Collecting: The Journey or the Destination

[Beansballcardblog]

I'm curious at what age this starts. I'm 38 now and it's starting to turn that way for me.

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

For cards, it's “The older you get, the less you want/need”.

[Klrdds]

Originally Posted by wvu_class_of_2001

I'm curious at what age this starts. I'm 38 now and it's starting to turn that way for me.

My desire started to diminish at age 56 after 50 years of collecting baseball cards all the way from Old Judge to 2016 Topps and all cards in between ,game worn uniforms and jerseys , and autographs ( pictures, contracts , checks, 3x5s, letters, single signed and team signed baseballs, bats, etc) and other baseball memorabilia. My philosophy for 30 years was if I wanted it I bought it . I reached a point when I decided to not collect anymore for a variety of reasons , but it was as if each phase of my collecting had a different reason for me to stop. Every collector that I am good friends with has told me that you reach a point when you stop ; it can be for a different reason for each person but everyone does stop eventually. Now I buy but it must be something special , but yes the hunt is still the most fun aspect of collecting for me .

[obcbobd]

The hunt!

[Exhibitman]

Both. But I'm at the point where thinning the herd makes sense. If I don't look at something for a long time I should probably sell it. I've switched to type collecting and HOF collecting. I'm also more drawn to the cards of the 1970s which were my childhood cards. I love the chase but also enjoy sitting down with my binders and looking at my cards. The thing I like least is having to go to the bank to see my 'good' cards.

[Leon]

I have around 6 months to be 56.
With my first collection it was about acquiring a type card I needed, period. But I will never forget when I finally acquired 1 of 2-3 known Greiner Bread cards I had been wanting for years. I paid several thousand for it and when I got home I threw it aside like a '92 Donruss. I like "owning" a little bit but I like the hunt far more. This is always an interesting subject.

Originally Posted by Klrdds

My desire started to diminish at age 56 after 50 years of collecting baseball cards all the way from Old Judge to 2016 Topps and all cards in between ,game worn uniforms and jerseys , and autographs ( pictures, contracts , checks, 3x5s, letters, single signed and team signed baseballs, bats, etc) and other baseball memorabilia. My philosophy for 30 years was if I wanted it I bought it . I reached a point when I decided to not collect anymore for a variety of reasons , but it was as if each phase of my collecting had a different reason for me to stop. Every collector that I am good friends with has told me that you reach a point when you stop ; it can be for a different reason for each person but everyone does stop eventually. Now I buy but it must be something special , but yes the hunt is still the most fun aspect of collecting for me .

[rainier2004]

I switched over to displaying the majority of my collection a few years ago and now its all about ownership. The hunt is fun, the kill is better and opening the package is still like Christmas day. But my displays allow me to continually enjoy my collection and it gives me something to Tinker with and save money during slower times.

[Stonepony]

It's all about the hunt with set collecting. Once it's complete I'm ready to sell..likely at a loss. As for individual cards...they're usually mine for the long hall.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Leon

I paid several thousand for it and when I got home I threw it aside like a '92 Donruss. I like "owning" a little bit but I like the hunt far more.

I have done the same thing so many times and have zero organization after they get to my door. It's all hunt for me and then they get placed in a waterproof storage container until god knows when. I think the fact that I only sell things on the same regularity as presidential elections is the thing I need to work on.