SeeingGreen ™

I’ll admit it. I’m addicted. It is not unusual for me to visit the Craigslist (CL) site twice, sometimes three times, ok maybe five times a day. What am I looking for? Nothing, really. I usually check out what’s new in the free pile, peek at the job postings or peruse the personals for a giggle. I also like to check out what is going on in other cities. Why? Well, there are lots of reasons, but first, I must do a quick check of CL before I go on. Ok, now I am back.
I like CL because the listings give you insight into what is going on in the place you live. There’s this strange sense of community when you consider the thousands of other people out there who are posting or searching at any given time (this is the case in Portland at least - the Des Moines listings don’t seem to be as active). In addition to the warm fuzzy feeling I get from knowing that I can get a free pile of dirt or two hamster cages for $5, there is something about the structure of a classified ad that seems very honest. Short and sweet and to the point, classified ads are really a raw form of poetry. A recent scanning of the listings came up with “NICE trained llamas available for adoption!” and “HUGE King Kong Poster/Mounted” and “***WANTED*** Your Old Broken TVs.” I find it comforting to have a forum where EMPHASIS is usually added and spelling/punctuation are not all that important (blogs like this one are good for that too). Finally, unlike most newspaper classifieds, CL is free to post and free to search. FREE - what a deal!

I’ve had great luck using CL. I once posted an ad to sell a 40 foot extension ladder and within 30 minutes I got a call from a guy who desperately needed it to keep his job as a maintenance manager at a multiplex apartment building. I also recently sold my tired Volvo wagon in a few hours after posting an ad on Fourth of July, no less. I’ve also purchased things off of CL, such as an Airstream trailer and an exercise bike. Every now and again I look for work opportunities as a freelance writer (hint, hint) and sure enough, I also puruse the real estate ads to see if the bubble has burst in my neighborhood (outrageous prices - come on now, people).

So, even if you don’t have anything to sell or buy, I still recommend CL as a way to get a glimpse into what some of your neighbors in Portland have to offer.

Go to Craigslist now.