The Plan

so as I am new and I really like all the things I have read about and learned so far I thought a great contribution to this forum would be a log of events as I begin to explore this hobby.
this will serve as a space for me to post whats going on, what I have learned, and to get advice on things as I go along with out needing to open a ton of threads (though I will when needed to have a longer conversation on a topic).
so the list started like this

find out what collecting is all about: result - wow oh my goodness there is so much you can do with this hobby its almost overwhelming...

join a forum and begin to ask questions and research all the little details; result - realization that if you are smart you may not need all the billion and one gizmo's and things out there some you can make your self if its a hobby not a job.

make first bid on random stamps and see what happens (less than an hour ago I am so excited)

plan for the gear! this is its own list LOL
comming soon...

i been collecting and reading about stamps for 60 years...and what I know is a drop in the bucket...some folks just have the ability (or the means) to buy the cream right from the get go...i am still a learner..i sure hope its the journey and not the destination !!

gear list
3 ring binders you can get these anywhere the more you pay the nicer they are... mine are free at this time to save towards other items and these can be easily upgraded later

pages for the binders this is an interesting topic unto itself.. in my case I am utilizing the links posted here at SC and printing them out on card stock. this way I can go for sets and have things looking nice... there are more free form ways and some of the linked pages help with this also but my small amount of OCD type behaviors prevent me from free forming until I am more familiar with things.

Tongs no matter where you look they come up in the top 5 things to have so not being a total nub they are in my top 5 to buy ASAP!...

hinges or covers this is an interesting thing I am still looking into and will post back on it later.... trying to discover money saving ways to create my own and have them look good... no point having great pages covered in trash LOL...

may we forever remember that it is the journey and we are all learners!! this is just a way to help myself and hopefully others on the way.... I can not wait to explore the knowledge you have to share....

bearwithfish,

I think the bigger challenge will be to identify the area or subject you want to collect. I suggest keeping the area small initially then branch out.
Just my opinion but in order of importance;
1) Reference Material - Read 1st, identify area, then collect
2) Tongs - Get 2, you'll loose 1
3) Stamps - Start the collection
4) Album - You'll need a place for them
5) A friend to enjoy the hobby with - Always more fun with 2

Remember, its a hobby, not an investment & have fun with it.

Art

agreed on all fronts...

really considering three areas of focus to start me off...

war time stamps from the US (ie WWI WWII Korea Vietnam etc,, perhaps earlier as well)

Women and Womens rights I am teaching my daughters the importance of being a strong woman not a barbie doll and this collection will be shared with them and my wife as we all share feminist views...

and US stamps in general

these will be important to me personally and I think will create a great story along the way told visually and in text....

looking on line is a wonderful thing but perhaps a trip to the local book store is in order here as well.... I think that learning a new task of any kind requires a reference to be handy in some written form. perhaps a bit old fashioned but its how I do things and why I keep expressing to my kids that text on paper is far far more valuable than text on the internet.... nothing agains this type of text mind you but books will always be number 1 in my mind for referencing..

good part of the plan just happened .. I found a local resource and I am heading over in a few.... I will post what else I find LOL

bear

get some various size "showguard mounts" for the more expensive stuff you dont want to hinge

That's great advice about tongs. I once misplaced mine for 2 days. Almost went crazy.

I also agree about the tongs. When I misplace mine I completely phreak out. I always know where to find my backup pair.

good idea.. now have a nice bag of stamps and sorted by cost at this time .. now to do a bit of research and attempt to find the sets so I know what I have ... also grabbed hinges and temp tongs (modified a set of tweezers so they are flat and smooth (i love dremels).. was a little surprised a few over seas one's got in my bag but hey part of the adventure right LOL

i never lost my tongs PERMANENTLY they have ALWAYS shown up in a stockbook or catalog or something of the sort !! Let me back up..i may have left a pair on a dealers table..but then again I may have taken a pair from a dealers table...i think they look at it as a cost of doing business !!

next step to learn how to soak them properly .... the search begins

if possible that is.

What kind of a bag of stamps? How many? Just USA I assume from your words. A mix or just old or just new? Topical or ?

How and where was it sold? Good deal seemingly or fun?

Like the idea of Woman's Rights. I go by a Women's (mostly) University here on the bus and the girls that get on mostly have this look of determination that they are going to get somewhere themselves and not be just carried along in the current. Very refreshing it is.

It doesn't really matter what happens to you. What matters is what you decide to become as a result of it. Read that somewhere.

bearwithfish
Try to find a stampclub in your aera. SCF is great but it's good to meet real people. Most of the time they make you feel welcome as a beginner collector. We all started somewhere. And also some senior collectors are very generous with newbie in stamps and advice. For a while I didn't go to my stampclub because sometime we where 3 or 4 only. But now it's reviving... Of course at 49 years old i'm one the youngest there. You can meet people there that collect for many decades. Last time I went there I talked about Latin America stamps and an old man said " I have tons of Latin America" he's going to bring next time. Enjoy the hobby!