I love to garage sale. Judge me if you would like, but I won’t stop doing it.
Antique shopping, thrift store shopping, even an occasional grabbing something amazing a neighbor is throwing away at the curb – it is not beneath me.
My husband hates it. I couldn’t pay him enough to go to a garage sale.
The kicker is, I rarely buy anything, but the hunt is so exciting to me. What I might discover … what piece of history I might unveil … what cool trinket I can examine … it all makes me happy. I like looking at what people have and what they are throwing away so to speak. Perhaps it’s because I am a naturally curious person. Or perhaps it’s because somewhere in the back of my mind I am convinced one day I am going to stumble upon something I just can’t live without. Maybe a Monet. Maybe a real gold coin. Who knows. And that’s what keeps me going back for more. When I was little, my dad used to take me to garage sales on Saturday mornings with him. So I’m sure somewhere in the back of my mind, or the side of my heart, going to a garage sale reminds me of him. Reminds me of our time together on those hot summer days drinking a slushy and hopping from yard sale to yard sale. I now make my own kids go with me. They find the experience to be lukewarm. I don’t have much spare time as I used to, but I still try to hit two or three garage sales a year. And spend at least one Saturday a year going vintage clothing shopping and perusing through an antique store. Prime example – check out these 2 finds I recently picked up. From a curb. In front of my neighbors home, waiting for the trash pick-up. I figure the 2 wake boards my boys will use this summer at the beach. They are in perfect condition. And the lanterns I discovered by seeing the tag on the bottom, well, they are from Pottery Barn and are very expensive. I washed them out and besides the rust – which gives them character – they are also perfect. As I was walking down the street with the goodies, I hear my mom say, “This is so embarrassing.” Please. It’s not embarrassing. It’s a score! I am thrilled with my finds. Like I said, the only thing beneath me is the pavement. And I hope it always leads me back to a garage sale or special curbside find!
I have garbage picked some fine items, and left some fine items out to be garbage picked because they no longer fit my needs~! I miss my neighbor who would help me spot things set out at the curb and then help me haul them home. I’ve often called friends when I’ve seen something on the curb they could use, too! I love a good garage sale and auction. There is ALWAYS a story to be found. 🙂
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Oh my gosh ….i saw the coolest desk on the side of the road the other day ….i slowed down, but then looked at my watch and i was running late for work, so i left it ….went back after work and it was gone!! next time! i wished you lived closer so we could garage sale together carrie!