I have been having a bit of clear out and decided to slim down my stock of rucksacks. I mean how many rucksacks does a person need? In fact all of them except my two ‘old faithfuls’ were bought second hand from eBay in the UK or in Shanghai from ex-pats who were leaving. Several of these rucksacks were really really lovely, looked like new and very handsome.
But rucksacks were made to be used not to sit in a metal case in a cupboard for years. So the time had come and I advertised several of them for sale online. The first to go was a massive American rucksack which I bought a few years ago and never used. I was glad when someone wanted that one its main weakness was its 90 litre capacity. Who on earth can carry that much stuff without breaking their back? So when that was bought by an American, I was more than a little relieved. In my mind that was going to be the most difficult to shift.
Then I advertised a fantastic German made rucksack – pretty much like new. Predictably, it was snapped up quickly by a German who when I met him to exchange, smiled at me at the same time as asking for a reduced price. I had already had two other people asking 
after this bag so I knew I could sell for the advertised price, but he smiled at me and he was very good looking so…..
My plan was to list the other rucksacks but, because there was so much interest in the German one, I was able to sell much of the rest of my stock to those who had missed out. Then, when I went to my cupboard to get the rucksacks out of their metal box, I clapped eyes on my old friend – my big 70 litre rucksack. It had been lying there for longer than I could remember unused. So I took the difficult decision to offer it up for sale.
One of those who had missed out on the German bag was very keen when I mentioned my 
own personal Berghaus rucksack. I gave him a price and he agreed. I cleaned it up, did up all the clips and remembered all those trips it had taken me on, all across the UK and Ireland, many European countries, Morocco and Siberia and doubtless more countries I have since forgotten.
I met the French man who was interested in buying it. It turned out he was a student here and was planning a trip around Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos in the holidays. When it came to exchange cash for bag, I couldn’t do it – I couldn’t take the money and offered it to him for free if he promised he would love it as much as I did. That sounded a bit soft – even when I said it!
He was very grateful and quickly accepted my offer. How could I possibly have taken money for it? How could I put a price on one of my most faithful friends. So I gave it away and afterwards I felt very happy.
So the next day when I met a British guy to sell my final rucksack, I also gave it away much to his surprise and delight. This giving away of stuff instead of selling it is great fun. Let’s see what else I’ve got….