One of my favorite things about this style of living is the opportunity to make deals and barter. It's not about any under the table stuff, but you just never know what will sweeten a deal more than money! In the past week, I've discovered, the deal maker has been a bar of G-ma's Goatmilk Soap. I'm amazed at the number of people who have heard of it, tried it, but didn't know where to find it. It seems it's a "specialty item" at annual craft fairs or sold in tourist town gift shops.
Since this area is not far from a few tourist towns, most of us just don't get around to driving the 50-100 miles to Branson or Eureka Springs to sightsee. We live in the atmosphere and the local radio stations promote all the names and performers before they get to town, so basically we've heard what there is to offer before it arrives. Some of us are transplants to the area and are now living lives that don't require a break or entertainment and nobody goes to a tourist town just to pick up some soap!
This area is also known for some amazing ingenuity. There are men who can move buildings with a buddy, a truck with a flatbed trailer and motor oil. I've seen homes, beautiful homes, constructed by ordinary men with no high tech power tools. I love to be a part of "turning an idea into a reality, and figuring out how we're going to make it work!" I am a great admirer of what I call "Ozark Ingenuity." This is one of the places in this country in which people continue to utilize their G-d given talent to actually make a life for themselves and their family.
There is a flea market not far from me. I know the people and we've all done business together. That couple has talents that I don't have, so he comes across all sorts of interesting items that I can put to use, and he's willing to deliver! While he's out wheeling and dealing, she runs the store, so she likes my home made products, since she doesn't have time to do it. We all buy and sell and pay our sales tax, but it's the extra things that make it so delightful.
This week as I was preparing to hit the road on a quest for goats; along with some cash, I packed some soap. I grew up in a family of bargainers, so it's part of the fun of buying. There are skills involved in deal making. First, make sure you take cash because most folks do not want to deal with checks . . . and I certainly can't blame them. Too many folks have gotten burned on check deals and debit cards are out of the question. When counting your cash, if you plan to negotiate the price, take smaller bills. Nobody is going to take less than their asking price and give change . . .
Livestock auctions, livestock deals, flea markets, and hand crafted items are all a part of a way of life that is unlike any other. As a kid I really loved watching Daddy and my Grandparents do what my mother condescendingly referred to as "wheeling and dealing." I had no idea I'd be blessed to enjoy this gift as part of my way of life! I don't do it as well as my Grandparents did and my Daddy still does, so G-d gave me the talent to make soap to sweeten the deal!
No comments:
Post a Comment