I have been imagining a world where our usual way was to look around for what was needed, and just take that on, on a world wide scale. We often do just that with our families,and in fact my neighborhood operates this way more and more.
My sewing machine just died, and Peggy said, "Oh, I bought an extra sewing machine at a yard sale: you can have it, there's nothing wrong with it, but I don't need another sewing machine really." Gail down the road planted parsley which reseeds, so she has parsley everywhere. She offered me as much as I could carry away, and it is great! She is a master gardener, and often has cuttings of this, and slips of that. Mary across the street didn't want to go to an appointment by herself, so I drove her. From next door, Carrie often comes by to drop off bread or homemade candy. When her family, with many children, first came, we gave them a great big piano that we really didn't want any more, and all the men in the neighborhood got together to move it. Peggy is teaching their eldest daughter to sew, while Tami is teaching their youngest daughters to quilt.
I lived here for years without having much to do with my neighbors. We were on good terms, and we knew people's name, but we only got together once a year because we had to do something about the road, which we hold in common and have to maintain ourselves. Ever since Peggy and Tami, then Mary and I started quilting together once a week, something wonderful has happened. We trade fabric and ideas and have a wonderful time talking about everything under the sun! The additional gifting just seemed to happen of its own accord, but it really nurtures us all, and gets greater with time.
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