The used clothing comes off when different social classes mingle in Lawrence.
My wife recently went to a garage sale in Alvamar. It was her boss's garage sale and in case you're not familiar with Alvamar: it's a neighborhood where the homes are easily priced in the upper six digits with seven digits not out of the question. These sort of events represent one of the ways that different social classes mingle in Lawrence.
The mingling of social classes makes the community of Lawrence unique. It happens in three ways: a strong focus on the family, arts and culture, and the reusing of material goods.
Through KU, and Lawrence Parks and Recreation, family events are abundant. At these events, citizens think nothing of the fact that a child from a blue collar, east Lawrence family plays with the child of a C.E.O. from west Lawrence. A similar phenomenon happens around the arts, because art is generated in Lawrence by people from the lowest to the highest economic stations of life. Art appreciation has a similar range of social status.
Another arena that different social classes mingle in Lawrence is through the redistribution of materials. Members of all social classes in Lawrence have a healthy respect for how people can reuse things. I've heard stories of people finding practically new Kirby Vacuums (retail value around $1500) at the Goodwill or picking up, at garage sales for a few dollars, original pieces of framed art, that probably sold new for hundreds of dollars. I myself have bought a gigantic Eddie Bauer tent that was probably four or five hundred dollars new, paying a fraction of that; an Oscar De La Renta sports coat; business suits; Ralph Lauren Polo shirts, shorts and sweaters; and framed original works of art. I once saw a collection of Armani neck ties at the Social Service League, but I didn't have any cash and by the time I got back from the ATM, they had already been swoopt up.
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| These sort of consumer deals are available here because the wealthy in Lawrence routinely donate to the Goodwill and Social Service League. But another interesting phenomenon, that I don't think is seen in other communities the size |
of Lawrence, is garage sales in the wealthiest parts of town. My wife routinely goes to garage sales in Alvamar.
A few weeks before my wife went to her boss's garage sale, we went to a party at his house in Alvamar. It was the type of event that I imagine takes place in that part of town often: a catered party with a steak dinner and lots of free drink, which means I'm one of the last to leave.
At the end of the night, my wife and I sat chit-chatting with two other couples including the hosts. It was a pleasant, late summer evening as we sat near a magnificent in-ground pool complete with an overflowing fountain in the middle and hot tub on the side, all surrounded by a beautifully manicured garden that sat on the edge of a golf course. It came as a total surprise to me when the conversation turned toward skinny-dipping.
After everyone toyed with the idea for a while, it occurred to me the golden opportunity that was presenting itself. When I was a teenager, I would have hopped a fence to have done this if I thought I could get away with it. So I did it. I dropped trow and before anyone could say anything, I dove in. Everyone joined: it's been my experience that no matter what the social status, practically everyone loves to skinny dip.
My wife did convince me to put my underpants back on since every body left theirs on. The funny thing is that I did consider this as an option to begin with but chose not to because I had some rips in them and in my drunkenness I thought being completely bare ass was less embarrassing. I like to think that if I hadn't been drunk, I would have made the same decisions.
All in all it was a great evening spent with people who had a stake and a managerial say in a Fortune 50 company. An evening like that demands reflection when it's over. And even though I ripped it all off, when I reflect on that evening, I can't forget what I wore: a Ralph Lauren Polo shirt I got at a garage sale for 50 cents; Ralph Lauren Chino shorts: 10 cents, Social Service League; Ray Ban sunglasses: 75 cents, Goodwill; skinny dipping in a neighborhood where the homes cost about a million dollars: priceless.
Comments (2)
Haha! Excellent story that certainly didn't end where I expected it to.
The first half was incredibly interesting. For some reason I've kind of always thought of Lawrence as a segregated town, with rich people on the West side, students in the heart of the town, the blue-collar families on the East side and only Mass. Street there for these groups to intermingle. The only other setting in which I imagined these groups coming together was for football or men's basketball games, with people from the West side of town sitting closest to the field or court. But you definitely showed me a side of Lawrence I never realized.
You also helped show just how serious Lawrence takes redistributing materials. Whenever I donate at Goodwill, I usually have to wait in line, but until now I didn't know Lawrence was as redistribution-conscious as it is.
Finally, I applaud your willingness to throw your inhibitions aside! I burst out laughing during the climax of your story and tried to imagine myself doing the same thing in that sitation. Unless I knew the couples pretty well, probably not. Regardless, your story was priceless. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by Shawn | November 12, 2007 5:45 PM
Posted on November 12, 2007 17:45
Wow! I suddenly feel we know the real Matt much more intimately. Like Shawn, I didn't see it coming. I was reading along, absorbed in the recycling efforts in Lawrence. Perhaps what you described is at the root of what I love about Lawrence. Lawrence, maybe because of size and maybe because it is a University town, has always seemed welcoming, diverse and therefore stimulating. People in Lawrence do mingle. The boundaries aren't as defined as in Johnson County. I always did want a pool in my backyard.
Goo, entertaining, concise story - made me think on several levels.
Posted by gail mirostaw | November 13, 2007 1:29 PM
Posted on November 13, 2007 13:29