Bartering vs. Paying it Forward

Just curious as to how many of you have been asked

if you barter for goods or services.

It's not a common question for me,

but I have been asked.

I'm never really quite sure how to respond.

Recently, we've had a couple occurrences that got me to thinking.

I was/am so completely thankful,

I wasn't entirely sure what to think.

In one incident, Mr. LB and I did something for a neighbor 

expecting nothing in return and were "repaid" kindly.

The other is actually the story I would like to share with you.

Mr. LB has a friend who raises bees - lots of bees.

We asked if we could purchase some beeswax from him when it was harvested.
(See about dipping beeswax candles on this link.)

We (Mr. LB) told him about how much $ worth we would like.

It was some time before he said he had some for us.

This is what he had for us when

Mr. LB stopped by after work.

When asked how much we owed him,

his response was, "Awe, don't worry about it.  

I'll be needing some metal work."

He indeed needed some metal work a few weeks later.

Mr. LB was only too glad to deliver.

Maybe some folks would call that bartering,

but I kinda think of it as paying it forward.

We could have easily said that we would prefer to pay him,

but there is a friendship and sense of community when

trading for the unknown.

Maybe it's about trust.

We don't go into things with the mentality of 

I'll offer 18 eggs for a 2"X4", or

I'll work 3 hours for the use of XYZ item.

It seems so much easier to just offer help when needed -

of either goods or labor.

Isn't there an old saying - something to the effect of

it's better to be owed than to owe?

I don't think that means only money.

The other great part of it is the not keeping track.

If you happen to help someone out and don't expect anything in return,

it's very freeing not to have to remember.

The friend above is one who might have gone a year or two before needing

anything done.  Then when it was done would ask how much he owed.

We could then have responded, "Awe, don't worry about it.  

We'll need some beeswax sometime."

See how easy forgetting is:)

This block of beeswax should last me some time.
I am still in complete awe.

Thank you Jeff.

And thank you Love (Mr. LB:).