It’s Collecting Time – The Committed Collector

With the weekend here, committed collectors like I am might be thinking, “Forget Miller time. It’s collecting time.”

We’re likely to be looking forward to spending part of our Saturday or Sunday at garage sales or on antiquing jaunts, and even devoting the entire weekend at conventions where we can find all kinds of treasures.

Summer weekends are obviously times when recreational activities are popular, so they provide an easy answer to the question “When do collectors collect?” which is the next in the set of journalist’s questions I’m considering.

Online hunting and gathering happens before and after work and during breaks and all evening long for some devotees, so those are rather obvious responses, too. However, my musings have conjured up memories of the times in life (rather than the times of day) when I’ve been most likely to work on my collections.

Likewise, I’ve seen friends pursue their own collections when they’ve gone through different phases in life, so here’s a list of times when we avid collectors are most likely hitting the shops and building our treasure troves.

1. When we have more free time.

When we’re off for a holiday or we’ve got some vacation time, we dedicated collectors will probably spend some (or all) of it in search of pieces for our collections.

When graduates are able to work one full-time job instead of three part-time ones, they might spend some of their free time shopping. Maybe they’re now able to stop into the local vintage vinyl shop or home accessories chain more often.

When empty nesters find they have empty hours, too, they might go for Sunday drives and check out the antiques shops in neighboring small towns, and retirees are usually ready to spend their time doing things they enjoy—like traveling and going to collectors’ conventions, which often feature a number of ways to add to a collection.

2. When we have more money.

Those college grads in their first jobs might be able to use some of their newfound “wealth” to buy choice pieces for their Barbie or Star Wars collections. Established adults are also often at the time in their lives when they can pursue the finer things, so they might be able to buy things like fine art, estate jewelry, or classic cars.

That also means when collectors receive a windfall of any amount, they’re likely to pick up better pieces that they weren’t able to before. Receiving a birthday check or a holiday gift card or, when you’re really lucky, an inheritance can all be occasions to add to a collection.

3. When we move into a new place.

Because collecting takes space—and often lots of it—moving into a larger place is frequently the time when collectors can build their collections. Going from an apartment to a starter home and then to a forever home are typical times when collectors can choose space where they’ll display their collections and then add to them.

Ironically, just moving into a different place, even a smaller one, can be a time when collectors plan to acquire or keep just the right pieces for their collections. When we’re faced with a blank canvas and motivation to show off our treasures just right, we often do just that.

4. When we meet other collectors

Sometimes, collectors feel like they’re all alone in their pursuits because their family and friends just don’t understand what the attraction is to fishing lures or Halloween decorations or bone china teacups. When they finally meet another collector who shares their passion and their willingness to hit the road and engage in the chase, they’re excited to continue their pursuits.

Interestingly, your collecting comrades don’t have to collect what you collect to inspire renewed enthusiasm; another like-minded person with an appreciation for material culture is all it takes to make any time collecting time.

5. When we discover new venues.

Just as finding a kindred spirit in another collector, finding a new source for our favorite collectibles means having many opportunities to shop. Whether it’s an online store or an out-of-the way flea market, collectors often take the time to make return trips when they find places with more than they can buy with one week’s spending money. That means next weekend is collecting time, too.

6. When we discover other collectibles.

Probably the most “dangerous” occasion to collect is after we realize there are other things—different things, better things, more things, many more things—we can collect.

Retailers know all about this and tempt us at the turn of every season or whenever there’s a holiday coming up. When the stores start stocking their shelves, it’s time either to avoid the temptations or give in to them wholeheartedly.

This one little discovery—that there’s a lot more that can be added to our collections—can overtake our evenings with shopping online, reduce our Saturdays to going from one garage sale to another, and limit our Sundays to wandering around yet another flea market.

When a baseball card collector comes across vintage team jerseys, for instance—or when a collector of stamps also begins to notice antique postcards—or when a china collector realizes she needs linens to set a proper table—and crystal and silver, too—that’s when collecting can get really exciting!

That’s also why we need The Collectors Museum, where avid collectors (like yours truly) can display their extensive collections. Then we could spend more time admiring the treasures we’ve already amassed.

Until then, enjoy the weekend—and your time collecting.

Patti
The Committed Collector

Please leave a comment if you’ve spent way too much time collecting, and let us know what kinds of collectibles you devote your spare time to.