coming up in the weeds if I can help them do their yard? Maybe they can't do it for some reason?" WHAT A GOOD BOY! Well, long story shorter. (and my OCD shouting for joy about getting to help him tackle this yard) We found out that she was divorced a few years ago, xhubby was the yard person, loved doing it actually and she actually can't stand it. (kinda how I am with cooking and laundry. told her we could trade jobs any day. LOL) She's usually just hired someone to cut grass and weed eat. My son is just learning to mow, so I offered his extremely cheap services (and besides the cheap payment, he's earning an unused basketball goal) and my extra effort in the flower garden and weed management and getting the grass back to decent shape is going to help me in a barter situation for a PET SITTER!!!!!!!
Now with THREE DOGS AND TWO CATS and the dogs that aren't the type you can just throw in the back yard and expect them to go - that is the best unexpected news EVER! Usually we hire our young neighbor, but they go out of town at the same time too. Have you ever looked at the rates for a kennel or a dog sitter? For more than one animal? For more than one day? For a major holiday? Insane right?
So as we were chatting, and she was saying something about her garage not working - I said, well, my hubby could probably take a look at it, and if it's something he can't fix, I betcha he could at least tell you what is needed to fix it so you aren't paying for crapola you don't need. WHAT A GREAT IDEA! (I tried to tell him that before also - but he doesn't think it's a needed job.) And it gives him a chance to do stuff that he can show my boys handy things to learn that he wouldn't be needing to do to this house.
Then her comment was,
"I sure wish there was something like 'Freecycle' but for Bartering. But like more in your neighborhood. [not the whole city/area] An, I'll scratch your back, you'll scratch mine." And if it's done with the neighbors you live by - you're not as likely to get "burned"......and make sure you're setting up guidelines and boundaries with it before you give any of your "services".
Unfortunately, there are people who will take and take and take from others and make you want to give up on the good others can do and enjoy doing. Just try to remember what makes it good.
We can make our streets into real neighborhoods again. Know each other when we do have our "block parties" say "Hello..........insert name" - instead of the basic "Hi" when you pass and generally look out for each other.
So - what do you guys all think about that?
Where would something like that get it's start in McKinney?
How would it break down?
Any other ideas?
(suggestion: instead of finding every reason why it wouldn't work, if you have a reason why it wouldn't work, could you mention it, and also mention a possible solution? appreciate it.)