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What do you collect?

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Borla, Oct 30, 2015.

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  1. Borla

    Borla Moderator Staff Member

    Are there any specific items that you collect as keepsakes, for a hobby, or to commemorate experiences or travels?

    If you visit a new place, is there something you try to bring back? Or when others travel, they know THIS is the item they could return with as the perfect gift?

    How long have you done so? What is your collection like?



    I've never really thought of myself as a collector, but there are a few things that I have started accumulating over the past 4-5 years.

    About five years ago I started collecting "logo" golf balls from any golf course I play on, or from charity/company events that I attend. I have 30-some on a shelf (designed to hold logo golf balls) in my home office. They each represent a different course, event, or company. For some of them, I remember a specific charity outing, and the worthiness of the cause it represents. Or a brand/company that I really identify with. Other ones remind me of a specific round of golf, who I was with, or the trip we were on when I was in that area.

    When I got my Harley I started collecting shirts from various dealers across the country. Most of them are ones that I visited/rode to myself. Several are ones that people got for me as gifts. My father, my BIL, and my brother all ride. When we go on vacation my BIL and sister and/or my parents dog sit, and sometimes vice versa. It's almost traditional that we return from our travels with an HD shirt for the dog sitters as a 'thank you' gift. There have even been at least three (err, four, if you count @CinnamonGirl and @Lordeden separately for getting me one from Hickory, NC) TFPers who have either gifted me shirts or exchanged items with me for shirts from their locations or travels. Every time I wear my Beartooth Pass HD shirt I think of @Stan (I need your shirt size and address dude, there is a place I go to occasionally that has the perfect shirt I need to send you), or when I put on my United Arab Emirates one I hope @Remixer is doing well. Sometimes I even imagine the detail someone went to to find a HD shirt for me, since I have a few specific likes and dislikes (how many Harley guys ask NOT to have skulls, flags, pin-up girls, etc. :p ). But each of them are meaningful in some way, despite the fact that they are overpriced ('cause Harley, duh) and I have eleventy billion of them.

    Those are the two main things that I feel I have a true "collection" of. How about you? Do you grab the Starbucks mug from the cities you visit? Or the souvenir spoon from each state? Maybe a shot glass or a refrigerator magnet?

    If I feel ambitious I'll grab some pictures later, so feel free to show off if you desire.
     
    Borla, Oct 30, 2015
    #1
  2. CinnamonGirl

    CinnamonGirl The Cheat is GROUNDED!

    Location:
    Central Republic of Where-In-The-Hell
    I used to buy a shot glass from every city I visited. Then most of them broke during various moves or me being clumsy. So now, I collect refrigerator magnets. Makes the fridge look prettier, and reminds me of fun vacations. And not nearly as breakable!


    You've all seen my Geek Shelf. I don't add to that collection as much, but I pick up something every time we go to Dragon Con or the local comic convention. My parents usually get me something add-able for Christmas or my birthday, and I've even had a few customers give me things for The Shelf. Anything "geeky" works, but it's mostly Star Wars, Buffy, and the Avengers.

    I also have a fairy tales book collection. Original tales, reimagined versions, collections of scholarly essays ABOUT fairy tales...I love them all. One day, I'll have the complete collection of Andrew Lang's Fairy Books of Many Colors, though for now I only have blue, red, and yellow.


    Oh! I had totally forgotten until you mentioned it, but my grandma used to have a "spoon from every state" collection. They all hung on a wooden rack shaped like the US. I wonder if she still has it? Hmmm.
     
    CinnamonGirl, Oct 30, 2015
    #2
    • Like Like x 1
  3. Stan

    Stan Resident Dumbass

    Location:
    Colorado
    I've really been going the other route and divesting myself of stuff that doesn't get used a lot, though not always intentionally.

    I used to have a concert ticket for every show that I've attended. $4.50 tix for Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd, anyone? My eldest offspring showed them off to someone and they are MIA, now. No big deal, it's a hard collection to sustain in an era of E-tickets.

    I have a lot of concert T-shirts, mostly because I wear a lot of T-shirts. BMW ones are scarce and I have no brand loyalty, anyway.
    Sent by PM, too many potential stalkers here :p.

    My collection of outdoor sporting apparel is significant; but I use the hell out of it. Lightweight jackets and fleece in Colorado are pretty much like T-shirts.

    I have a very large music collection, somewhere around 1800 cds; but it's much the same, I listen to a lot of music. My vinyl collection is in the basement, I just can't seem to let it go.
     
    Stan, Oct 30, 2015
    #3
    • Like Like x 2
  4. IZZZZY

    izzzzy New Member

    Location:
    new hampshire usa
    i collect playing cards
     
    izzzzy, Oct 30, 2015
    #4
    • Like Like x 1
  5. snowy

    snowy so kawaii Staff Member

    Rocks and fossils are one of the things I collect. I have a few other "natural history" type items--a large wasp's nest, a bird's nest--that go with a pretty substantial assortment of rocks, shells, and fossils. I've bought very little of it. Most of it has been found here and there.

