Craigslist Withdrawal Syndrome
I am suffering from Craigslist Withdrawal Syndrome. My problem was triggered by buying a motorcycle.
For months I searched Craigslist (and the free advertising throwaways) for a mid-range street cruiser bike.
I started out almost completely ignorant, but after almost wearing out my eyeballs, I pretty much learned all I needed to know about motorbikes from Japan.
As an aside, I have not acquired the (expensive) taste for a Harley Davidson bike. As you may be aware, there’s an intense anti-Harley crowd. They might allege, for example:
“A Harley is a very fast farm tractor.”
“I can’t own a Harley. My IQ is too high, and I don’t have enough tattoos.”
“Perfectly nice people buy Harleys then they turn into A$$#@%$!” (A hard-core motorcycle guy who ride a big bike and runs a bar told me that.)
But enough of that.
I finally purchased a 2004 Honda Shadow Aero. It’s a sweet bike, and I’m loving it.
But the following week I noticed my life was empty. I had no reason to scan Cragslist in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura and ten other California cities.
I felt lost and alone. I had been so focused on finding a great buy, but no what I paid my money, my life shifted from shopping for a motorcycle to actually riding it.
And that’s the problem. I can ride my Honda 750 most any weekend, maybe on Saturday and Sunday. But during the week, after work is done, I no longer need to search Craigslist.
I now enjoy an extra hour or two every day.
For a while I kept checking, mainly to confirm I got a good buy. (And I did.)
(I trust by now my wife is bored and has quit reading this blog post)
Then I started thinking, “If I had a cheap bike here at my work, I could ride every day, then ride my good bike on weekends.”
(Since I live a long way from my work, Monday through Thursday nights I stay near work in a travel trailer.)
So I started shopping for a “rat bike” something long in the tooth and maybe even a little ugly.
Nevermind that right this minute I own three bikes… My 750 cc Aero, my small Honda Rebel 250 cc and a (ratty looking) 1967 Honda CT90. I have promised my wife I’m going to sell the Rebel, SOON.
I can’t possibly buy a rat bike crusier while I still own the CT90.
Does it make sense to check Craigslist? Not a chance. it’s totally stupid. So I am kicking the habit.
Starting tomorrow.