I have had a few collections and like IL I knew when the time was over and I never got carried away. From my teapot collection I have one and from my dolls I have 3. I let everyone know I am done collecting so no gifts. Actually we have stopped gift giving with most people. The older I gt the more cleaner and lighter I like my space and I also have realized it is so much easier to clean when shit isn't everywhere. My 3rd MIL was a wonderful person but a hoarder. She wanted while she went on a week trip for us to replace her bedroom floor. So we cleaned the room and kept what my DH knew was important, trashed a bunch of shit and gave her a new floor, and matching bedspread, curtains, sheets, lamp etc something she had never had before. When she got home she was speechless. Probably because she expected a new floor only and wondered where all her crap went. However, she kept that room clean until she died. Without me our house would be a disaster. My DH would never put stuff away. I limit his junk to his office, garage and shed. However, he has noted that it is nice to have a home that you can invite someone over at any time and need not worry about the house. When people keep collecting in spite of having too much junk it is really sad.