Thyself thinks all of us collectors are crazy in what we do. To a normal person we are all unrational. Maybe we are borderline horders? Actually collecting anything really doesn't make much sense. Why do we need to collect what we do. Why do we collect? I think our brains are wired differently than the norm. I know I just opened a can of worms with that statement. I'm serious, I'm still trying to figure out why I have such a passion for collecting and keeping cards as a collection. What does it do for me? For me collecting brings me back to my childhood. I got back a piece of my childhood in collecting Wackys. It's a small piece but it makes me happy. I have so much nastalgia running through my head when I look thru my collection. I also have certain senses and smells. It's odd bit I do. I can't explain it. I guess I'm very sentimental.
When we hit that 40's to 50's timeframe we often get really nostalgic. I certainly did. I decided to recollect Wackys when I found out I could (2009 or so) and have had great fun doing so. They bring back very happy childhood memories for me of a simpler time. There is just
something about them (the vintage series especially) that Greg outlined well somewhere on his site (I don't have the link handy but it's there).
I noticed at one point that it started becoming "not as fun" for me though -- a type of mild obsession -- when I started collecting multiples of things just to have them, and especially when I was buying tons of the newer ANS stuff and not enjoying it at all. Like trying to get that initial "high" from them over and over. I've noticed since that there is a huge difference for me between the
fun collecting and the other kind (whatever it is). I've unplugged myself from the latter.
I've noticed a shift in the energy around Wackys for me recently as I got back to the core of why I love them and am now thinning out my collecting to only what I truly love in them. In the process I'm now going back through and will be selling off all my dupes and extras. I'm no where near as big a collector as many of you but I still have a lot to go through!
I had the same thing happen over the past few years with Matchbox Lesney cars and Hotwheels Redlines, though I kept my recollecting to only "if it's fun" and not obsessed/addicted in any way. I've filled in the ones I really want and let go of the rest. Even my wife is enjoying these! I'm actually much happier knowing why I want to collect them and keeping it simple.
