That One Time I Bought a Gaggle of Geese

Every great side quest starts with a cozy setting.

“We were just going to look…” (Famous last words)

You know, I didn't mean to buy a whole gaggle of geese, but the geese had other plans. Once a month, I usually ask my husband to take me to a different town to go visit my favorite antique mall and indoor flea market. We were just going to "look," and "get out of the house." You know how that goes...two thrift stores, an antique mall, and an indoor flea market later.

There were stacks of DVDs to dig through, items that gave me deeply weird vibes, and yes, an entire gaggle of geese.

A Romcom Town and a Thrifted Challenge - You find the DVDs, I’ll find the chaos.

I love visiting this town. It’s small, quiet, and honestly makes me feel like I’ve wandered into the background of a small-town romcom. My husband loves to go thrifting for movies (he’s building our DVD collection like it’s a blockbuster clearance sale), and we found a lot of great titles. More on that in a future blog.

Now, the antique mall? That’s not his favorite part, but I had a plan. I've been posting TikToks of items at antique malls that give me weird vibes, so I challenged him to point out every bizarre thing he noticed. It worked. The trip was suddenly 10x more fun. I can't wait to share all the strange items that didn't come home with us in plenty of TikTok posts.

But honestly, my favorite part is wandering with zero agenda. I usually prefer to go alone, but there’s something sweet about quietly searching together. While he browsed for movies, I meandered through the aisles looking for decor. That’s when I saw them.

Sitting on a shelf all regal, ceramic, and absolutely unnecessary, was a gaggle of vintage Avon geese measuring spoons and salt and pepper shakers.

Okay But… Did I Need Goose Spoons? - Technically no. Spiritually? Yes.

Now, I know no one actually needs a gaggle of geese in their kitchen drawer. But the attachment was instant.

I spent the rest of that antique mall visit walking around thinking about them. One of my thrifting rules is: I have to know where something will go in my home. If I can’t picture it, I leave it. Well. Let’s just say I knew exactly where those geese were going before I even made it halfway through the store.

I came to the quiet, slightly hilarious realization: I’m collecting goose-themed kitchenware and decor now.

I didn’t plan to find joy in the shape of geese, but here we are.

The Goose as a Gateway to Joy - Ceramic whimsy is self-care, actually.🪿

When I went back for them, I felt genuinely happy to be bringing them home. I wasn’t expecting it. But I find so much joy in the most random things, and I’ve learned to be okay with that. Making an apartment feel like home sometimes means goose measuring spoons on your counter.

Adulthood often pushes us to buy only what’s practical, efficient, and neutral-colored. But life doesn’t have to be beige. It can be joyful. It can be weird. It can be a little goose-shaped. Whimsy is underrated, and honestly? I’ll smile every time I use those spoons.

Side Quest Complete: Goose decor acquired and fully integrated into the main quest.

When the Side Quest Is the Main Plot - We just needed to get out of the house…

Here’s your reminder: joy doesn’t have to be planned. It doesn’t have to be productive. And it definitely doesn’t have to make sense. Sometimes the best side quests are the ones where you’re not trying to be impressive or efficient. You’re just looking around, letting delight find you.

All we wanted was to get out of the house. We came back with a pile of movies, a gaggle of geese, and memories we didn’t know we needed. I didn’t go searching for joy, I made room for it.

Let the Weird and Wonderful Find You - The geese have landed—in my kitchen.

In case you were wondering, the geese are proudly on display in the kitchen and will be used frequently (because I’m a firm believer that thrifted joy should also be functional joy).

I don’t go thrifting or antiquing just for decor, I go to live with these little stories. I go to build a home filled with things that make me laugh, think, and feel.

This wasn’t a life-changing trip. But it was a reminder that sometimes joy shows up when you’re just looking for a fun Saturday. And sometimes that joy looks like a goose. Next time something weird and wonderful finds you, let it.

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Your Side Quest:

Find one item, big or small, that brings you joy for no logical reason. Maybe it’s a mug with a cat in a sweater, a movie you forgot existed, or a ceramic mushroom that demands shelf space. Let yourself love it just because.

Then choose your path:

🪞Option A: Tell me in the comments what your latest “goose” was. Bonus points if it’s as oddly specific as mine.

📸Option B: Snap a photo and tag me @OneBigSideQuest so I can see your side quest.

🧠Option C: Keep it private but let it shape your space. Display it. Use it. Let it make you smile.

Remember: Joy doesn’t have to make sense. It just has to find you.