Brain training: More tales of borrowing instead of buying and renting
My beloved jogging stroller has a flat. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t run 2 miles in one shot since high school, and a few years ago found even covering the Chicago Marathon as a reporter following along on public transportation to be rather miserable. I love this stroller because it effortlessly devours any uneven pavement and any lumpy-muddy park path, thus actually allowing me to be lazier when using it rather than exercising extra.
I got the flat checked out at a bike shop, and found the tire and tube were fine, it was an air pressure issue. We don’t own a bike pump (or bikes). My first thought was: OK, time to go buy a bike pump.
And a few years ago, I would have done so without even thinking twice. Being able to buy all the stuff you need is a sign of independence and successful adulthood, right? That’s the message we get.
This time, though, I had a second thought (that’s right: Two thoughts in one day, y’all): Our neighborhood is full of bikers, from triathletes to kiddos. I am friendly with these people. I stop and chat regularly with these people. Why don’t I just ask to borrow their pump?
Why didn’t I always think this way?
What’s something you decided to try sharing or borrowing lately instead of immediately getting your own?
We don’t own a pump, either. My husband just takes the stroller over to the gas station and fills the tire with air. You have to be careful….it fills really quickly.
Many years ago, when I had a flat tire, the fellow in the next car in the parking lot dug out his cigarette-lighter-powered pump, and attempted to reinflate my tire. (Unfortunately, it was beyond help.) But I’ve carried one in my car ever since. Most of the use it gets is for pumping up bicycle tires, though once in a while a soft car tire gets a boost, too. And last month, it got used on the tire on our sort-of-portable generator, which was brought out of hibernation after one-too-many power outages and freezer losses!
The bikes I recall from 40 years ago had a little hand pump that was attached to one of the main bars; I’ve not seen any similar ones on the market recently.
When we got the generator working, one of the things I did was to notify a couple of neighbors that it would be available, though I have some difficulty seeing how we’d move it around, given the hills involved. Maybe extension cords, as long as they don’t cross roads?
I borrowed a lot of roller derby gear when I first started. Our league has a morgue of used pads, helmets and wrist guards. I was able to try out lots of different brands and fits, and got to see which brands wore out and which ones held up well.
I eventually bought my own gear, but it was a much more informed purchase than if I had just bought a rookie package outright.
It’s funny because I actually DO think of borrowing first, but I get a lot of resistance on that. When I ask around (say, via Facebook for example) of things I need/want to borrow, I get mostly feedback on where I can find said item on sale. *shrug* Doesn’t stop me from asking though.
Great illustration of the need for brain change in this area!
Books, I borrow books! Its a good one cuz I can’t house the books I love, much less the books I just wanna try out!
We were lent a lot of stuff when our baby (now 2.8) was born. Friends and relatives gave us toys, a stroller, car seats and even a beautiful antique crib. Everything was in perfect working condition, of course, and we’ve returned a lot of the things with gratitude.
we borrow everything we can! We have a church community that is so down with that we have a LIST of big ticket or unusual items people are willing to share.
Recentlymy husband borrowed head to toe raingear for a bike trip rather than go buy some. It’s a great way to testdrive something you are thinking of purchasing.
I borrow jewelry from my sis when I get dressed up – she has lots and I don’t.
I borrow my parents carpet shampoo machine – I only have one room that has carpet so it does not make sense to buy an expensive one.