We had a chest freezer delivered today. It’s now chilling in the garage. We had to move or get rid of a bunch of stuff to accommodate our new acquisition, including a boatload of empty boxes, styrofoam peanuts, and air pillows. This brings up an interesting “Venus vs. Mars” question: Do women keep stuff and throw away the boxes, while men keep boxes and throw away the stuff?
Julian has a habit of keeping every box anything he bought came in. A widget from amazon.com? Keep the box. The shipping box for a lens cover from B&H in New York? Keep it. His logic is simple: “I may have to send it back.” Never mind that we have a LOT of folded-up boxes in our storage closet from our move here. Yesterday he had to pack up one of his camera lenses to send back for a software upgrade. We had to stop at a UPS store to get a box, even though there was a perfectly good one that the lens would fit in ON THE SOFA from a delivery he received the day before.
This box-hoarding habit is not just a Julian phenomenon. Years ago I commented on a friend’s collection of packing boxes in his garage. His reply was classic: “I have boxes for stuff I don’t have anymore.” Since he’s lived in the same place for the better part of 30 years, he probably still has the box that his original Macintosh came in. (I half expect an email from him with a picture.)
When the freezer was delivered, the delivery guy asked if we wanted the crate and packing material. I answered quickly, “NO.” After the truck drove off, Julian commented, “It’s a good thing they didn’t leave the crate. I think I’m cardboarded out.” Alleluia!
Recent Comments