Shady areas are desirable for sales and photography. All photos by Paul Goldfinger of Blogfinger.net © May 30, 2015.  This event is sponsored by the OG Chamber of Commerce.

It was ground hog day this Saturday morning at the Giant Flea Market on Ocean Pathway.  It always seems the same, although the weather can vary.  Today was a perfect sunny 72 degree day, so the Pathway was mobbed by 10:00 am.

Despite the familiarity of the scene, if you have been there before, there are thousands of little dramas being played out in conversations, body languages and imagery if you are, like me, a people watcher.   Many of the vendors return year after year.

Faces at the Flea Market . ©  Paul Goldfinger photo.

The battle to find a parking place is predictable. “Why don’t they have a shuttle?” asked two older women who were walking over from Broadway.

We heard of some people who circled and circled and finally drove away.  Others were figuring out how to find their cars later. Ocean Grove seems baffling to a stranger who is trying to find a landmark, such as the ocean.  “Excuse me, but where is the ocean?” Down the side streets we saw several yard sales going on , trying to capitalize on the flow of people.

Faces at the Flea Market ©

As a photographer, my challenge is to find something different to photograph, but most of it seems the same.  So I look at the people and hardly look at anything else. There are all ages at at the flea market.  Many young adults are around, but are they spending money?  Supposedly the millennials save a lot and don’t have much disposable income.

Some people spotted my new BF T shirt and offered some compliments about our site.  They were a variety of ages, and that is satisfying to see.

PAUL DESMOND.     There’s lots of stuff at the flea market, but where is love?