This topic describes my mother's house... many many "collections": ceramic teapots (70?), turtle figurines (100+), books (thousands), dolls (dozens), bird houses that she painted (about 50), china tea cups (70-80), steins (42!), afghans, 12 complete sets of dishes, 17 artificial Christmas trees and their decorations... I'm sure I'm forgetting something. It's all more important to her than any person.
In the case of the American Pickers (a show we enjoyed until we downsized to basic cable and no longer get the show), they find people who probably didn't have anything as children, so when they were older and had money, they bought all those things, and more.... It is also an age of individuals who learned never to waste anything. You know, the string savers of the world.
Sometimes it's the hunt for items in collections that is the most fun part. I was that way with books for many years. Growing up we had precious few books and eventually I was able to put together a rather large personal library. When we sold our home - with a separate library with floor-to-ceiling oak bookcases, the people who bought the house didn't have any books to speak of and wasn't sure what they would put on the shelves. Now, people don't need/want books. I've donated over half of the books I collected over the years. Most recently, delivered around 500 books to a small community who was starting a library in an old church the town bought for $1.
Many REAL "collections" lost value when everyone was able to look for things on the Internet, but it made searching much easier.
[QUOTE=lessisbest;221450]In the case of the American Pickers (a show we enjoyed until we downsized to basic cable and no longer get the show), they find people who probably didn't have anything as children, so when they were older and had money, they bought all those things, and more.... .[/QUOTE
That describes my husband but do tools count? I collect nothing as I see no value, satisfaction or interest in collecting anything nor do I want anyone to have to deal with my 'stuff' after my demise.
What is interesting is that there is actually no connection to deprivation of "stuff" early in life to hoarding. People with very little go on to hoard. People with lots of stuff go on to hoard. People with moderate amounts go on to hoard.Originally Posted by lessisbest
As I mentioned before, I grew up working poor and in a working poor neighborhood. A close friend of mine (the only other guy to "make it out of" the old neighborhood) is one of the types you describe. He was poor and when he starting making $50,000 a year after college he and his wife would go on lots and lots of shopping sprees. I remember him telling me the wonders of "retail therapy." He buys massive amounts of clothing and toys and gadgets and such.
Obviously, I went the other direction.
I also think there is more nuance to the idea of not wasting things. When we generally think of people who don't waste things we think of people with all the "strings" and such, as you alluded to.
But I think of myself as not wasting much, at least compared to most Americans. Why? Because I don't buy much.
Exactly! The first word in the phrase is reduce - only after that do we reuse and recycle.
People forget about reducing but it's the most effective one.
But recycling gives people permission to buy lots of stuff -- just remember to throw it in the recycle bin!
The last time I visited my mother she reminded me of her valuable Hummel collection that she received after her mother died.
Do NOT just throw it away after she passes!
I told her to give them to my cousins.
Hoping to dodge the Hummel Collection bullet.
She wants you to keep the collection when she passes?
Yes, she does.
But I already have the items I want to remember my G'ma and it was never the Hummels.
There are only about 8 or 10 of them and I never gave them a thought, even when I was living with her.
One of my cousins mentioned them a while back so if I do get stuck with them, I'll give them to her anyway
What emotions got stirred up when she asked you to keep her collection after she passes? In her? In you?Yes, she does.
But I already have the items I want to remember my G'ma and it was never the Hummels.
There are only about 8 or 10 of them and I never gave them a thought, even when I was living with her.
One of my cousins mentioned them a while back so if I do get stuck with them, I'll give them to her anyway
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