Have you seen something outrageously cool in someone's apartment lately? Chances are they didn't buy it.
And if they did buy it, they probably got ripped-off. The newest wave in second-generation retail has
nothing to do with the quality or the history of the piece being sold. The great challenge amongst boutique
and antique store owners is to locate found items or flea market give-aways, slap
on a coat of paint or whitewash and call it vintage. And oh yeah, mark it up 1000%. (Not an exaggeration.)
"Dumpster Diving" is a euphemism.
Dumpster diving doesn't mean diving into dumpsters. A recent study of emergency room physicians
strongly suggests that one should not actually dive into a dumpster.
Some communities with popular dumpsters (Shaker Heights, Beverly Hills, Scarsdale) are contemplating
stencilling, "No Diving" along alley thoroughfares. And for good reason, dumpsters are filled with
broken glass, needles, dead pets, diapers and condoms. I could go on but if you're still willing to
climb into a Dumpster after that list, you're clearly lost
and any tales of post bachelor-party, puke-stained stripper costumes will be wasted on you.
Zen and the art of diving.
Most wanna-be-divers head into trendy neighborhoods after a Saturday brunch. Guess what?
You won't find much because the real divers already beat you to it. True dumpster divers know all
the good spots and are constantly looking for better ones. They're committed. It's in their blood.
They don't plan a side trip or set aside an hour. They're always looking - after work on weekdays,
early mornings, lunch hour sweeps - they're always leaving ten minutes early and ducking down allies or skirting down side streets.
