Retired Navy, working as a paralegal these last 23 years, father of five, including a Congressional aide and an Army doctor. Proud of all of them, of course.
I've been thrifting for most of my 66 years, and now my youngest son, 28, has caught the bug, himself, so the hobby/pastime has become a family thing.
I have sold a few things that I've found, mostly on Ebay, but for the most part it's just a matter of finding things that I like and think are cool. Keeping things organized and ME off of a "Hoarders" episode is almost a full-time job.
My first stop in most stores is the knicknack shelves; I enjoy collecting small statues of religious deities from around the world, and I've got an alcove in the foyer of my house where I display them. Everything from Egyptian gods and goddesses to Kachinas.
Next it's usually the larger framed stuff. My youngest son is a huge international film buff, and last year I found him an original Japanese poster of one of his favorite classic Japanese films in a beautiful red lacquered frame for $20. He was blown away. Also last year I found what I originally thought was an original poster from a famous 1920s silent Spanish film co-written by Salvador Dali for $12.50. It turned out to be a '60s re-print...and then I found out that the re-prints sell for $150-200. I don't limit my collecting to valuable things, of course; if it's something I want to see on a wall of my house, I'll buy it.
My next stop is one of my favorites, and that's the books. I've had some amazing finds in thrift shop book departments. Once I even found an autographed Bible (the Goodspeed Version from the '30s, signed by the translator) for $6. I've found many other signed books, as well as first editions and just weird and interesting things.
I've been thrifting for most of my 66 years, and now my youngest son, 28, has caught the bug, himself, so the hobby/pastime has become a family thing.
I have sold a few things that I've found, mostly on Ebay, but for the most part it's just a matter of finding things that I like and think are cool. Keeping things organized and ME off of a "Hoarders" episode is almost a full-time job.
My first stop in most stores is the knicknack shelves; I enjoy collecting small statues of religious deities from around the world, and I've got an alcove in the foyer of my house where I display them. Everything from Egyptian gods and goddesses to Kachinas.
Next it's usually the larger framed stuff. My youngest son is a huge international film buff, and last year I found him an original Japanese poster of one of his favorite classic Japanese films in a beautiful red lacquered frame for $20. He was blown away. Also last year I found what I originally thought was an original poster from a famous 1920s silent Spanish film co-written by Salvador Dali for $12.50. It turned out to be a '60s re-print...and then I found out that the re-prints sell for $150-200. I don't limit my collecting to valuable things, of course; if it's something I want to see on a wall of my house, I'll buy it.
My next stop is one of my favorites, and that's the books. I've had some amazing finds in thrift shop book departments. Once I even found an autographed Bible (the Goodspeed Version from the '30s, signed by the translator) for $6. I've found many other signed books, as well as first editions and just weird and interesting things.
Arizona
