Barter: The New Currency in a Down Economy



Photo by Marianne M. Smith







Last week my cowboy husband traded a Registered Miniature Donkey for a pink saddle.  Yes, you read that right.  When I teased him, he said, “Well, the saddle doesn’t eat.  And I can sell the saddle.”  Turns out it’s a super comfortable saddle and very nicely made, so I may keep the saddle and sell (or trade) mine.

We also traded another donkey for a Martin guitar.  I’ve always wanted one, but could never seem to afford it.  It sounds amazing, and has motivated me to begin practicing again.

This trading thing is definitely working for us.  It seems that few have extra money to buy with in our current economy, but most of us have stuff that we no longer need (or have recently acquired in trade). You may not be trading your ass, but the concepts are the same.  Trading is pretty easy once you get the hang of it, but there are a few caveats:

Be sure the trade is fair on all sides.  We find it’s easiest to trade for equivalent cash.  If the saddle is worth X, then the donkey needs to be worth X also.  Same thing if you’re trading for more than one item—just add them up.  Remember that you can ask for some cash, if it’s needed to even out the trade.




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Be sure you have actually seen the item you are trading for, unless you already know and trust the seller.  We learned this the hard way by trading for hay once that was not the quality we were expecting.

Be careful when you are meeting with people you don’t know.  You might want to move your trade item outside or meet in a busy parking lot at a mutually agreed upon location.  I don’t recommend meeting with strangers alone, particularly with valuable trade items in tow.

Be willing to negotiate further.  If the trade initially looks like it won’t work out, keep an open mind and ask if there is something else they might be willing to trade for.  We have a long list of things we’d trade for and we don’t hesitate to share the list.  And don’t forget that you can trade goods for services.  For example, that saddle could be traded for concrete or electrical work.  One note: Uncle Sam does say that you must exchange receipts and disclose barter in your tax returns.

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You can get your feet wet by searching “barter” ads online.  But we just post our own ads and say we are “open to approved trades.”  Give it a whirl.  I think you might be surprised by how effective trading can be.  And it might just make you feel a little richer.

Have you done much trading?  I’d love to hear about your experiences.  Feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email.  And let me know if you have something you want to trade.  You just never know…

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Left-Brained Poets and Other Curiosities

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I just read some startling poetry by Kathleen Flenniken.  I was even more startled when I discovered that her background is in civil engineering.

This experience got me thinking about how left brain and right brain affect poetry.  I think of poetry as a right-brained activity, since it is emotional, concerned with the whole, and there is lots of room for interpretation.  Of course, parts of poetry can be governed by the left brain, which is logical, sequential, and exacting.  Most people use both sides of their brain to write, at least to some extent.

My fascination may be heightened because I am almost exclusively right-brained, for better or worse.  I guess I can’t imagine a highly left-brained individual seeing the point of poetry.  Not that I am judging one side of the brain over the other.  Believe me, I would kill for more left brain material!

But I do find it interesting that I’m suddenly drawn to mostly left-brained poets.



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I think we need more poets (left and right-brained) because they stop the noise of the world and start the heart.  Their brevity induces clarity; they celebrate the profound in mini-bites.  Most poets are master Tweeters; they have no problem at all distilling ideas down to get right to the meat of things in 140 characters or less.  As a writer, I tend to be verbose.  (Word count right here was at 250—that’s words, not characters—and I’m just now getting to the point!)  I find it fascinating that you can say more by saying less.

Reading a poem centers me on one thought or emotion.  It’s a tranquil yet stirring experience.  If you haven’t read any poetry since Frost, Whitman, or Pound in high school, I’d strongly suggest that you give it another shot.  And there is a style of poetry that will appeal to you.  There are plenty of poets who are quirky, smug, humorous and irreverent, if lofty rhymes are not your cup of tea.



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If you’d like an easy poetry sampler, consider subscribing to The Writer’s Almanac by Garrison Keillor.  It’s free, and you get a daily dose of poetry delivered to your email inbox.  (Just select the RSS Feed button after clicking the link.)  It’s a great way to find a poet you like, or simply to experience all that poetry has to offer.  You may like some poems and absolutely hate others, but I think you will be moved.

I’d love to hear about your own experience with poetry.  Feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Garden Philosophy 101

Photo by Marianne M. Smith

Spending a lot of time lately in our garden, and I'm struck by how much gardening parallels life’s struggles.

As I weed, I throw out what I don’t want to make more room for what I do want.  As I plant, I sow seeds for a future harvest, but there is no immediate payoff.  As I water, I consider what it takes to makes things grow and I’m constantly paying attention to the condition of what I have planted.

When things don’t turn out as expected for whatever reason, I pull them out and begin again.  (A lot of beautiful things in the garden begin and end in manure, just like they do in everyday life.)

In our garden I experience hope, joy, disappointment and regret, just as I do in daily life.  It’s a very tangible way to ground myself.

Photo by Marianne M. Smith

The expectation of discovering something new as I walk in our garden is gratifying.  Each day brings something different: something growing, something blooming, something dying.

 I’m always evaluating: Are the conditions right for this plant?  Should I move it?  Should I water it?  Am I overwatering it?

Photo by Marianne M. Smith

Sometimes I think the lesson is to pay this much attention to everything in my life.  Honesty is required when assessing climate, soil, and water.  Taking things for granted doesn’t usually work too well in the garden.

What’s your experience of time spent in the garden?  I’d love to hear about it.  Feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email.

Oh, I found myself humming this old tune while writing this post.  Thought you might enjoy giving it a listen (just click the link).

 

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Shifting Gears for a Fresh Perspective

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For the last six months, I’ve been working a contract where I’ve been “on call” and writing until the job is done.  I’ve also been writing on site, which is rare for me.  The job ended early this week, and I’ve been surfing luscious waves of randomness ever since.

I feel like a kid in a candy store, an inmate unexpectedly set free, an ancient woman in love!

There are no more schedules, expectations, or lovely spring days glued to a desk.  It makes me absolutely giddy.  Not that it wasn’t a great gig, mind you, or that I’m not grateful for the work and all the cool new things I learned.  But it has been awhile since I could just be.

And next week, I’ll be back in the real world, looking for more work that results in positive cash flow.  But this week, ahhhhhhhhh!

I would highly encourage you to seek out a few days where there is no agenda in your own life.  (I think we used to call these vacations, but in this economy fewer of us are heading anywhere “to relax.”)

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Shifting gears brings about amazing revelations and insights.  Just do something different—anything, really.  Cook something new.  Read something new.  Plant something new.  Day-trip somewhere new and just ramble.  Re-create your job if you are lucky enough to have the freedom to do something a different way.  Try a different kind of exercise or recreational activity.  Go shopping and try on things you would never ever wear.

In only four days, my whole mental state has sharpened, expanded, and clarified.  I’m ready for all kinds of new challenges and opportunities.  This is the quickest way I know of to freshen your perspective:  Just take a few days where all you do next is what you’d like to.

I do realize that’s hard for a lot of people, and I’m probably in a better position than most to accomplish this since I live off the beaten path and have few family obligations.  But the more stressed you are, the more benefits you will gain by dropping out for a few days, or even for a few hours a few days in a row.

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I bet it’s been awhile since you’ve given yourself the luxury of time and doing exactly what you’d like to.  Life is short, and the rewards are huge.  I’d love to hear about your experience shifting gears.  Feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com