Yesterday I telephoned Progressive about my auto insurance. As good as Progressive is, they are obnoxious in that they have to write a new policy whenever I move out of state– something I do with some regularity. I have to call them and tell them that they already have the answer to all the questions they’re asking me so they can give me a quote and I can give them a credit card number. Then I don’t have to talk to them again until I move.

A man answered, I explained what I needed, and he welcomed me to Colorado. “I’m in colorado too!” he said with great excitement. Uhh, right, whatever. Last time I talked a Progressive person, she was in Cleveland, Ohio. I think. Anyway, he had to transfer me to someone authorized to sell a new policy. The woman who answered the phone ascertained what I needed, then said, “Oh!” “Oh?” “I live next door to you!” The likelihood of this seems very low. But it turns out, she’s Marsha, the woman who lives downstairs in the other building…

And that seems even weirder. I guess you can’t sell auto insurance door to door anymore?