Reply #18: Thanks Amazona! [View All]

[4_Legs_Good]

Wow! Thank you for the great reply...

I think the nature of our collections might be slightly different, though, but many of your points still apply.

Most of the stuff that I collect I never plan to part with, and a lot of it is more mundane than your cool stuff. I guess I can break it into four main categories.

1. Entertainment stuff - books, dvds, audiobooks (I have a long commute), music, video games

2. Hobby support stuff - Software (for example, dvd editing software), animation books, computer upgrades to run video games, dvd editing software, etc.

3. "Unique" collectables - Animation cels, prints, unique items relating to films, out of print books, out of print films

4. Genuine hobby collectable stuffs - Stuff related to the JFK assassination, musical bands, political stuff, etc.

Another main expenditure is project support - Like I just installed a solar panel/battery system to power lights in my shed - $375. Probably didn't need to be done, but I got it stuck in my head that it was a good idea, and just *HAD* to do it. I spend a lot on gardening, and countless other home projects.

And then I also get stupid stuff in my head - like all of a sudden I need some ancient roman coins, just because they're so damned cool, and wouldn't it be neat to clean them and that kinda thing. Another good one is during the leadup to the Iraq conquest, I was SICK of any kind of mainstream media, so I *HAD* to get a shortwave radio so that I could try to get RFPI and any kinda of other media from elsewhere in the world. It was a good idea, but you know, with some clever internet browsing, I coulda got just about anything I wanted streaming, plus in order to really get good reception, I think you have to go all out. In the end I spent maybe $450 on a system that is now not being used.

Lastly, in the vein of preservation and relating to out of print stuff, I often will need to acquire an old Laser Disc of a film (or the like) of something that's not receiving proper treatment in DVD release (e.g. Some Gilliam movies recieved great treatment by Criterion in LD format, but have been skunked in DVD format (Fisher King, Baron Munchausen). And my biggest projects are with films that have completely gotten the shaft and I try to reconstitute a real special edition DVD from stuff that *should* have been on a true collector's DVD. This can be VERY expensive, because I have to track down tons of stuff, and spend a ton of time bringing everything together. Kinda a waste, considering only a handful of people actually care, but still, a major compulsion of mine, and a hobby I do enjoy.

Still I think what you said about choosing hobbies is something I really have to consider because there simply is not enough $ and DEFINITELY not enough time at this point in my life to adequately explore all the hobbies I'm interested in.

I think a lot of it also has to do with looking to the bright shiny day of retirement (30+ years off!) when I'll actually get to breathe in deep, have a beer and enjoy all the stuff I've collected. As like as not, by then I'll be into something else.

Anyway, thanks again. Sorry to go on at such length!

david