I was pricing some out from Walpole Woodworkers and suffered similar sticker shock. A lot of online searching and I found Mayne Posts for less than half the price. They're a really hard/thick plastic of some sort, with nice details. Unless you're touching the thing, you'd never know it wasn't a wood post. I got the "Signature Plus" model. Install was a snap. It slid right over the old 4x4 post I already had in the ground. a Few screws to secure it and the mailbox and it was good to go. Here is a link that might be useful: Mayne Posts

Kathleenca and Calliope, thanks on the compliments! I'm really liking the sink too. I've gone back and forth trying to decide about having it refinished because of the crack behind where the faucet will mount and some staining in the bowl of the right side. But, I've decided that is just character markings and I think I'll continue living with them, at least for now. The sink is fireclay, not cast iron. If I'm remembering correctly, the fireclay is china. Please let me know if I'm wrong on that :) The markings underneath are ToPeKa and on top it is marked Crane. I'm trying to figure out exactly how old it is so I'll know a little more about my home. The sticker on front said "DuraClay Acid Proof"

I avoided reading this thread because I knew all of you would tell chueh how to do it. But you might enjoy reading about the "creative" ways people around here mount mailboxes. I laugh my head off everytime I see a new way of doing this. One guy down the road must be handyman challenged. He fastened his mailbox to the post with shrink wrap!! That was my laugh of the day, the first time I saw it. We live way out in the boonies. A very deserted area where lots of mailbox bashing also goes on. Some people have lost so many that they no longer permanently fasten them to the post. They are all bungy corded on!!! I still like the shrink wrap better--LOL. Then there is another area where everyone must be related to Red Green. MANY mailboxes are mounted to the post with duct tape. One of these people had a broken post--so it is all mumified with duct tape. Red Green would, most asuredly, be proud of them.

Ohh... if you try to cut it out, obviously, turn off the power to the light and be very careful not to nick the wires.