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David AtkatzI'm sorry for my choice of phrasing, Jim.
Believe me, I wouldn't change places with any of the aforementioned three. (Or anyone else, for that matter.)
Unfortunately, I am not an adherent to the post-modern "it's all good" point-of-view.
I, personally, respect those who collect for the love of a subject (any subject, Bruce) and who enjoy learning about, and, in particular, researching that subject, rather than simply acquiring objects for--what seems to me--bragging rights only. And, in that regard, although we strongly disagree politically, I respect Jeff L.
To me, being a "collector" (as opposed to an "acquirer") takes quite a bit more than money.
(And do you really believe my feelings towards Bruce have anything at all to do with his (self-proclaimed only) "financial success"? Please, give me a bit more credit than that.)
Finally, why do you assume that I'm not well-off? (And therefore jealous of those who are.) There may exist other circumstances which have allowed me to pursue the less-than-financially rewarding career I loved, and still be able to indulge in other, more expensive pursuits. Perhaps you assume as you do because I refuse to brag about how valuable my collections are, or how many one-of-a-kind items they contain. (Just this once, I will blow my own horn. If you'd like to see some of the items in my NY Yankee collection, take a look at "The New York Yankees An Illustrated History," St. Martin's Press, NY 2002.)