Collectors

 

Being a collector means spending a lot of your money on things that others may find silly or stupid. But being a collector also means knowing exactly where your money is going. Being a collector means loving what you own. Being a collector means being contempt with yourself and knowing that you are living your life how you want to live it.

Sometimes being a collector can be dangerous, in my case, being a collector means healing your inner child and getting to enjoy life again. It all just depends on what you're collecting.

When I was younger, I collected things that I definitely still have lying around my place. And who knows, maybe someday they will be worth some money to somebody but really I just collect them for the sentimental value that they have to me.

I have an old cigar box that I filled with my pencil collection. Yes, pencils. Any time I would take a field trip with my school or travel around the state with my family, we would not be allowed to get souvenirs because we just did not have the money for them; but pencils are usually very cheap so I could easily convince a teacher to get me one or save up some spare coins to be able to use a few times a year. That and my pressed penny collection. My parents have most of the ones from when I was younger but you best bet I have at least a dozen pennies from every place I could find a crank at. In fact, when I went to Disney last year, I spent upwards of 300 USD getting myself pressed pennies, sure that may seem ridiculous at first but when you think of how I have probably 1000 little memories from that trip now, I couldn't really ask for too much else. (Other than being a billionaire and being able to buy everything I laid my eyes on of course.) 

One of the other things I collected growing up was bracelets. Another thing that we could not get often but I somehow managed to find a way to get them and start a collection. I have the sillybandz that became popular around 2010 with all their fun shapes. But I also have tons of the jelly bands bracelets and the wider silicon bracelets that had sayings on them. Those I keep in an old shoe box and occasionally bring out to stop them from cracking and deteriorating.

That is something else people do not realize about collections. They take a decent bit of work, not only to assemble the collection but also to care for it/maintain it and clean it. You need to make sure things are staying dry that need to be, things that need moisture are getting that oily skin contact, and things that can get cluttered with dust or fade from sun exposure are getting protected and treated. It can take up a lot of precious time that you may otherwise be using to take care of yourself.

It is worth it though. Especially when you think of the alternative, you could be using your money to buy something illegal. Instead, you are buying more plushies to cover your bed in.