What is a Rotary Club Anyway?

I’ve been adjusting to small town life since moving to Bainbridge 8 months ago. For the most part, it hasn’t been a difficult adjustment. I like that everybody knows everyone and where ever you go you are sure to see at least one friend.  It’s so quiet and pretty in this small town. And? It’s not a hick town. Its liberal and educated, but not snobbish. A very laid back, friendly vibe. But still, it’s a trip.

It’s funny because when I was 23 and heading to New York City, I felt as though San Diego were a big city and it wouldn’t be quite so different in The Big Apple. I mean, I wasn’t from some Podunk town in the middle of America, right? WRONG! Wow. It was a complete culture shock. I may as well have been in another country. But, it was thrilling and exciting. So I adjusted well and relatively quickly.  Seventeen years later, I thought that San Diego was a small town of sorts. Noooo. It’s nothing like this tiny island with its 23,000 inhabitants.

Today I found out another way in which it is so wildly different from a big city. We ventured out to the Rotary Club Rumage Sale. The entire island has been abuzz with talk of this sale for weeks. And our family has been pretty excited. We had heard they would be selling anything and everything. The girls wanted toys (nothing specific, just toys), I wanted a bike, Big Daddy wanted a treadmill. So we headed out a little after they opened at 8am.

Our first indication this wasn’t going to be like any sale we’d been to before? When we had to park 1 mile from the rummage sale. Yeah. Not so fun. I mean, I was all eager and geared up because, as I’ve said, I could use the exercise. But with 2 little girls walking along with us and carrying another one, it wasn’t much fun. But our 2nd clue that life is different in a small town? A very nice woman stopped and gave us a ride to the gate! A life saver and not something anyone would do in a big city. She told us about her first time at the Rotary Sale and how naive she had been. It was then we began to fear we weren’t prepared.

The Rummage Sale is at the middle school (that’s right The middle school. As in there is only one public middle school on the island. Small town). As soon as we stepped onto the grounds we knew this was going to be a new experience. There were people everywhere! We browsed the exercise equipment outside and then made our way inside. Where I quickly freaked out. OMG, you guys! EVERYONE was in that building! All 23,000 residents of Bainbridge Island and probably a few people from Poulsbo and Silverdale. As we were pushing making our way down the ramp into a big room with toys and books and a virtual sea of people, I felt the walls closing in on me. The closer we got to the room (which looked to have no windows and only one way in or out and no room to move), the more I freaked out. I tried to tell Big Daddy, but he wanted to forge ahead. I had to turn back and go outside. I had to get some air. I regrouped and went back and the shopping was able to commence. But Jesus, people. I’ve never seen that many people at a damn rummage sale in my life!

Was it worth the chaos? Absolutely! First of all, it was so fun to see so many people we know. And the shopping was great!  The girls found a Barbie car for $1. They each got one of those stick horses. You know what I mean? Well, check the picture below. One of them is a little scary. You push his ear and he talks and sings! I’d only ever seen ones that make a galloping noise. $3/each and like new. I found that bike I’ve been wanting. It is in great condition and was $40. Now I can ride it around this little island, lose some weight and get in shape!   And? Big Daddy got the best bargain of  all. A like-new Nordic Track that sells for  over $1000 for the bargain price of $200. It’s commercial grade! 

We had to get out of there. It was just so packed and we were so unprepared. For instance? No kids next year. We’ll take the seats out of the minivan so we can load it up, and bring something to cart all our stuff around with. I would have loved to look at all the housewares things and I know Big Daddy wanted to check out the electronics section more too. Also, next year we are getting there when they open.

Oh, but it was pretty hilarious to see us on the side of the road trying to fit that damn treadmill into the minivan. Really, do not ask me how, but Big Daddy did it. He is master of many things and top of the list is making the things fit in the car that really shouldn’t fit.  We bought a kitchen table and chairs when we were first married. I forget why almost 12 years later, but we had to have it right then and couldn’t wait until delivery. All we had was our little VW Cabrio.  Big Daddy somehow got those boxes and chairs in that little car and we made it home. He’s been making big purchases fit in our various cars ever since. Even with 5 people in the car.

What a cluster it was getting out of there. I really wish you could see the miles of cars parked along both sides of the roads in every direction. Police directing traffic and people clumped on the side of the road with their purchases waiting for their rides. I am really digging this small town life!

  Jemima got a horse too, but refused to pose with it for the picture. Tempermental model.

She was, however, delighted to pose with the Barbie car.

My new bike. Isn’t it so cute? Look for me tooling around the island on it very soon!

The treadmill I will be running (walking) on everyday.  Please ignore the mess that is my garage. I thought about getting it all out of the shot, but I’m about keeping it real. So I left it in.

And for your listening pleasure, here’s a song that I couldn’t get out of my head today. Enjoy!