We were combining two households into one. A few buyers tried to run roughshod over me and my terms and I kicked them out with nothing but what they brought with them...nothing.

I don't like bossy people either. They didn't like my prices, then don't buy it. Until they paid for it, it was still mine.

although it was not from an intentional misstep. Driving down a city street, I saw a yard sale sign with arrow AND address on a corner telephone pole, so I turned there and got out at the stated house. The yard was full of furniture etc. Started looking at stuff, waiting patiently for someone to emerge from the house. When they did, I immediately piped up and asked how much the lady wanted for the sofa. She answered back that it wasn't for sale. I stood there dumbfounded and muttered something about a yard sale, embarrassed half to death. She said, "NO! We're moving IN!" That's when I remembered the yard sale sign on the corner had no date and must have been left over from the previous owners or tenants.

Well, at least I did remove that sign quickly to save anyone else my mistake.

Speaking of signs, in some big cities they have a problem of people removing corner and highway yard sale signs belonging to others, in order to drive more traffic to their own sale. Politicians have a lot of trouble with their campaign signs disappearing in rural areas, too. Politics and business can be rough.

Speaking of signs, in some big cities they have a problem of people removing corner and highway yard sale signs belonging to others, in order to drive more traffic to their own sale.

I'll never host another one. People stealing stuff, putting it in their bags as they leave. Hell, some people wanted you to pay them to take some of the stuff.

Never again.

could use my chows as an excuse. One good side effect is that when I'm through with something, I just give it away. At most I might call the local Tell&Sell radio program to offer a single item; then I can control who comes when, and the advantage to such a small community is that I know who to allow and who to disallow. If I don't recognize a name I tell them it's already gone. If they do get to come, I still have it out in the yard because I prefer to avoid 'discussions' about the contents and (some political) decor of my house. In fact, my will leaves the contents of my home to a group of Mennonites with the single restriction that if they decide to hold a big sale, it has to be done a minimum 50 miles away - I won't have the snarky locals pawing through my stuff at an estate sale. Nobody here would drive 50 miles to a sale.

It may seem strange given how many people I don't care for here, but I do enjoy an absolute reputation for honesty and reliability. If I forget my wallet or run out of $, they'll say take the haul on home and just come back with any amount owed later because they know I will. Not everybody gets to do that, as you might guess. When I need a repair or something done to the house before I quite have the cash together, there are any number of places I can call and get instant credit with no interest charge. They know I'm good for it. They make a point of telling me that's not the case with most of their customers too, which makes me feel blessed.

Most of them hate my politics more than they hate me, I think. Except for the fact that I don't respond as desired to pressure. Some people here have ruled the town on one level or another all their lives - they just have trouble grasping the idea that they lack any power or influence over anyone, and that person has a bite reflex. That must come as a terrible shock.

At least I feel better trying to look at it that way. We're all stuck here together; might as well make the best of it.