General Forum

I've been a lifelong collector of various things (cards, magazines, stamps, etc.).  I truly think it is some sort of genetic thing because I have always collected one thing or another.  For card collecting, I enjoy sorting, organizing, trading and completing sets and PCs.   My wife thinks it could be a hoarding instinct, although I disagree as everything is well organized and I try to get rid of pieces I don't need.  I sometimes wonder whether all the time I spend doing all this could be better spent doing something more useful for my self, my family or society in general.  I could very easily buy all the cards on my PC wantlist and be done with it, but I enjoy everything that comes with collecting .  I also often wonder what is the end result?  Do I  just enjoy the idea of having it all, or looking through my collection (my PC card are mostly in 9 pocket sheets for viewing purposes).  As others have said, at the end you can't take it with you, and will I look back at my life and wonder what I have to show for all the time I spent collecting?  

My collection is starting to take up more space than my wife prefers, so I've started trying to figure out ways how to streamline.  Unfortunately most of my stuff is not worth much (have very few cards worth over $100), and she would probably just as well throw it out when I pass rather than trying to figure out how to best sell it.  I spend very little money on my collection, mostly I will buy larger lots and sell the stuff I need, and those sales usually make my purchases a net zero cost, so my collecting has never been a money problem, more of a time and storage space issue.

In the end, I justify it by telling myself icollecting helps connect me to my childhood, it helps me destress from the responsibilities of work and family life, and gives me alone time to recharge while listening to music or podcasts.  I always tell my wife there could be a lot worse things I could be spending my time and money doing! 

Destress is the main motivation that I have for my collection.  I enjoy the time that I use to sort, log, trade, and help with the site.  After my sports career ended almost 20 years ago, I needed something to distract my mind so it can shut off for the evening.  Physical movement used to be that outlet, but as I am getting older, this physical movement isn't something that I can sustain.  I set small goals that I can easily obtain to get my mind as ease.  Card collecting is a never-ending task, but having that little goal to reach somehow lets me feel that I accomplished something.

Once my collection needs to be moved to the next owner, I hope my wife and kids can find someone that will appreciate parts of it.  As a trader, I like to get my trade list into the hands of a collector that enjoys it, not really someone who is trying to make a buck.  I have been tossing around an idea to create a list with instructions to help with the task of offloading the collection.  Plus with Sportlots boxes, COMC inventory and breaks that haven't shipped yet, some of my purchased treasures aren't to me yet.  I tend to get wordy, so I wonder if the next person would even read it.  I don't have a lot of value collected, so it may not be worth it to them.  Then again, I won't be around to see what they ultimately do.

There are some very smart and powerful reflections in this thread. Thanks all who have contributed. 

Baseball cards make me happy.

Always have. Always will.