by Craig Willms
I was at the butcher shop the other day waiting for the butcher to put my order together when in walks a guy and his wife. He said "we're picking up a big order that Charlie put together for us." He was chatting up the butcher about this and that as Charlie was digging boxes out of the cooler. He laughed, "well, at least I'll get a couple of good boxes out of the deal." Just then I knew he was a kindred spirit.
I think there's more of us box collectors out there than we thought. There are a bunch of us men who can spot a good box when we see one. Oh yeah, we take a lot of shit from our wives and other people, but in a pinch when a good (appropriate) box is needed we've got it.
I store mine in an upstairs spare bedroom, maybe a few out in the garage too. A decent, well-constructed cardboard box is invaluable. Every so often I'll find myself in a situation where something is being opened and there's this guy who doesn't seem to care about what's being revealed, his interest is the box itself. Sometimes that guy is me.
If you're away from home, at a party, or maybe helping someone with a home improvement project you feel weird asking "Hey, you gonna want that box?" But you're thinking it. Certain boxes are irresistible. If you happen to be helping a buddy install a new toilet you covet his box. Toilet boxes are built, they're super sturdy and have handles built in! It's box nirvana!!!
I really started taking boxes and their utility seriously after I got a Costco membership. Costco has some pretty great boxes. These boxes are usually very study, some have a double-walled construction, and they are often very large. Some have an open top design and those have their own utility. Open top boxes are not long-term storage boxes; they are more like crates. For moving your work along with you as you progress these boxes are awesome. Gardening tools, seedlings, gloves or anything you need, and it makes clean up a snap. Did I mention Costco has some great boxes?
There is a downside to all this box collecting - beside the ridicule. They take up space. I fortunately have a large spare bedroom, with a large walk-in closet. Not everyone has that luxury. True many boxes can be broken down and stored flat. I don't like to do that if it can be helped. It compromises the structural integrity of the box. But we do what we got to do.
Next time you are in a situation where a substantial box is being opened keep an eye out for the guy (it's usually a guy) who is checking out the box instead of the treasure inside. He's there, lurking. Cut him a break. He's doing someone somewhere a service.
