Confessions of a Swapaholic-Minyanville

Confessions of a Swapaholic

Ryan Goldberg Jun 12, 2009 12:05 pm


		In a recession, you swap till you drop.

Flores was loquacious and gregarious. Earlier, she had given her name and contact information to the girl who stumbled in with 3 bags. The girl had recently lost her job at a nonprofit and Flores thought she could help.

Flores is 34 and lives in midtown Manhattan, but said she finds herself in Brooklyn regularly for swaps. As it turns out, she's something of a pioneer in the New York swap community. This was her sixth one in June -- and the month was only a week old. She also runs the New York City Potluck group (262 members) and NYC Festivals and Street Fairs (574 members), both on Meetup. “I’m trying to bring some unity back,” she said heartily.

As she told me this, one woman recognized her from the other side of the room. “You’re the Potluck Queen!” the woman called out to Flores. They discussed a recent swap, and then Flores turned back to me. “It’s a very spiritual thing,” she said of swapping. “But I’m not gonna lie. I’ve had to fight for shoes.”

STOCKS
RELATED ARTICLES
ALSO BY...

A few minutes later, another woman arrived with 3 bags. From the first load, she pulled out a red velvet vintage handbag, like a mini-bowling tote, and tossed it onto a heap of clothes next to Flores and me. Flores, her eyes widened with delight, a big smile on her face, wouldn’t have to fight for this one.

“This thing is talking to my soul,” the Potluck Queen said as she placed the bag over her shoulder.

11 of 13 (85%) found this helpful
Rate this article:			(13 Votes)

more FEATURES articles »

Daily Article Index �

tags:

Comments (2)

See All Comments »

Ryan Goldberg

View Exchanges


06-12-2009, 11:58 am
do you know of any in the jersey shore area Read More

Laurie Petersen

View Exchanges


06-13-2009, 9:04 am
Hoboken does a big one every year. I'm just not sure of the timing. As I recall, it's in the fall. Read More


discuss this article and more on the mv exchange

No positions in stocks mentioned.

Get real-time options trading ideas from Steve Smith, veteran options trader and newsletter author, plus let him show you the way to cut risk and boost your returns through the strategic use of options. Click here for a free 14 day trial to OptionSmith by Steve Smith.

The information on this website solely reflects the analysis of or opinion about the performance of securities and financial markets by the writers whose articles appear on the site. The views expressed by the writers are not necessarily the views of Minyanville Media, Inc. or members of its management. Nothing contained on the website is intended to constitute a recommendation or advice addressed to an individual investor or category of investors to purchase, sell or hold any security, or to take any action with respect to the prospective movement of the securities markets or to solicit the purchase or sale of any security. Any investment decisions must be made by the reader either individually or in consultation with his or her investment professional. Minyanville writers and staff may trade or hold positions in securities that are discussed in articles appearing on the website. Writers of articles are required to disclose whether they have a position in any stock or fund discussed in an article, but are not permitted to disclose the size or direction of the position. Nothing on this website is intended to solicit business of any kind for a writer's business or fund. Minyanville management and staff as well as contributing writers will not respond to emails or other communications requesting investment advice.

Copyright 2009 Minyanville Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.