I used to collect Coca~Cola Memorabilia. I had enough stuff to fill one whole floor of a house. The value was about $25,000 at the time and that was quite a few years ago. I have not one piece of it now, not one. It all went in the divorce (first wife). I don't even miss it, can't figure out why I even had it, can't find a valid reason for doing it. Times, for me, have changed that much. Maybe I forgot after the stroke, but I can't even remember why I did it in the first place. In my early years, I did not collect. I was taught, "if you aren't going to make good use of it, you don't need it". so how did I get to collecting anyhow?
The only reason that comes to mind, is "just to have it", or "Just to own". Not much of a reason really. I don't collect anything at all now. In different phases of my life, I used to collect Guns, Knives, Belt buckles, Baseball Caps, etc. I used to change cars like changing oil. I have owned over 150 vehicles in my youth. None of them worth much, but I fixed up every one of them, then I lost interest after fixing them. I'm sure there's some kind of mental illness that is attached to all this, but what gets me, is that after the divorce, when I just gave up everything and ended up with my clothes and one old car, I felt better. I actually felt relieved of all the "stuff", all the clutter. Now I just enjoy modding or making things and I have no desire to keep them. Each time I think of keeping something, I ask myself, "what will you use it for?" and I just let it go, as there is no real need for it at all.
Now I wonder why you collectors do what you do? I am Not condemning in any way. I am just very curious how we all got to be collectors of things and why we do it. What does it fulfill in our lives?
I hope you all will take the time to add your input in this.
It is the metal or something that is thought indestructible. If flash lights were all constructed using plastic, it won’t have so many flashaholics. I know people are collecting padlocks either.
Human like strong stuff. That is why movies like Ironman, Spiderman, The Hulk, etc will never die.
You just touched on something really important to me. If all flashlights were plastic, I’d have one or two.
I sometimes wish I lived back in the day when plastic didn’t exist. (For a second anyway)
I see those really old tabletop fans that are all metal and have minimal guards at best, and think to myself, “Man they sure used to make quality stuff!”
I more into deconstruction. I enjoy putting them back together but I just can’t seem to throw things away when they don’t work anymore. For the time spent it’s a pretty inexspensive hobby so “loss” is not as frustrating as “failure” but even so I’m impressed by the success rate of members that sell items. Mostly, I enjoy reading threads by those who try new things and then come up with either an improvement or a way to do what they’ve done with the tools that I have.
I’m careful not to “collect”.
(except experiences. Currently experiencing “Camembert affiné à la truffe” with a good shiraz in 35 degree heat after a swim.)
I’m a gearhead, I want the best bang for buck in my equipment.
But yes, the gear itself is an attraction. I think it goes back to our hunter-gatherer roots.
Also am constantly surprised when wifey does not regard my “valuable possessions”
with the same reverence that I do. I thought that was the whole point - he with the most/best toys wins etc.
Why collect stuff? I guess I do enjoy owning things somewhat. I have a few lights that keeps me happy because it makes possible for me to appreciate nature, trees, greenery and lake not only in the day but also at nightfall.
My wish list now is to stay simple, joyful and connected with the things that really matter. And the heart does know. Deep, soul soothing lessons do abound in Silence.
“We are not owners here, just passing through” - quote from the movie ‘Out of Africa’.
It really comes down to this - the less I own, the lighter my journey.
I just enjoy looking at my shelf, and seeing a dozen (or more) extremely bright lights lined up. While I could argue that they are useful, the most anyone could really need is 2 or 3. Yet I still collect them, can't say I know why. Maybe it goes back to the hunter gatherer times when people had to collect extra food and store it. Who knows.
Short, but to the point. Said in a lot less words than I could have done!
Of course, as with most genetic effects, there is an interaction with the culture/environment inherent in the phenotypic expression of the trait. But underlying that, the ‘root cause’ is a genetic one.
Of course hoarding is a lot different than collecting. Most collectors have their stuff in glass cases, or shelves and the collection is displayed well, neat and tidy and clean. Hoarders are the ones where you can't walk into the house because everything ever brought in the door since 1915 is still sitting in the house. They are considered more of a safety and health hazard. In fact, that's how it got to the "mental illness" state. Health experts saying that anyone living with a hoarder is being hurt by them, health and safety wise and since a hoarder can't stop, it must be a mental illness. I think mental illness experts must be mentally ill, or how would they know what it is? LOL.
Insurance? What's that? I work a minimum wage job and get no benefits at all. I just get to check the work the $25 an hour people with benefits couldn't (or wouldn't) do properly on their own.
Lights, knives and firearms are all tools. I think it is in our nature to collect the things that made us most successful over time.
Our area was occupied by Paleoamericans that used stone tools. Occasionally you will find a very large flint knife or spear point that is totally impracticable for use. They were obviously for collecting and the universal, because we I can!
