Tag: boxes

Posted in neighbor, neighborhood

That’s a lot of stuff

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Most garage doors are closed when I walk through the neighborhood. Those that are open are typically full, and this one was no exception. It’s hard to see them all, but I count at least thirty yellow-lidded black storage totes balanced along the wall. The opposite wall is just as impressive.

I’m impressed with the labeling, too. But I’m more impressed with all the stuff. Tote after tote of stuff. (Those totes aren’t cheap! Nine or ten bucks a pop.) Holiday decorations? Seasonal clothing? Books? Souvenirs from trips? Picture albums? Collections?

To tell you the truth, I can’t imagine enough content to fill all those boxes. But that accumulation is the rule not the exception. Three-car-garages are standard in new builds in my neighborhood. Few folks park cars in those garages. Cars live in the driveway, while box after box after box occupies the row of garages.

Well, that’s not entirely true. I have a neighbor whose three-car-garage contains a universal gym, multiple tool cabinets, and a grill he wheels out to cook supper. He’s got no clutter in his garage(s). He also has no cars or trucks in there.

Posted in Life

Look at all those cardboard boxes

Posted on by William Douthwaite

On my early morning walks I’ve been impressed with the amount of cardboard in recycling bins in my neighborhood. I’ve learned a lot about my neighbors ands they’ve probably learned a lot about me.

We do a lot of shopping, and just about everything comes in a cardboard box. So I know who’s just bought a new TV, vacuum cleaner, printer, or set of put-it-together-yourself furniture. I know who gets meal kits delivered. Diaper boxes reveal who has babies. Homes with dogs have Chewy boxes on the curb. Toy boxes announce weekend birthday parties. I know what kind of beer and seltzer you drink, whether you prefer Costco or Sam’s Club, and the sugary cereal you feed your kids (or consume yourself). I never realized how much privacy you surrender when you conscientiously recycle!

Not only does everything come in a cardboard box, but everything usually comes in a large cardboard box. I know you’ve purchased small items online that were delivered in boxes ten times their size, padded with yards of paper or plastic bubbles. I imagine it’s easier to ship items that way rather than have many different sized boxes on hand. It just makes it more challenging to get all that cardboard broken down and fit into a modest recycling bin.

I’ll admit that I’ve been putting less cardboard into my recycling bin lately. That’s because I’ve been reusing all my boxes to ship items I’ve been selling online. I’ve discovered the demand for used books, toys, and household goods, so I’m thankful for all those cardboard boxes delivered to my front porch each week.

Cardboard boxes aren’t a new thing. The first cardboard boxes were used in England over 200 years ago. Why does it seem like there are so many more of them? We’re buying more and more stuff!