Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Would you consider yourself a Flea Market Fanatic or Swap Meet Maniac if in every state you visited you had to seek out one?  

I wouldn’t but I love finding them in my state as well as others that I visit.  The first discovery was in 1976, the year we moved from New Rochelle, NY to Dover, DE and it was Spence’s Bazaar.  As a family we bought and then sold every Tuesday and Friday during the summer.  Buying fresh vegetables, clothing, jewelry, books, and games at a Flea Market was awesome and cheap!  Making money selling at a Flea Market was also awesome, however, my first experience wasn’t so positive.  I sold several cases of 1950’s and ’60’s Barbie Dolls with clothing and accessories to a women for $5.00 – I didn’t know, but she knew that she had ripped me off!

Tayair and I were there in September (here)

In college during the 80’s I discovered Cowtown Flea Market across the Delaware Memorial Bridge in Pilesgrove, New Jersey.  It was the place to go for sneakers, knock off designer bags, tight Sergio Valente and Jordache jeans as well as items you needed for your dorm room before heading back to campus.  As a matter of fact hubby and I had our second date there, shopping then eating sausage sandwiches at the counter was where I fell in love with him, a man after my thrify heart!  I’ve also gone to some fantastic Swap Meets in California, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia.

The Infamous Cowboy Statue

Even while vacationing in Florida we always dedicate one day to visiting Flea Markets and Swap Meets.  Malik looks for watches and has a pretty nice collection, when he was younger it was model cars of which he has a large collection.  Hubby would seek out new ties for work, me shoes and purses, and Tayair T-shirts.  During President Obama’s run in 2008 we must have purchased a dozen different styles of campaign T-Shirts.

In the ’90’s, and during our early years of marriage we would rent space at New Castle Farmers Market.  Selling surplus household items as well as those tight jeans and barely-there club dresses with hubby practically giving those away – lol!  Now as a couple we go for fresh veggies, vitamins and herbal teas, boy how times have changed!

Now it’s Dutch Country Farmers Market in Middletown, where for $15 you can rent 3 parking spaces on the 1st Saturday of the month beginning in April to September.  Last weekend I made almost $200 – “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”!

Are  you a Flea Market Fanatic or Swap Meet Maniac?

 If so, where do you go and what was your best find?

Top Ten Flea Markets in America