Brocanting in France means that while you are looking for antiques you are able to see many charming villages and can interact with the locals. You spend much time driving around the countryside, drinking coffee in cafes, having a sandwich at a stand up bar, shoot the bull with others over a glass of wine and overall have a very different taste of France.
Brocanting takes your senses on a trip.
The three bloggers who did not know each other and who I barely knew myself, have bought a truck full… and for once in my life I am not exaggerating. When we went to pick up the truck the three of them looked at each other and said, "Corey this is way too big!"
I laughed to myself and said, "You'll see."
Checklist for brocanting in France if you plan to do it big and by yourself:
- Money, you must have a budget and stick to it. A price point.
- Packing: Tape, boxes, bubble, newspaper, ropes, blankets, marking pens…
- Keep an inventory list of what you bought, who you bought it from, and how much it cost.
- A truck, or a very large car, (or a suitcase if you just buy one or two things) and two hands, and a whole lot of umph to get it together and sent out.
- A map, a GPS, and a digital camera to take photos of the things you bought.
- A cell phone.
- Money (again)
- A good attitude because it is stressful.
- A large bag to carry your goods from the brocante to the car.
- A good eye because you must pick amongst an ample harvest. Sturdy shoes: It is not a time to look cute.
No matter how well you plan your adventure you will come across traffic jams, you will get lost, you will have maps that do not make sense, face detours, have headaches, others will buy what you want, you will feel hungry at odd times and not find anywhere to eat, and when you finally arrive at a shop it might be closed. Yes it is a ball of fun, especially when you do it with a group of people… so you must roll with it or get rolled over.
The bottom line is: If you love the brocante, it is worth it. If you don't… well don't do it.
My home has become a warehouse with things that are not mine.
Some of you asked if I was being paid for this. No I am not.
Some of you asked if I was crazy. Yes I am.
Some of you asked if I would do this as a job? Never in a million years.
So why am I doing it? Because I am a brocante junkie….
who is glad for the experience: To be able to brocante with friends who love what I love. Who are willing to learn from one another and trust that it is all going to work out. Even at the expense of lack of sleep, packing at odds hours of the night and having my house looking like a bomb has gone off a few days before Christmas. Every room has boxes in it… even the bathroom.
Sharing a meal amongst the boxes.
We are packing the truck for their container today, and that is an adventure all by itself.
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