Wholesale, retail, yardsale...

Yes, the decision was made to rent the house on Lake Seewoog, and the decision was made to buy the Mini. So, why am I still living in a Hotel, depending on the mercy of others to provide me transportation to work and to hunt for treasures in out of the way places, living much as a teenager with definite wants but needing the parents to complete the picture. Sometimes it can be absolutely maddening. Emancipation is a difficult process even at the age of 58.

I have the apartment and I even have the key but what is lacking is a bed, a couch and the contract for utilities from the German council. It's all very difficult to explain and I don't know that one would find it of interest, but being an American citizen, exempt from the mandatory 19% tax, simply creates a lot of paper work. It is a "step" that I am willing to take, no matter how laborious, given that in the long run it saves me a sizable amount of money. So yes, I have the key AND I have 28 boxes that have arrived from America, sitting in the living room with no couch.

Getting money for the Mini was almost as easy as it was for those poor yokels getting a mortgage loan without a job. Sign here. Done. Clean and dirty. Yes, I bought the Mini, and I even struggled for 2 days with someone who spoke as much English as I do German making sure I had adequate insurance. And I have my receipt for insurance and the bill of sale for the car, BUT no key. The kink is in the paper work, somewhere in the German system waiting for customs clearance.

And, it's hard to look for furniture without a car, a GPS, not knowing when or how I could arrange for delivery. Stores per sey don't attract me, never really have. I like the adventure and the thrill of finding something unique, cheap (or at least a good buy) and most importantly, the experiences along the way. Having to depend on someone you hardly know who wants to share in the adventure can be an an experience in and of itself. At least there is no paper work.

I responded to an Ad in the RamsteinYardsale.com for a "shrunck"..a german word for closet or wardrobe. None of the houses here have built in closets so one has to depend on shruncks. The response was from an elderly couple who live in a renovated 1459 Mill about an hour from Ramstein, saying they had a shrunck and lived in a mill. 2 men whom I have met at the hotel and work in the milling industry, were intrigued enough to agree to drive me. This was an experience to remember. The couple is very eccentric and deem themselves to be "collectors." He has a collection of over 8,000 coffee pots and She has over 3,000 dolls. They have collections of irons, doll house furniture, shruncks that you wouldn't believe and a wonderful Great Dane named Jake. Long story short, I bought a shrunck I found in the attic (Jake helped me pick it out) and He printed off a copy of his book that he recently finished about the history of the Mill. I love it. He punched 2 holes in the side and took a shoestring from his wife's boot in order to "bind it properly." When I go back next weekend to help disassemble the shrunck, he promised he would he would have a hard bound copy of the book for me.

How can Storehouse, Crate and Barrel, and Pottery Barn compete with the richness of shopping in a renovated Mill with 2 wonderful people who have such passion for their life and a willingness to share so openly? And, when is the last time you shopped along side a 230# great dane named Jake? Wholesale...pppfffttt retail..pppfffttt
Ramstein Yard Sale.com yyyyeeeeeaaaaa. and, NO PAPER WORK!!!