30 Nov News from Experienced Goods: December 2023

by Jennie Reichman

I recently took myself on a mini adventure, driving the three and a half hours up to North Hero, Vermont to attend a memorial for a friend who died too young and under unfortunate circumstances.  Despite the sad reason for the trip, I enjoyed traveling to a part of our state where I’d never been, venturing north of Burlington into a region of farms, open spaces, expanses of water and small towns.  At this time of year, with the leaves off the trees and fields fallow and dry, wide vistas open up and the hills undulate into the distance; I felt small in my Subaru as I motored along through the countryside. I thought about the lives of people living so rurally, that they probably depend on each other more, maybe cultivating neighborliness, exchanges of goods and skills, offering help where it’s needed and visiting each other to stay connected.  It was humbling in a way to get a taste of life in this sparsely populated part of the state; I take for granted the nearness of grocery stores and services, Brattleboro’s busy downtown, and the proximity to more urban settings with all manner of shopping and entertainment offerings.

The memorial was similarly rustic and low key, a dozen or so of us gathering outside around a bonfire, enjoying food and hot drinks, toasting marshmallows, telling funny and heartfelt stories about our departed friend.  This was a place he loved for its remoteness and challenges.  It showed up in his art and embraced his quirky and visionary personality.  My thoughts on the drive home the next day turned to the many people we see every day at Experienced Goods who have devoted their lives to living authentically, artists, innovators, folks living simply and off the grid in an effort to minimize their impact on the planet.  Thrifts stores, and Experienced Goods in particular, are ground zero for all of us who don’t follow a conventional path, a place to not only buy great stuff for very little money, but to connect with like-minded people and touch in with community. 

As we head into the holidays and also the darkest time of the year, the light created by community seems particularly important.  News of the world is harsh and overwhelming; hope feels like it is under assault.  So, we walk into Experienced Goods and see people we know, we chat and laugh and maybe buy wonderful and unusual gifts for our loved ones, or treat ourselves to a pretty sweater or a book or a piece of art.  Without this community, Experienced Goods would not exist, Brattleboro Area Hospice would not exist.  Thank you to everyone who supports our store and the organization in so many ways, and to the Brattleboro community for helping to make our first year in the new location a resounding success.  As a further thank you, during Holly Days in Brattleboro on Friday and Saturday, December 1st and 2nd, all purchases at Experienced Goods will be 10% off, and the store will be open until 6 pm both days.  Stay warm in body and heart, reach out to neighbors and those in need, and may this be a time of comfort, joy and peace for all.