It’s a fact these days that a multitude of people are really into hitting garage sales on a Saturday or Sunday or both. When to admit when one is addicted to garage sales, hopefully, never arises because there’s almost nothing too crazy about hitting them. They can be a way of getting the things one needs but also finding the things that one really wants.

There’s a big difference between needing and wanting something, and garage sales are superb at helping people address that second part (wanting). Consider that almost nobody who’s not in a rock band needs an Ibanez electric guitar, but it’s a fact that almost every man or boy at one time or another has wanted something like that guitar, if only to stand in front of the mirror and preen while pretending to play.

This is where things get even funnier, because it’s usually the case that the toys that men and boys gather about them are only separated by their cost. For example, about every four years men all around the country convince themselves that they, too, can be Olympic downhill skiers. That’s when they hit garage sales looking for alpine skiing equipment to satisfy that lust for a gold medal.

Still in all, at least those men were looking at getting into an outdoor activity that consisted of more than sitting on a lawn chair, with a beer, and holding the hose while sprinkling the grass under a big lawn umbrella. Truthfully, it was probably worth the money spent on that skiing equipment just to get the guy up off the couch and out at some garage sale, right?

This is where the singular beauty and attraction of a garage sale holds the most sway; because one of them can be held or searched for just about any time, but especially during the summer. And their really doesn’t need to be a great reason to do so. However, if the need to make a bit of cash is important, consider holding one and cleaning out the basement of all that junk, like skiing equipment, for instance.

The winter months also don’t need to be an impediment to garage sales. Open the garage, plug-in a portable space heater and set up a few tables and you’re on your way. And it’s even better in the winter when you’re out looking for other garages holding a bunch of junk from other people. Driving around all day on Saturday and Sunday seems to attract many people, for some reason.

It’s almost a sure bet that many more anthropologists and sociologists then care to admit are scratching their heads even as we discuss this issue over the fact that this country seems to be absolutely crazy about garage sales. They, however, have never experienced the joy of finding an obscure record album by that Greek guy who was so good at playing the Pan flute, now have they?