Are you still a collector?
The age old question of whether you are a “collector” or ” collecting.” What also should be addresses is if it is a matter of “acquisition” or “appreciation.”
This past June, I attended Karl Kithier’s Michigan Military History show. I wasn’t sure I could make it due to no shortage of other commitments, but as I found a nice piece for my collection (thank you to Mike N. for the sale), I was glad I went.
There were several friends in attendance whom I hadn’t seen in a while, and one even said, “Didn’t expect to see you there. I didn’t think you did shows anymore.” Later, after I shared a photo of my purchase with another friend online, he said, “I didn’t think you were collecting.”
Both statements caught me a bit off guard.
I’m still a collector, even though I haven’t been to any shows in recent months or made any big purchases. I attended the Ohio Valley Military Society’s consistently excellent Show of Shows in February and came home with several items.
Yet, I understand those comments.
To put it simply, my situation has changed. I have budgeted aggressively to pay off our new house, and I’m still dealing with some renovations. I expected to pay for the sunroom floor, but I didn’t expect the bill for the masonry work as well. I was ready to keep the landscaping budget in check, but the sprinkler system needed significant work. I’m sure I’m not alone in finding that my “mad money” got angry and left before I had a chance to even go to a show and spend it!
Better to Want
I had already been thinking about this topic even before I heard those comments, as I came across some online discussions about the collector’s habit of appreciating the hunt more than actually owning something. I’ll put my hand up and say “Been there, done that,” as in I was super excited to buy something, but soon after obtaining it, I already needed to find something else.
It so happened that I came across an old “Calvin and Hobbes” comic strip where the wise-beyond-his-years Calvin says to Hobbes (his sardonic anthropomorphic tiger friend), “Getting is better than having.” He adds, “When you GET something, it’s new and exciting. When you HAVE something, you take it for granted and it’s boring.”
Hobbs, being somewhat rational for a tiger (real or otherwise), responds, “But everything you get turns into something you have,” to which Calvin answers, “That’s why you always need to get new things!” As a member of Generation-X, I can relate entirely.
Yet, I’ve come to appreciate what I already have in my collection as my money is directed elsewhere.
Am I Collecting or Just a Collector?
The next point is whether I’m “collecting” or not, if I’m not actively acquiring. This is a point that had come up about two years before my good friend and writing partner, Stuart Bates, passed away. He had announced to me that he was no longer collecting.
To him, not seeking that something “new” meant he was no longer collecting. I asked if he was still a collector, to which he responded, “Yes, absolutely.” He shifted from “acquisition and appreciation” of these items to simply trying to appreciate what he had. In Stuart’s case, it didn’t last
As he knew his health was failing, he opted to give away the bulk of his collection to his friends around the world. Part of it was that he wanted to give these items to those he knew would appreciate them, but another part was that he simply stopped being a collector. He was one of those collectors who couldn’t separate the acquisition from the appreciation. That may explain why other collectors who have “left the game” end up returning, or just find something else to collect.
It is the hunter/gatherer gene in us.
My wife, Enid, doesn’t collect militaria (it’s enough that she puts up with my collecting), but as I’ve also noted in the past, she acquired more yarn than she could use for a hundred more knitting projects. For her, at least, she can take what she has (the yarn) and make it into something new!
Show Time – Something I Don’t Have
The other part of the equation in all this is that I haven’t been to as many shows this year, and I often can’t stay long. Even in the past, I have had to cut my time short due to other obligations.
It has just gotten worse. In some cases, I am unable to attend a show at all. I simply don’t have “show time” as in time for the shows these days.
I increasingly understand those who say, “I wish I could make it, but…” There may be a belief they’re not as serious about the hobby, but I’ve come to realize that’s just not the case. The world may be more connected than ever, but traveling to these shows is still time-consuming and demanding.
I encourage everyone to attend the shows, whether big or small. Take the time to chat with those friends, look for new treasures, and just enjoy themselves. I’m sorry that I can’t always practice what I preach, but I’m not going to cast stones either.
Finally, while in the past, I’ve often been too focused on “getting something new” (like 6-year-old Calvin), I’ve learned not to take for granted what I already have. That is especially true of the items that came from Stuart and my other friends. The newest, shiniest addition simply can’t compare to those pieces that have a connection to the past and my departed friends.
Peter Suciu has his finger on the pulse of the hobby. Here are a few more articles for your reading enjoyment.
Peter Suciu is a freelance journalist and when he isn't writing about militaria you can find him covering topics such as cybersecurity, social media and streaming TV services for Forbes, TechNewsWorld and ClearanceJobs. He is the author of several books on military hats and helmets including the 2019 title, A Gallery of Military Headdress. Email him and he'd happily sell you a copy!