I could start a...
By Amber
@AmbiePam (93793)
United States
October 18, 2010 7:00pm CST
What could you start? I could start a library. I actually did when I was in elemenatary school. I went to a very small school. They didn't have a lot of money, so they didn't have a library. I read like you wouldn't believe. I was really shy, so my head was buried in a book most often. They wanted to start a library, and I knew the principal. I volunteered my books. They paid me 10 cents per book, which was fine with me because I wanted to give them to them for free. I believe I ended up giving them 325 books. I was in fifth grade. I had saved books from years before (anyone remember Baby Sitters Club and Nancy Drew?), so I had books for first graders, but also books for 8th graders (at the time the school only went to 8th grade). I did one of my book reports on personality disorders, so like I said, there was something for older kids too. For that small of a school, 325 books was a lot. And I remember feeling so good when I saw my friend reading one of those books one day. She hated reading. But when I saw that she had checked out a book that used to be mine...I just felt happiness. Reading opened up different worlds for me. And I wanted that for her too.
Do you have so much of something you could start your own store? Jillhill could start a craft store I bet. Not for materials, but all of her good work. She's really talented. Do you have so many pets that you could start a pet daycare? Are you so good at fixing cars that you could start a mechanics garage? Or could you start a library? I'm older now, so I've got a lot of books in storage. They won't all fit in my bookcase. 
10 people like this
25 responses
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
19 Oct 10
LOL--I'm like you AmbiePam...I have so many books it's not funny...My bookcases are crammed full, I have piles of books in my bedroom, when I got my new bed two years ago I purposely got a bookcase headboard to shove more books there..although I've kept the middle section free since my cat Kissy likes to snooze there. My so-called linen closet has very few "linens" and even more books stacked there. So can/could I start a library? You betcha. I have all kinds of books too, from science books, novels, history, children's books...heck I still have my old original copy of The Secret Garden my mother gave me as a present as a kid. Oy--Nancy Drew....I sort of regret I gave them away...
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
19 Oct 10
Too bad my mother didn't keep her Nancy Drew's---she had the first printing editions from the 30s--think how much they'd be worth now!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160908)
• United States
19 Oct 10
I could start a used clothing store, a fabric store, a craft supply store, a book store. That is just to name a few things. I guess I could sell "junktiques" as well. Vintage pottery, glass vases. It would just depend on the day. I can really identify with how you enjoyed seeing someone else read your book.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (93793)
• United States
19 Oct 10
The really cool thing is that it was a Christian school. I think I told you that. But not even half of the kids in that school were probably saved. However, they got to read some of my books, and an awful lot were Christian fiction, Christian inspiration...and it exposed them to Jesus in a different way than just having an adult teach them. The parens didn't care either. They were thrilled all the books were clean!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160908)
• United States
19 Oct 10
It is really neat that at a young age you learned how to be a blessing to others. I think kids often have purer motives than adults do.
2 people like this
@donsky14 (5947)
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
Wow that's a really good accomplishment AmbiePam! 
Hmmm...I could start a small boutique. I have an online shop and I have pretty much enough stock to start a small one. I'm actually planning to do that, I just don't have enough money to open up a small store.
Hmmm...I could start a small boutique. I have an online shop and I have pretty much enough stock to start a small one. I'm actually planning to do that, I just don't have enough money to open up a small store. 2 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Oct 10
This is amazing. I responed to a discussion posted by aniquelady and tod her that I had a clear out today and have at lest 100 bo9oks to give to my Praise and Worship group that meet at my Church onTuesday evenings. I realised that others coukd benefit but I have kept back about 50 reference books and the different Bibles that I use.
So I know exacty how you feel - there is joy in giving. I have hundreds more and my home is small so will donate another few hundred to the Cancer Society to sell.
Of course there are some that I wil never part with vountarily
2 people like this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
19 Oct 10
I've always had a dream of opening my own law-firm. But I've also had the dream of starting a scholarship fund. Mainly because I'm pissed off that I never got ANY scholarships (besides federal financial aid) and should I ever be wealthy enough to do so.. (not likely, but hey, a girl can dream), I'd like to dish out 10,000 a year or something to 10 different candidates or something.