    I also collect manga and other stuff related to that.
     
    snowy, Oct 30, 2015
    #5
  6. Japchae

    Japchae Very Tilted

    Dust bunnies. Plants. My husband says I collect broken people. Lovely. I used to collect bath products. I'd have a bunch of bottles in the shower all the time and bins under the sink... I'm not thinking this is what you meant...
     
    Japchae, Oct 30, 2015
    #6
    • Like Like x 1
  7. RedSneaker

    RedSneaker Very Tilted

    Fridge magnets from all of my travels.

    Now that I have a new record player - I guess I'll start collecting vinyl. I know, I know, I'm behind. But I'm enjoying my journey.
     
    RedSneaker, Oct 30, 2015
    #7
  8. redravin

    redravin Cynical Optimist Donor

    Location:
    North
    I'm working on rebuilding my vinyl collection.
    It's not as big as the 600 plus collection I had before I moved to NJ but I'm working on it.
    I have a comic book collection that covers most of the DC and Marvel runs through the early 70's.
    I have way too many books.
    Other than that not really.
     
    redravin, Oct 31, 2015
    #8
    • Like Like x 1
  9. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Used to collect comics but sold them all off.
    I still have a collection of Dragon magazines and D&D books and modules from over the years and various versions. (not playing these days)

    Still collect pennies and other coins of interest.
    I do have a collection of coffee mugs from various companies and project I've worked with over the years. (my crown piece being from the EOP)
    I enjoy my book collection (both fiction and non, including tech & science)

    I still have all my college books and papers...and as I go back to school, I'm keeping those too.

    I also seem to collect articles that I read...I have a TB worth. (why, I don't know)

    Some is for fun.
    Often, it's kind of like proof of where I've been...even to prove it to myself, like its not something I've made up or I'm BS'ing about.
    Sometimes it's to read them over again...for reference or pleasure.
     
    rogue49, Oct 31, 2015
    #9
  10. Borla

    Borla Moderator Staff Member

    Golf ball shelf.

    [​IMG]

    Top two shelves represent charity events or companies.

    Third row is courses in WI (left) and MO (right). Fourth row is IA, fifth is FL, bottom two are IL.

    Also a random quill from a porcupine that someone brought me back from Africa.
     
    Borla, Oct 31, 2015
    #10
    • Like Like x 1
  11. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    My, her, and our, collecting has slowed down considerably since the interior of our house starting resembling a cross between a high-end thrift store (yes, they exist) and a low-end antique store. At one time our collecting was all over the map, it's a bit more focused these days.

    Currently I'll buy books that are 1st Ed HBwDJ, author signed, Ltd Ed, boxed books sets, etc. I also have small collection of pewter tankards & flagons. Chainsaws.

    Some items we'll still buy if the price and rarity is right, but don't actively pursue:
    Wade figurines & porcelain (my wife currently has around 570 pieces). Frosted/satin glass. Jonson Bros. Friendly Village pattern dinnerware (older, pre-dishwasher safe marked).
     
    Chris Noyb, Oct 31, 2015
    #11
    • Like Like x 1
  12. redravin

    redravin Cynical Optimist Donor

    Location:
    North

    I just loved how this jumped from tankard & flagons to chainsaws like that was a natural progression.
    Makes sense to me.
     
    redravin, Oct 31, 2015
    #12
    • Like Like x 1
  13. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX

    Chainsaws was an afterthought, although I do have quite a few. I considered editing my post to add a segue, but decided not to.
     
    Chris Noyb, Oct 31, 2015
    #13
  14. Taneytown

    Taneytown Guest

    I collect coins.
     
    Taneytown, Nov 2, 2015
    #14
  15. AuntBee

    AuntBee Vertical

    Leroy, always secretly suspected you to be numismatic. Now the truth comes out.
     
    AuntBee, Nov 2, 2015
    #15
  16. Taneytown

    Taneytown Guest

    I also collect rubbers.
     
    Taneytown, Nov 2, 2015
    #16
  17. Taneytown

    Taneytown Guest

    You know to wear on your feet when it rains. I like to have all kinds of styles and colors.
     
    Taneytown, Nov 2, 2015
    #17
  18. GIANT HAMBURGER

    Giant Hamburger Hail Citizens!

    Location:
    low-velocity earth orbit
    Birdskulls!
    Most are in the attic right now. They are hard to find intact.
    I have a few mice skulls too from an old barn that housed some owls.
    They would pop the heads off before they swallowed them whole.
    The floor was covered in tiny heads in various states of decay.
    Goldmine!
     
    Giant Hamburger, Nov 4, 2015
    #18
    • Like Like x 2
  19. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX

    A lot of guys (and some women as well) have collections of unused rubbers.

    Which in a way is better than keeping a collection of used rubbers (major yuck :eek:!).
     
    Chris Noyb, Nov 4, 2015
    #19
    • Like Like x 1
  20. Taneytown

    Taneytown Guest

    Talking about rubbers to keep the water off your feet when it rains.
     
    Taneytown, Nov 4, 2015
    #20
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