Know a guy.
This is the way.
You engage in the economy of helping people to move stuff. One person has a dolly, another has a truck, they come, they move the thing, you pay in pizza and at least one IOU of “I’ll be there for you next time”.
When the time comes you are enlisted, you go, you help, you recieve pizza.
The cycle continues.
This is the way.
This is the only way.
It’s so refreshing to see goodvibe things from the US :D
Fyi, if you are moving one piece of furniture, sure get the truck guy and a couple buddies. If you are moving ALL your stuff, hire movers. (Unless you and your buddies are in their 20s)
If you are moving ALL your stuff, hire movers.
In my experience, that’s what Dad is for.
It starts with Dad moving you to and from dorm rooms. Then apartments.
When my wife and I moved to our house I hired movers. It was a lot easier and not terribly expensive.
When my wife moved her business to a new building, my mom told me my dad insisted on helping us move, so I didn’t hire movers as I had planned. When we were moving the tons of furniture, cabinets, and massive boxes stuffed full of files, my dad mentioned that my mom told him I had asked him to help me move. I have never been able to determine why my mom manipulated us into nearly killing ourselves.
Now I’m the dad. I’ve moved kids to and from dorm rooms and apartments. I’ve rented trucks for huge moves. My daughter and I are moving a couch, a dresser, an end table and all her cooking utensils on Saturday.
Not only do I have a truck, I also have straps, furniture dollies, moving blankets, mattress bags, etc.
My most recent purchase was a shoulder dolly. If you haven’t seen one, picture two harnesses with a wide strap running between them. Two people squat on either end of the item being moved with the wide strap running under it. You take up the slack in the strap, and just stand up to lift it off the ground. It’s a game changer.
I’ve become my own moving company.
Until now, trucks seemed to be linked to toxic masculinity. Turns out, the guys just want to be part of the community.
Having been the guy with the truck for a while, that is 100% how it works. However, the currency can also be a beer (or two).
So we’ve re-derived living in a community from first principles?
Today would be my brother’s birthday, he was my truck guy (and so much more).
I own a truck. I live in the states. In a state more urban than rural - so less trucks comparatively speaking.
BY FAR - the best part about owning a truck, is being asked to help someone move something big. This couldn’t be more true. Except sometimes the payment can be, or include a single cold beer. My name isn’t Kevin though.
I do this ALL THE TIME-and I love it.
It is good when people help each other. It warms a truck when a community sticks by each other.
Shit like this is why I love the punk scene. The punk scene is like the idealized small American town, for you may one day be asked to help someone you barely know and do it without a second thought. Why wouldn’t you help someone who needs it. You know damn well that when the time comes and you too need help, it will be found.
I have pulled on my network of comrades to make sure someone got a phone. This was done for the price of food and fellowship.
in my experience, this is also how 3d printers work…
In Australia the price is beer. If it’s a small job, one or two beers, either while doing the job or at the end, big job means a whole case of beer per person. Everyone would think there was something wrong with you if you provided only pizza.
I’m in halifax, Nova Scotia, if someone knows a guy, let me know
Been aware of this unwritten rule for a number of years. The people who ask me for help do not. They insult the tradition by trying to give me money…stunch refusal gets me strange looks but invites to weekend bbqs.
pretty smart move in retrospect - “eternal and obligatory friendship is the only currency I trade in”
That is very wholesome. Also all of the quotes have a very funny American accent in my head.
arigatou gozaimasu amerikajinsan
