Scavenger Metamorphosis Complete

I never thought of myself as one of those people. People who save EVERYTHING because you might be able to use it some day. Balls of string. Rubber bands. Tin foil. I used to throw things out... Yesterday though I was shocked at a new behavior and realized I've been completely overtaken by this scavenger life form.

I was getting ready to list a VHS video tape still in it's shrink wrap. When I picked it up I could hear something moving around inside the tape so I had to open it up to check it out. Turned out the plastic casing was broken and a piece was lose. I threw the tape in my garbage and that was when IT happened. I felt bad putting this new tape in the trash! such a waste as it was new! so I took it back out. I looked at it. There must be something salvageable on it. The first thing I noticed were screws. About six tiny metal screws. I thought those are worth saving.  I'd never taken a tape apart before so it was interesting to see what was there when I took out the screws. I ended up saving the screws, spools and a few little pieces of metal and plastic that looked like they might be usable for some future project (sickness!). I still threw out the plastic case but felt much better about the whole deal. Have you ever done this type of thing?

Ryanne over at Scavenger Life recently made the analogy of our lifestyles of scavenging and the post apocalyptic world you see in movies. I like that analogy (or is it metaphor?).  I think part of the thrill of taking apart the tape was that I was somehow saving bits and pieces that could maybe some day save my life ;) Yeah, ya get weird thoughts working alone.

I come by this behavior honestly. I grew up with parents who were born during the depression. During my childhood my dad hunted and fished and we ate all manner of animals. Squirrel, rabbit, turtle, deer etc. I never realized until I was much older that my dad was also quite a pack rat and liked to 'fix' things with bits of other things he had lying around. I'm sure back then I would have thought it was silly but now I'm quite proud of him and glad that the gene has finally expressed itself in me :) I think the longer I stay out of the normal working world with it's materialistic pressures the more I will become this scavenger. I like that. I feel like I've finally found 'my people'.

So when the end of the world hits and you wonder where to go, head up to my place. I will have saved all kinds of bits and bobs that we can cobble together to re-establish life here on earth. Bring some of your stuff with you. I know you have some and it might be just what we need :)

all photos courtesy of pixabay