Oops, I realized that I missed the point of this discussion. I do have a lot of clothes..Although I wear them for the most part (some of them, and some I don't). So I guess that may or may not work.
2 people like this
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
28 May 12
Personally, I have always wanted to start a store. That has been my dream from the time I have been a little girl, and have even tried opening one, and having my stuff in one from time to time, and it just has never panned out completely yet. I have always wanted to run like a store where the Small Business moms and such can rent a space from me to help pay for the expenses, and sell their stuff their. Something that would be open at least 5-6 days a week and in an area where people would actually Love to come shop.
Since I do my Crocheting, my Jerky Business, and the weight loss stuff etc. I would have enough stuff to take up some of the room, but would Love to give others a chance to share their stuff, and experiences with others as well. I know they have Grants for women here in WA state, so maybe this is something I need to check out more and see if it really could become a reality someday.
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
19 Oct 10
I'm older now, so I've got a lot of books in storage. They won't all fit in my bookcase
LOL thats fabulous! If I'd not gotten rid of a couple 100 books over the past few yrs I'd have to have storage...
As for what could I start? Hhhmm well I could start a library for all the books, movies and CDs we have...my hubby and I could start a home renovation biz..I could start a counseling biz LOL...and my hubby could start a vehicle repair biz too actually....I could start a catering biz too now that I think about it..or better yet a "food truck" which I would actually love to do! LOL
LOL thats fabulous! If I'd not gotten rid of a couple 100 books over the past few yrs I'd have to have storage...
As for what could I start? Hhhmm well I could start a library for all the books, movies and CDs we have...my hubby and I could start a home renovation biz..I could start a counseling biz LOL...and my hubby could start a vehicle repair biz too actually....I could start a catering biz too now that I think about it..or better yet a "food truck" which I would actually love to do! LOL1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
19 Oct 10
Wow, that was just such an awesome story you told there AmbiePam! What a wonderful gesture at such a young age. I can well imagine how good you felt when that little girl was reading your book, so sweet!
Let's see, I could open a miniature craft store, a Christmas store, and a fun junk store. I have so much stuff around here it's crazy. I don't really use the Christmas items too much anymore since it's just me here to see them..no fun in that.
I have all kinds of garage sale items here that I can start a store with too, which reminds me I have to go through it all and either sell it, or dispose of it. I wish I had a house so I could have a garage sale.
And my crafts, oh my. There are so many teeny one's I could easily start a craft store or a dollhouse store. Right now though I'm still making my mini holiday dollhouse candles, and a few other items for dollhouses too.
I use to have tons of books but not no more. I gave 3 huge boxes away to some guy who enjoyed reading alot. I only have a few now. I use to collect the very old vintage one's from the early 1900s...the kids books were amazing and the pictures were fantastic. I had to sell all those since I've been out of work.
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
20 Oct 10
Awww, Thanks AmbiePam for asking but it's not something I talk about too much. No, I've been out of work for over a year and it looks quite hopeless to me. I'm just up in age and they don't want you anymore, regardless of experience. It's a sad world out there right now Ambie, and it's hard for young people too.
I keep looking but feel like a lost puppy dog right now with no where to go. I try to sell on Ebay just for a few extra bucks. I had to take an early retirement but if I told you what I was living on, you'd flip out as it's almost an impossibility. All I can do is hang in there but it's really not easy. I just want to live normal, if there is such a thing. But again, Thanks for asking, that was very sweet of you. 
1 person likes this
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
19 Oct 10
The only thing I can think of that I could start, I have already started, and that's my cleaning business. I don't collect anything and I don't have a lot of books laying around my house so I can't think of a thing that I could start.
I started my business back in 2002 and am still going strong so it was a good thing to start.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93793)
• United States
20 Oct 10
That's absolutely awesome.
