During the “Lockdown” segment of the pandemic when many were mandated to stay home, I noticed there were three groups: One, generally those with passive income or were able to work from home (WFH) or enjoyed all the various government subsidies, were happy and starred on TikTok videos and remodeled their living space. The second, were the “Essential” workers that found their jobs critical enough to the welfare of others that they were allowed to continue working out in the real world. Some got bonuses, some endured significant pay cuts and for others nothing really changed, except the medical community whose work hour never seemed to end. Finally there was the third group. They came from both previous groups and by luck of the draw, their income disappeared. No unemployment and no TikTok stardom. It was at some point early in the pandemic that I became aware of something called a “Gig economy.” Initially I thought it referenced IT in some fashion, gigabyte or something similar. It made sense, to me anyway, because there always seemed to be a computer or software involved, once again gigabyte. Had I researched the phrase I could have easily found out it referred to a slang reference to job, i.e. gig.

At this same time, I had decided to embark on a “new” career. At 66, It was both invigorating-and humbling. I have a lifetime of experiences and an appearance that exudes “maturity,” so most people I encounter assume I have been selling real estate forever. I don’t correct them. That is fine and dandy but I have been told that the average person knows at least a dozen real estate agents, and they know most of those twelve as only agents and nothing else. My “sphere” ( a reference to our network of contacts) knows me from my prior career and new to real estate. This is not derogatory just how they perceive things. Were I thirty years younger, I could fight the good fight-eat ramen and knock on doors dusk till dawn and ultimately, at the end of the day, be in or near the front of those other eleven agents. Problem is in thirty years I’ll be 97 and dead of course, so that scenario doesn’t work for me, and besides, I need money now. So what to do?

Technically, I am retired. I collect social security so the assumption is that anything I do is a “Hobby.” Fact is I would normally agree with that except I have neither the finances nor the mindset to retire. Until a month or so ago, thrifting was a hobby. With the challenges of daily life it was a pleasant and healthy diversion-therapeutic in a sense, to help escape the outside world. But, since it was still a hobby it cost money. My acquisitions were quite harmless because my target was/is vinyl, and they are still inexpensive. Lisa on the other hand finds more stuff and that costs more money. Thing is, what she finds is really good. She knew we didn’t need anything so she started promoting these finds to family. She saw the quality and knew it was worth far more then the price marked. The challenge is who and where is that person? It was at this point we saw an opportunity. We would start selling these “treasures” online. We made a simple agreement, we could only spend the profits of previous purchases. In other words, we couldn’t buy something until we sold something first.

We had talked about selling online before, but like so many other times, I am awesome at planning and creating the infrastructure but suck at the implementation of it. My analogy to this is taking a vacation. My planning and preparation to go on vacation is exemplary, but the actual act of being on vacation I kinda suck at it. This time has been different and so far, we have done ok. I won’t try giving a tutorial on selling on ebay, etsy, facebook etc. Youtube has Master Classes on the subject 24/7. It pales to the income from selling a house but it is income between those sales. The other benefit is being able to eliminate the stockpile of unused and unloved items filling our storage space and make a little money while doing it. This is a complete 180 for us. In the past, if something needed to go, for whatever reason, we would give it away. Family, friends and finally the thrift shop all benefited from our gifts. I will always donate some items like gently used clothing and household items because it helps the greater need, but everything else is fair game to sell.

A side note of some importance (at least to us) is our decision to curate our material asset legacy. One thing you cannot help but notice when you attend the number of estate sales we do, is the sheer volume of shit. We are not necessarily trying to define trash or treasure here but the amount of stuff left behind for the heirs to deal with can be monumental. The argument can be made if you’re dead, so what? They can keep what they want and get rid of the rest which is fine but can be overwhelming. Not that Lisa and I are hoarders but even after giving so much stuff away, there are still boxes filled with “mementos” that as long as there is room in storage, why worry about it. Well I’m not worried about it, but I am tired of continually moving it around. I have also decided that if it is sitting in a box in the basement rather than displayed on a shelf in my office, how important can it really be? I am finding it much easier to get rid of something too when there is a payday attached.