A friend asked today - why do you go to garage sales? Don't you have enough junk?
So on our way to our first garage sale today, hubby and I were discussing these questions; and we cam up with these answers:
1. We get to explore the area. We get to see neighborhoods we have never had reason to drive through before. Several weeks ago we found that block that has I don't know how many free libraries! That was a thrill! And because we found those, we have already been back to give a book/take a book....
2. We have gotten to see some very very interesting houses. In all the ways you can translate "interesting"!
3. We have gotten to "meet" - meaning hear about - some very interesting people.. Whether it is actually hearing about the people, or interpreting our ideas of the people from the things that are being sold
4. We get to walk down memory lane - hey, we have that! We used to have that....my parents had that!
5. And sometimes we actually find things that we want/need/planning to buy! We have been wanting to buy a firepit - waited until the backyard was done - then more discussion about what we wanted in one and how much we wanted to spend - and then a week or so ago we found one in GREAT condition at a garage sale for $5!!!!
6. Last week we found one that was someone cleaning out her antiques. I guess she use to own a store. And there were so many things I "wanted" but I didn't need them or have room for them.....but I did come home with one thing - only because it made me smile!!
7. Today we went to 2 "estate sales" in Pebble Beach. First of all - going to them gets you into this compound for free - and it is a lovely place - whether it is nature or the houses. The first one we went to was a lovely house - filled with lots of art, Asian art, Hawaiian art.....I found 2 placemats that I bought because I have been looking for more placemats (and these were cheaper then the store and in brand new condition) but mostly because they had a photo of Shakespeare & CO on them - a perfect souvenir of our Paris trip! And two brand new Christmas hand towels.....now I did give into a lovely pashmina shawl which I don't need but.....The second one was probably built as a I don't know, a vacation place way way way back before Pebble Beach became the compound it is now. Old, added on. Interesting. We left without buying anything. That was because although they had some things I loved there was nothing that we needed or had room for. And things were oddly priced - an older plant stake they wanted $5 for - about what you would pay for brand new....or more! They had lovely vintage quilts for $60!! BARGAINS! A beautiful Navajo woven wall hanging for $300 - a steal! An iron twin bedstead for ~$200 and a lovely wicker trundle bed for $200. But then they had tchotchkes from Target priced at, or more than their brand new price!
So honestly, it is about the hunt. And no we have never found the publish-worthy finds, but we have found things we enjoy. And we go in with an idea of how much we will spend on things and rarely go above it. It is a rare day garage sale-ing that we spend much more than $20!
