You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take, but sometimes it’s OK to passSaturday was the day for the annual Luverne city-wide rummage sale, and residents and town visitors braved rainy weather to comb the streets and alleys in search of treasures.I wasn’t among them.It’s not that I don’t appreciate a good deal (with my Dutch heritage, I’m as frugal as they come). I’m just not a good competitive shopper.I’m far too polite to leap in front of others to get what I want. The real cut-throat rummager will actually rip items from fellow shoppers’ hands if it’s a hot enough deal.I’m also too polite to come and go quickly from one location to another.Skilled rummagers are able to scan a garage in 30 seconds and know if it’s worth digging deeper.I, on the other hand, feel obligated to linger. In this town, chances are pretty good that the rummage hosts are people I know. To arrive, scan the joint and leave seems snotty to me. It would imply their rummage items aren’t worth my effort.The whole process is too emotionally taxing for me.It’s also emotionally taxing for me to go through the effort of running around town all the while wondering what bargains I’m missing.If there’s truly a treasure for my family out there, what if someone else gets it first? Or what if I overlook a location altogether? It’s stressful.To get the good deals on the city-wide rummage, you have to start at dawn. They advertise a 7 a.m. start, but skilled bargain seekers know the best deals go long before that.If I’m not out there among them cruising the streets at 5 a.m., I spend the rest of the day with the sinking feeling that if I’d just gotten up earlier, I would have found the perfect treasure.I’m definitely not a morning person.So I just don’t rummage at all, as a rule.People like to quote hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, who once said, "You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take." But sometimes I subscribe to the theory that you’re better off not taking the shot at all in order to avoid the anxiety of unknown possible outcomes.In the case of the city-wide rummage, I’ll pass, thanks.DISCLAIMER: This column is in no way intended to undermine the efforts of enthusiastic rummagers who truly enjoy the sport. It may, in fact, be a subconscious symptom of the author’s deep-seated envy of those with the courage and ambition to join the throngs on All City Rummage Day.I hope everyone found their priceless treasures, and I hope those manning the garage cash registers made profits worth their while.