An interesting encounter with a gentleman at W 73rd St. and Broadway.

As we were waiting for the cross lights to change, the gentleman in question was rummaging through a trashcan.

I watched as he extracted a food container with a half-eaten meal of rice and beans, carefully picked out the used condiment wrappers on the rice, and set it down gently on the pavement.

Me (offering some money) : “Excuse me, sir, would you like to buy yourself some lunch?”

Him (smiling): “No, thanks, I don’t use money. I haven’t used money for years — zero dollars.”

After exchanging some pleasantries, we go our separate ways.