Collector Mentality

January 14th, 2018 by

I did a post a long time ago about how a love for something might end up turning into a mental disorder, and how a collection can become a hoard at some point. I was reminded of this recently as I watched reruns of American Pickers on Hulu.

Many people on the show have gone beyond just having a collection of something and into full blown hoarding. The reasonings are varied, but it comes down to some form of mania. The people begin with a few things, then keep adding, eventually expanding to a point where every area of their houses or businesses are crammed with objects. Some people begin renting space to store the accumulation. When those people forget they have something, yet keep adding to the accumulation, those people are hoarding.

It is interesting to watch Mike and Frank dig through the stuff, find something of some value, that valuable item the person forgot they had, and yet when offered good money, the person argues or does not want to let the item go. I admit a little sympathy for the person.

There are items that I have found I had transported along through life and through various moves that I had forgotten I had. As a collector whom has begun downsizing drastically, and getting out of certain collecting areas, it does not surprise me when I open a box, and realize I had forgotten I had something. The discovered object was stored with the intent that it would eventually be displayed, once I had the room to display the item. Up until a few years ago, I had lived in apartments of various sizes. Now that I have a home, and I am downsizing my collections or accumulations, I do have more space to display, except, I do not want clutter.

Some of the found objects are neat. I know why I had purchased them. They were neat, and would look good if properly displayed. Except, then I have to dust them or clean them. That is a major draw back to collecting certain things. If they are displayed, they gather dust, and begin to look drab unless you clean them. I have enough things to clean, furniture, counters, shelves, and then things I have displayed on shelves. Adding to the chore of cleaning is not something I desire at this point.

One of the decluttering sites I have read states that the best way to find out if you need something is to put it in a box, label the box with date, then put the box in the closet. In six months if you pull the box out, and forgotten you own that item, you do not need it. It is time to sell the item or donate the item. This is how I feel with many found items. I did not realize I had it, so I do not need it. The only problem is the joy of rediscovery. Hey, the item was neat when I bought it, it is still neat when I found it.

Many people have some form of collection, whether it is books, records, cards, toys, anything you purchase for a purpose other than utilitarian makes you collector. Even utilitarian items like tools can be a collection. Except it with tools it is better to have something you do not need, rather than need something you do not have. That leads to spending more money, you might not have.

The mentality of a collector is one of constant desire, the joy of looking, then finding. The real heartbreak comes when you have a list of something you have been seeking, and you cross the last item off the list. Now what? Gotta find something else to collect.

Thanks for stopping by.