You have to be brave to take me out to lunch
February 12, 2008 
Like other people who try to live a sustainable lifestyle, I'm trying to rethink everything I do. Since plastic can only be recycled once, recycling is best considered as a last resort. Not taking something in the first place or reusing something we already have is much better. So today, when Cameo asked me out to lunch after class, I hurriedly stuffed my plastic-fork-to-go into my pocket along with my little plastic box with chopsticks and spoon that I was given.
(So far the need to be brave hasn't arisen.)
Driving to the restaurant, my cell phone rang and while trying to get it out of my pocket, I dropped the plastic box and it spilled its contents. So it went back into my pocket to be added to the evening once-a-day-wash. Fortunately, the restaurant had washable cutlery so I didn't need to feel bad about not being able to use my take-along supply.
Then it happened.
While we were eating, I saw a plastic bucket near the entrance to the kitchen. Those who attend my classes and have been in the center will understand my interest in plastic buckets. I allow very little water to go to waste. I reuse water from washing the dishes, catch the cold water while waiting for the hot, have a little bowl to catch the water from washing my hands in the bathroom sink and empty the bowl into the bucket, put the dishpan under the dripping faucet when the temperature drops so low the pipes could freeze, and do anything else I can think of to conserve water.
My problem is I have just one bucket, so I've been thinking of going to Goodwill to try to get a used one.
Now, while sitting in the restaurant, I saw "my bucket." (Craving does pop up at the strangest times.) My bucket was the perfect size and looked very sturdy. It was one of those five gallon ones that are used so much in the food industry. Then, I spotted another one. I was in bucket heaven!! Where there were two, there surely were more. I told Cameo about the buckets, trying to see if I would be brave (here it is) enough to ask the owner if she had any more buckets...any extra buckets.
Cameo seized the moment and asked the owner if she had any unused buckets. Understandably the owner was a bit confused about what we wanted but as soon as she understood, she went to look. Then she came back carrying a lovely bucket that even had a lid!
Ah, the simple pleasures of life as a Buddhist nun.
Other people in the restaurant were leaving with small take-home containers of leftovers. I walked out with a five-gallon bucket. White with red lettering. Very obvious.
It's a good thing Cameo is a brave woman or she'd probably never ask me out again for lunch...or anywhere else that might have buckets.
Reader Comments (2)
I enjoyed reading this because it reminded me of a South Korean woman who conserved water, like you, but she used it to wash the cat's litter so she could reuse it again and again. After cleaning it, she would dry it in the sun! I don't think anybody could top that, do you?
Wonderful! I'm really impressed.
In the Riot 4 Austerity Yahoo group I'm in, kitty litter is a periodic problem since we're trying to reduce our garbage to 90% of the average. I'll post this the next time it comes up. :-)