I love to hunt for vintage gems
Like sets of crystal sherbet glasses
Or Levi’s with the perfect circumference,
Nestled between mounds of dingy plastic.
Yard sales put beauty within my reach.
Natural fiber clothes, solid wood nightstands,
And handmade paintings are each
For sale at less than the price of big-box brands.
Every item has a story,
Every yard, a resident eager to share.
“I bought this in Colorado; That belonged to my son, Corey.”
My home now shines with precious remnant wares.
Yard sales help me appreciate what already exists
And wards off my urge to buy trendy crap I don’t need.
My style, home decor, and hobbies can all subsist
From the generations of people whom I supersede.
Conclusion
Vintage and second-hand shopping is one of the best ways to learn about a place.
I love perusing the stalls of street markets in foreign countries or roadtripping a few hours from home to scour antique malls for solid oak furniture pieces.
This past weekend I went to The Great Portage Yard Sale in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. This trip has been an annual tradition with my partner’s family for nearly a decade, and I love joining in.
I always make a wish list of items I’m on the look out for, but I also stay open to being enamored by something like a unique piece of pottery.
I’ve been a passionate thrifter since my high school days. As such, my home is dotted with stories, both mine and someone else’s.
This curation, which will take me a lifetime to complete, is an incredibly rewarding way to furnish my home, clothe my body, and deepen my curiosity.
And thrifting is more than a hobby: It’s community. Whether I’m bonding with my partner’s family over piles of someone else’s treasures, or striking up a conversation with a vendor about where a piece came from, thrifting connects me to people and places in a way that no new purchase ever could.
Sometimes the best finds are the conversations and connections I have along the way.
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