I’m not talking about Franklin Mint or Furbies, but things.
I shall use my undiagnosed neurosis to as an example:
1.Pens, the gel kind. I just haveto have them.
2.Pads of paper.
3.Boxes. I have this urge that I cannot control to collect boxes of all shapes and sizes.
4.Paper clips.
5. Those hand held baskets you get at the store. I have only a couple of them, but I complusively need another one. They are so nifty. (and I won’t tell you how I got the few I have because you will lose your respect for me.)
I only have about a dozen, but I have a thing for bandannas. I don’t wear them often at all, but I simply like discovering how many different ones I can find. Most bandannas have wonderful designs, logos, etc. If I weren’t broke, I’d probably hoard all the varieties I could find.
Containers, all sorts and materials. I am unable to throw away cardboard boxes. I have wooden boxes, stone ones, baskets, glass containers of all kinds (especially blue glass) I have containers full of other containers!!!
I love post cards. Lets see… I think I have them from all around the world now. Whenever I feel like I want to go somewhere, I just sit back and look at them…
Pens, big time; I get a glazed look of pure lust in Office Max, trying out every type of the pen they have.
Boxes and containers; including glass jars, margarine tubs, etc., because I’ll NEED one and they’re so handy until they stack up to the point I can’t the one I need.
Straight pins, safety pins and paper clips; 'nuff said.
Buttons; I lablel the “spare button” packages, but never weed through them. Buttons that fall off get tossed into a ceramic jar in the hopes I’ll remember what the hell they belong to when needed. HA! I have buttons for clothes given away years ago.
Twist ties and rubber bands; okay, it’s a sickness.
old toothbrushes; they really are great for cleaning, though they tend to disintegate in muratic acid. (Good for old ornate doorknobs.) But they’re also pretty gross.
Oh, damn, I’m turning into my mother, the Depression Generation PackRat Poster Girl.
I keep, (not collect), those little porcelan animals that come in Red Rose tea. I’ve been doing it for many years, and have them stashed all over the place.
That’s about it.
Peace,
mangeorge
Before I was married I had two bushel baskets full, my wife convinced me to discard them. (The things you do for love)
Six years later I have two large wicker baskets filled with film cans. Some things never change.
Pennies
I drop all pennies into a 5 gallon water bottle every night, I’ve been doing this since 1982. So far the coins are up to the part of the bottle curving toward the neck. I think I’ve got another five years till it’s full.
As a teacher, I involuntarily collect a wide variety of things given as gifts from students. For example (and keep in mind, these are just the ones given as gifts, in addition to my own):
Coffee Mugs. Current count: 14.
Keychains. Just got a new one today. Current count: 11.
Teddy bears. Current count: 9. (6 fluffy)
Post-It pads, especially ones with advertisements for school districts, financial planners, food services, etc. Current count: God only knows, but probably around 15.
Bath oils–and in particular, ones that come in a glass rose, complete with stem. It’s cute, really. Current count: 4.
Pens, pencils, highlighters. Holy cow on a surfboard, I can’t even begin to count. I get them as gifts from everyone…the Census, school districts, unions, gym, students, and countless organizations trying to get us to teach their product as a “unit.” I swear, I get dozens every year.
Now, stuff I actually intended to collect:
Hagen-Renaker siamese cats. I have around 15, but they’re packed up until I can find a curio cabinet to display them in
Breyer model horses, ever since I was a child. I had as many as 200, sold 150 of them for $5,000, and have my 30 favorites, plus a few new ones. I have 5 on display in the apartment.
Ruffian (the racehorse) artifacts. Well, I’m starting to at least. She’s featured in the “retro” section of this month’s “The Blood Horse,” and I’m buying a poster of her.
As I mentioned in the other collections thread–playing cards. I do card magic and manipulations as a hobby, and I’m constantly buying new decks to practice with. (It’s easier and more fun with new cards.) I’ve always got two or three decks sitting around, and I’ve got a couple of shoe boxes completely full of them in the closet.
Unfortunately, I’m now trying to learn the Boomerang Card, so there are cards all over the floor. (I’m much too lazy to actually go around and pick them up.)
I guess I should mention that I actually INTEND to collect dragons (surprise!) and cobalt glass. The holy grail would be a dark blue glass dragon…the search continues!
Lighthouses,
big ones, little ones, pictures, lighthouse fountains, lighthouse windchimes…etc.
I’ve never been to one yet, but I’d love to go see one. Are you going to tell me these are symbolic…phallic symbols…no doubt. learae
Rats. Yes, the rodents. The living kind (though i do have a… medium-sized collection of rat paraphanalia). I swear, they’re addicting. Surely there must be other rat owners here who know I speak the truth…?
She’s featured in the “retro” section of this month’s “The Blood Horse,” and I’m buying a poster of her.
learae