I've been re-evaluating things I collect around the house. I'm not a packrat by any means, and am getting tense at all the piles of things in the house. We've donated a lot of things to charity lately, but there still seems to be a multifamily garage sale in the making.
Here's a short list of my collections:
1. Pocketknives – about 100. My dad got me started on that.
2. Old cameras – three, all with family sentimental value. Add to those my three "new" cameras, and it's beginning to get silly. I'll have to share a photo of my cameras one of these days.
3. Cardboard boxes – 20. We're not even moving any time soon.
4. Old Macintosh computers – 4, one of which works semi-OK.
5. Baskets – about 50. Most belong to my wife, although I admit to having one shaped like a boat.
6. Old boats – one, but isn't that enough? My grandfather's 1937 mahogany boat will one day see the water, in the meantime its collecting neglect and dust. Poor old girl.
7. Children's toys – 987. I know it's not about toys; try telling that to the grandparents. They've given the Cutlet enough to make that giraffe from Toys R Us jealous.
8. Old watches – 4. After getting a new one for my 30th birthday, a nice one, I vowed to get rid of the ones I no longer wear. Has that happened yet? No.
9. T-shirts – 800. OK, not really that many. Just seems I collect a lot of tees. Here in Texas our summer is roughly nine months long, and you never know what months are going to qualify. It was 74 degrees here yesterday, now it's about 30 just before 4 p.m. I love them, and continue to pick them up on travels or on sale tables wherever I go. I mess up enough of them each year doing home-improvement projects that I need a constant supply.
10. Reasons for living – too many to count. Really, if you're going to collect anything, make this top your list. If you doubt you have any, I whole-heartedly beg to differ. No matter who you are, you're special in some way. Don't forget that!
I also collect blog comments. So far, since moving to this address in August, I've gotten 1,994 comments of wisdom from real-live people and real-live spam computers. By the way, this entry is No. 301, if anyone is counting. I'm not, but Movable Type is (thanks, MT!).
And on that note, I need to herd my collection of dust bunnies that is colonizing the space below our bed. They multiply as quickly as the real animals do! Happy week, friends and neighbors.
Happy week to you, too, T-Bone.
As for myself, I collect quotations and junk; I can't throw anything away.
As a young 'un I once collected any & everything Def Leppard-related. I still have a HUGE Lep collection sitting in boxes at my parents house; probably worth about $1000.
What you got for old Mac's? I am a sucker for computer parts!
Dew
My house is littered with the remains of collecting. Comic Books - over 3000, GI Joes - somewhere around 50, Kiss merchandise and memorablia - a bunch, Comic book related toys - alot.
Sigh...at the time they were fun and interesting...but in the end, they're only gathering dust and taking space.
Well, you probably could get rid of those 20 boxes. Everything else sounds great to me.
Cas
All that counting has made my head hurt!
-d
Doesn't it seem like the more you give, the more you have? You said you have been donating to charity. I find that when I do that, I still have so much. What a wonderful spot to be in, though I wish it was all really organized. :)
I'm so jealous of your comments, you whore! Mine have dropped off the face of the earth! I've been abandoned!!! Sniffle, sniffle....
And ya know what? Anything you toss or sell in a garage sale, will the very item you need next week for some crazy reason.
A 1937 mahagony boat? Oh man. I love old stuff.
Just let me know anytime you need your big sis to come down and help you guys de-clutter...
I've done it for friends AND family...
It's always easier when you don't have to do it yourself... :)
Did you really count the 987 toys? I had to ask.
Hey, I just got my first spam comment a few weeks ago. Those things are really strange...
And I have about 100 t-shirts. I got a whole bunch of free ones when I went to college, and they definitely breed in my dresser drawers.
Ha- Joseph collects pocket knives,too. I don't collect anything, on purpose, anyway. I tried to kick that habit a few years ago, after it took me three pickup loads and a full-sized U-haul to move a one-bedroom apartment. After that, I gave away just about everything I owned, except for furniture. Actually, some of that, too. I ended up somewhat regretting the abandon I did it with, but it sure was nice to look upon my clean closets.
Agree with what you said here T Bone.
I had to search my archives to find this post of mine from long ago about "Customer service in Jamaica!"
Sorry, don't know why the link isn't working and I realize that I put this comment in the wrong place! (No, I'm not drinking!)