Saturday, October 31, 2009

Good Things Happen

Good things can happen when you sell your used outdoor gear. Beyond the obvious things - more money in your pocket, more space in your garage - there is an often overlooked side-benefit: connecting with people. Think about it, who are you most likely to have something in common with? Yep, someone who has the exact same outdoor recreation interests. Depending on what you're selling, you might find that the person you're selling to lives in your area, and is the same size or at a similar skill level as you. Pretty cool.

I sold my Alden 16 the other night (yep it was posted on igearlist!) While I was a little nervous in the lead-up (will they find the house? will they want it? who are they?) I ended up meeting two of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. We chatted about rowing, kayaking, white-water rafting - and one of my favorite topics - rivers. To spend a few minutes talking enthusiastically about the Colorado river on a Tuesday night was totally fun.

And, relieved of a 16-foot open water scull, oars, and rigging, you can imagine how much space was freed up. Now this durable piece of equipment is no longer degenerating in storage - it will be used and enjoyed fully, as it was intended to be.

So, go ahead, post something. While you will always need to follow common-sense safety precautions when buying and selling gear, you might be in for something fun!

-igearlist