I've been "down in the back" for two weeks, but today I finally woke up and feel MUCH better.  As I'm better, my wife and I are going to go ahead and travel to the farm tonight when she gets off work.  It's on the way out of town so I got up this morning and took her to work at 7:00.  On the way home I was listening to the local AM radio program where people sell stuff similar to the EE here.  

First guy I listened to was selling a NIB pair of $255 Red Wing boots--in my size--for $100.  Turns out his union contract forces the company to give everyone a new pair every nine months and he works on a fork truck indoors so his current two y/o pair is doing fine.  He decided to turn them into cash.  

They happened to be EXACTLY my size--10E, so I left with them, $95 dollars lighter, but I needed a new pair anyway.  

As I'm leaving another guy comes on with a dehumidifier for sale.  Like new, $60.  I drive over there, find out it's a Crosley (good brand) and I leave with it for $50.  I'll need one next Spring (needed it this Spring but didn't want to spring for a new one), so now I'm all set, for about 1/3 of retail.  

Must be living right.  

Quoted: <snip> The highlighted part disturbs me a lot, a whole lot.

No one is more harsh in their attitude toward most unions than me--and that kind of crap is just one small reason why.  He gets the boots whether I buy them from him or not, so I guess there's no harm in cashing in.  Feels odd, I do admit, as though I "stole" something--even though I didn't.