The Incorrigible Collector

Collectors share a number of behavioral traits no matter where their interests take them. I put together this kind of fun list just by doing a quick self-analysis. Maybe some of these observations will resonate with you.

You know you're a serious collector when:

The objects enrich your life and represent much more than mere possessions;
You come up with reasons why something you didn't know existed until recently is now a must-have;
The word "enough" has been stricken from your vocabulary;
Running out of display/storage space doesn't stop you;
You cut back on eating out and all types of entertainment spending in favor of collecting;
Learning about an object becomes a prerequisite to owning it;
You meticulously catalog every item in your collection;
You remember the exact circumstances surrounding many of your acquisitions but have to check your records for the rest;
You occasionally break your own rules, like buying something you don't particularly like but only because it completes a set, or the price was too attractive to pass up;
You've been burned once or twice because you saw the red flag(s) and decided to make the risky purchase anyway;
You have no trouble spotting condition issues and are dismayed at some online sellers' inability to recognize even the big problems, let alone small ones;
You have duplicates of an item because you purchased a second example that's in better condition and haven't gotten around to selling the first (which has issues the seller failed to disclose – see #11);
Family vacations include planned detours and stopovers at locations where you hope to find whatever it is that you collect;
An out-of-town event that relates to your collecting IS the reason for a vacation;
You don't mind cleaning and dusting to keep your collection looking its best;
Besides dust, spider webs and fingerprints are your enemies;
You are happy to share what you've learned with anyone who shows interest;
When asked, you gladly give a tour of your collector's domain to people you've just met;
You justify the cost of collecting by declaring with great conviction: "This is part of my legacy. Outside of real estate – which can be a liability more than an asset – these are the only material things that will outlive me."
You come to terms with the possibility that your heirs may not hold the same passion you have.