Maybe that’s what’s missing in the niche. Lots of information, but not many actionable sites, like a snowblower-coop database. I know there are big commercial sites doing this with shared cars, but nothing for the smaller stuff.

I’d also be encouraged to read success stories of how people have set up and run cooperative ownership of big-ticket, low-use items like snowblowers, hedge trimmers, lawn mowers, and the like. It just gets ridiculous to see each family on the block using a monstrous, expensive snowblower for an hour and a half, then return it to take up space in the garage.

Stuff requires maintenance, and that’s a cost too. I might dream about co-ownership, but I’d be too shy to figure out how to begin the process with my neighbors without a ‘roadmap.’

Thanks for the interesting question.
Sharon H.

I’d like to learn more about maintaining things. Not only what to do, but also how to do it. (How in the heck do I get to my refrigerator coils to clean them? That thing is heavy! And I think I’ve only read one single blog entry about the benefits of polishing shoes.)

I would also like to learn about different ways to do things. So many times one idea is obvious, but there are lots of options. Yes, instead of going to the movies on Friday night, we can go during a matinee or rent movies or borrow them from the library or our friends. But there are more options, too. If we’re in the mood for a good story, we can read. If we want to socialize, we can play board games. If we want an adrenaline rush, we can ride our bikes on the public streets. If we’re in the mood for beautiful scenery, we can garden or clean the house. So often the only options I see or think of are “buy something” and “buy something cheap.” I’d like more about using things you already have or otherwise worming your way to achieving what you really want from life.

For example, I’d like to learn ways to do without. I love that there have been some trends in this area lately (such as No Impact Man learning to create no impact on the environment, the lady who wore only the same two dresses for a year I think, a book about someone trying to do virtually no shopping, and Wardrobe Refashion about people not buying new clothes). Reading about people trying to do without something is very fun, and trying it yourself can also lead you to discoveries you’d never have had otherwise. I think we can do without a lot more things than we realize, but we never try it until we are forced (like no TV in the dorm) or desperate, and sometimes not even then.