After selling everything we owned in Denver on Criagslist, we found ourselves in NYC completely unfurnished.  And after the challenge of finding an apartment, we now faced the challenge of finding (and affording) stuff to put in it.  Apparently there is an even better reason people seek out apartments with doormen other than security – you can get packages delivered. After spending weeks trying to get a crappy futon delivered from Target we decided to opt for only self pick-up items.

Every block of every street in NYC is littered with garbage for pick-up. As we walked to the gym and grocery everyday we began to see trash that certainly wasn’t trash to us. We quickly realized that you couldn’t hesitate if you saw something you liked while street trash shopping (STS). That hot trash was a hot item. That street trash lamp would be gone by the time you turned your head to give it a second look. We quickly found many gems and it didn’t matter if we were on our way somewhere, we (Mike) would grab it and lug it home to furnish our low standard apartment. No cost, no delivery, no problem! Right?

There was only rule for STS: if it’s made of metal or wood don’t hesitate but it’s fabric it’s a big mistake. That rule was strongly enforced when Mike went out to grab a bottle of wine and returned with a street trash couch. Despite how proud he was,  all I could feel where the bed bugs beginning to bite. After discovering that cockroaches love all forms of trash, I can no longer welcome any more street trash items into our home. Our apartment isn’t big enough for us and the bugs. Every item is like a Trojan Horse and I am not willing to take on those tiny warriors. Sadly, I had to make a new STS rule: if it’s on the street, then it definatley belongs there. However, this does in no way apply to human beings.