I would hire you if you were near me. I don't know what kind of cleaning your business does though. Since my back is messed up, I'm having a really hard time cleaning my kitchen. It's small, but has nooks and crannies I can't seem to get to.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
19 Oct 10
A baby store? LOL
Not that I'd ever do it.. but one time I was daydreaming about having kids just to give them to families that want a child. Obviously I'm good at having babies.. and my kids are all really healthy, and most of them are smart (oldest may have LD or ADHD.. but I swear that came from his father... the children I have with hubby are brilliant.. and I do mean brilliant!). Though I never wanted 5 kids.. and certainly can't afford them. So I was probably meant to be a baby making machine who gave the babies to good homes instead of keeping them for myself. Had I known that 14 years ago that's probably what I would have done... constantly spat out babies to give to someone else. LOL
I know there are a lot of children in this world in need of a good home.. but I know many couples who want to adopt but just can't. It's too expensive and all these hoops to jump through. It's not so difficult if you can just find a mom who's willing to give you her baby.
Anyways.. I could have chosen to give my 1st up for adoption.. considering I was young and single. I chose to keep him. After that my choices were made for me. I knew I couldn't let him see me pregnant and not keep that baby.. he'd never understand. He'd wonder why mommy didn't want the new baby.. and would I someday not want him. Nope, couldn't do that to him. Not that it mattered anyways because each pregnancy after that was while I was with hubby and no reason to give those kids up for adoption. Maybe I couldn't afford them, but at least I wasn't young and single anymore.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93793)
• United States
20 Oct 10
So you would have been a surrogate. I read about women all the time who have babies for couples. One story in particular caught my eye because the woman was married with two kids of her own. But she was willing to have a baby for someone else. She didn't know the couple she had the baby for, so I don't know how hey found her, but I thought it was a pretty cool thing. They paid her health expenses, and in this particular case, they put money in a college fund for her two kid instead of out and out paying for it. I mean that's still payment, it was thousands of dollars, but you get what I mean.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
20 Oct 10
Not really a surrogate.. not somebody else's child injected into me. My own child that I choose to give to another couple. Okay.. saying it like that makes it sound terrible, LOL. That's why I never did it I guess.. I got too attatched to my kids the moment I knew I was having them.. even the ones I wasn't thrilled about having due to the circumstances in my life. I just know that the one skill I seem to have is creating nice looking, healthy, smart babies. Sometimes I think my only purpose in life was to have these kids because they're going to grow up and do something important.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93793)
• United States
21 Oct 10
The married woman...they used her eggs. That would be weird if I was the wife of the couple who were paying the surrogate. I mean how would she feel knowing her husband's sperm and another woman's eggs made a baby that the other woman is now carrying?
@jeannecjm (62)
• Malaysia
19 Oct 10
Amazing, you read 325 books....that's a lot!You certainly love to read:) I only develop a passion to read when I was in my high school until now. Ok, If I want to start anything it would be a makeup store,online bookstore or a chocolate shop.
2 people like this
@Krizz420canada (531)
• Canada
19 Oct 10
If I could start something I think it would be a animal rescue. I love everything about all animals and more then ever they need help. There's nothing worst then seeing some poor animal with its bones shown through its skin and looking for something to eat. If I had the money and space this is what I would love to do for the rest of my life.
2 people like this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
19 Oct 10
You are so right! LOL.....and I could start a stamping or scrapping store too with all the supplies I have....used to be like you though. I had over 800 books...I wanted to someday have my own library. But then I realized it might take forever to get that done so I donated them to our local library's used book store. They resell them there and use the money to buy new books for the library...its a win win situation!
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
20 Oct 10
I could start a library and not just for myself. I have kept all the books all my kids ever read and have most stored. Though there are 2 bookcases in the living room, (one for cookbooks, the other for reading) Plus I have even more books that I may have to store and my son has a bookcase in his room, we have enough for a small library..:)
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
19 Oct 10
hi AmbiePam I can only add to our books here as we have a library ofpaperbacks and hard backs. I have a lot of books given to me that
do not suit my tastes so maybe others would like to read them. I am
going to take them down and add to the shelves as who knows who may
enjoy the ones I did not like.'As for those I like I will keep and
reread them, but I have a lot that I should pass 
on.
on.1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
20 Oct 10
My mother says that I could start a pet care centre because I keep on acquiring more pets but I‘m sure there are people who have more animals than my seven. Funnily enough my dream is to open a cattery one day so I would not mind if that idea came true! I could probably start a market stall selling cat ornaments because a have a lot!
1 person likes this
