I’m trying to catch up on that pinky swear I made earlier this summer and get my writing back on track.
I had the best intentions of writing during my recent girl’s road trip to Brimfield, Massachusetts, but, well, there was a lake, there was shopping at the Brimfield Flea Market, and there was, of course, great conversation, which you may or may not want to classify as girl talk.
I love road trips. I love traveling with my girlfriends. I love talking with my girlfriends.
Don’t get me wrong, my husband is my number one travel partner and confident, but there is something about traveling with women and talking with your girlfriends that is different.
First, we stop whenever and wherever we want. If we get lost or take a longer route (code for wrong turn), there is no stress or judgment. We just enjoy the scenery and we laugh about it. Even if that wrong turn costs you a trip to White Castle.
We can jump from subject to subject, after all, our multi-tasking skills extend beyond juggling deadlines and getting a project across a finish line.
What’s this delight in a flea market? I’ve loved fleas since I first went to Paris and discovered my first, the Vanves Flea. There’s nothing like trying to work a deal on an item in broken French. I am so very grateful for the patience and humor that those vendors extended to me.
Brimfield came about naturally after two years of lockdown from Covid. As the oldest flea in America, it seemed logical to pay homage to it since the flea at Chartreuse & Co. and Sweet Clover Barn kept me sane during Covid. Throughout those long months, when going to the grocery store seemed like a potential death sentence, the flea market somehow felt safe.
The third Sunday morning of the month routine was to mask up, drive to a local flea market, be there right as it opened, and spend 45 precious minutes wandering the outside stalls and running through the barn before the crowds arrived, all in the company of a good friend.
So when the idea to go to Brimfield came up it was a no-brainer that we would hit the road. Last year she drove, this year it was my turn. We added another friend this year and decided to try lake life in NW Massachusetts. It did not disappoint.
I can’t speak highly enough about finding a good group of women to travel with. It’s important to make sure that you are compatible and that your travel styles mesh. Some tips on how to feel that out with your friends:
- Schedule. Ask them about what their daily schedule looks like, are they early birds or enjoy staying up late? Does the idea of a 5:00 am wake-up call put them over the edge or do your eyes start to feel heavy at 8:00 pm?
- Packing, be up front about what your expectations are in regards to luggage. If you plan to take public transportation, or if car space is limited, packing like you’re a rockstar with multiple daily costume stages might not work for the group.
- Planning. Do a planning session or two before you travel together, have an open and honest conversation. It’s okay if you’re not destined to be travel buddies, there’s lots of other ways to spend quality time together.
Bottom line, it’s always better to over communicate expectations than under communicate. Know what your needs are and don’t be afraid to ask for them, your friends will understand.
If you liked to see some of the treasures that came home from Brimfield come see me at – Chartreuse & Company this September, where I’m hosting a pop-up with my All The Farms Frederick, BTW she’s also one great road-trip partner.