Collecting: The Journey or the Destination

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by argpdt

Recently I have been thinking a lot about my very large card collection and what my focus is or should be.

What this post is really about is what is more appealing, the collecting of cards or the owning of them.

I apologize for the long thread here, and this may have been covered before I joined Net54, but I am curious to hear fellow collectors thoughts about the hunt versus ownership.

What's appealing to me is owning an item. I'm not sure with me personally that the hunt is that fun. I just have the feeling if I don't look I may miss something I've never seen before. My collection, at this point, is pretty focused and now I'm working on displaying items rather than just storing them. I do know I don't look at items as much once I have it in my collection; maybe I should do that more often. I think the older I get collecting is just a hobby and I don't need everything.

[1963Topps Set]

I find that as my collection is nearing less and less of what i need, I am enjoying going through the collection more and more. Each set not only represents that cards themselves but the stories behind how I got them.

[KMayUSA6060]

Both for me, and I say that on a case-by-case experience.

I am early on in my T206 set journey. I started it because I want to finish it. However, I am really enjoying the journey thus far, putting me in both categories - the journey and the destination.

My Jim Thome PC will never be completed thanks to modern over-production (Thome has around 9000 total different cards), but I'm enjoying the journey.

My HoF PC is a fun journey, but I'm truly looking forward to the completion the most.

[Jewish-collector]

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

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

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

this seems to be true for me!

[Den*nis O*Brien]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

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

....to feel this inclination. The "End" could be down the line!

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Den*nis O*Brien

....to feel this inclination. The "End" could be down the line!

the end is always down the line isn't it?

[Steve D]

I have found that the journey/search is more enjoyable, for the most part, than the destination.

There are, however, certain cards that I've been searching for for sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo llllllllllllooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggg, that I've really had it with the continual dead end. I just want the damned card!!!!!!


Steve

[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!

[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 .

[Sean]

Originally Posted by KMayUSA6060

(Thome has around 9000 total different cards)

WTF? I'm so glad that I don't collect modern.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Sean

WTF? I'm so glad that I don't collect modern.

i thought the same thing!!!!! I remember collecting HOF'ers as a kid and mainly it was just topps...sometimes bowman!!!!

[Sean]

When I was collecting the '65 Topps set it was about the journey. That's why I sold them about 4 years after I finished.

With the T206 it's both. I love finding cards that I want and owning them.

[dabigyankeeman]

While pride of ownership is fantastic, particularly once you build up a really good collection (or even own 1 or 2 cards you totally love), the most fun is the thrill of the hunt, the looking for new things to acquire.

For me, being older and having a wife with bad cancer, i worried about the future financially and stopped buying for about 6 - 8 months, and wow, even with my great collection i was missing on so much enjoyment it was killing me. I had to just a month ago find cards to collect that could be less expensive to get but be fun to search thru Ebay and other places to find the ones i really wanted (and at a low price) and since i have been doing that collecting is fun again!!!!

Nothing like the thrill of the hunt, particularly if its a little effort to find what you want!!!!!!

[Beansballcardblog]

Nothing but the best wishes for your wife and yourself, Arnie

Originally Posted by dabigyankeeman

While pride of ownership is fantastic, particularly once you build up a really good collection (or even own 1 or 2 cards you totally love), the most fun is the thrill of the hunt, the looking for new things to acquire.

For me, being older and having a wife with bad cancer, i worried about the future financially and stopped buying for about 6 - 8 months, and wow, even with my great collection i was missing on so much enjoyment it was killing me. I had to just a month ago find cards to collect that could be less expensive to get but be fun to search thru Ebay and other places to find the ones i really wanted (and at a low price) and since i have been doing that collecting is fun again!!!!

Nothing like the thrill of the hunt, particularly if its a little effort to find what you want!!!!!!

[dabigyankeeman]

Originally Posted by wvu_class_of_2001

Nothing but the best wishes for your wife and yourself, Arnie

Thanks a bunch!!!! Things are rough but thats life. Bro-in-law is in hospice now, plus I have to see a specialist about something in 2 days, its like our whole family is falling apart at once. But card collecting must go on. Now I am collecting autographed cards of players on New York teams in all sports. I already had a ton of Yankees, now going after all the other teams. Its easy to find in-expensive ones on Ebay, and its fun. Thanks again bud, hey I see you collect vintage open wheel racing, i dont collect cards of that but i am a monstrous Formula 1 fan, can't wait for the new season to start already.

[jerrys]

I go with the 50/50.

Here are a couple of other Rucker cards.

rucker2-1.jpg

s81-rucker.jpg