Philosophy Of Stamp Collecting

PhilB posted about the time it takes to enjoy our hobby. It got me to thinking about why I spend so much time with my stamps. I think I have it figured out.

- When I was a kid my Mom and Dad told me what to do.
- When I was in school the teachers told me what to do.
- When I was married my wife told me what to do.
- When I was in the Navy there was always someone of a higher rank that told me what to do.
- When I retired my new wife told me (tells me) what to do.
- My bosses now tell me what to do.

When I work with my stamp collection I am the boss and I can make it into anything I want to. I can do it my way. I can do it when I want to do it. It may be the only time and place where I have full control of the outcome.

That's one reason I collect stamps.

Another is that they don't expect me to have a conversation with them when I'm feeling a bit anti-social after a long day at work!

I beg to differ with you Laswabbie.

When I work on my stamps, the dog tells
me to move over

The fact that your dog and the people in your head talk to you is a personal problem Bob. I can't account for them in the little world I've made for myself!

Great statement Laswabbie!! It is so true when being one on one with our hobby.
The only part of that I would change (and is true for me) is "when I got married we became a team, and he helps me enjoy my hobby" (a quote from Gussyboy1)

Swabbie, very thought provoking..the fact of the matter is that stamp collecting is truly a life time hobby..its not unrealistic that a person could collect for 75 years..i did the young man car thing, I hunted wildlife but to be honest the bloodlust left me..the stamps are hardly ever more than 40 or 50 feet away !!

You're lucky Gussy - My wife doesn't understand why I like to spend time with my "silly little pieces of paper."

Actually, I found that I had taken control when I decide to collect only what I wanted!

Now I can go through new album pages and discard the pages of countries I
never liked, and thought them very gaudy or boring. And I can add a "country"
like Atlantis if I want to do so TAKE THAT SCOTTS!

Jim

Jim..Dont forget those lovely stamps from Lundy, and Staffa

You have guts Jimmy ! Descecating a Scott album..but then hey..why not ????

Hi Jim....

I don't understand why you're blaming Scott cat for anything. Stamp production is determined by individual Postal departments of all countries. Scott only tries to keep track of everything. If you are not happy with the numbers produced blame the authorities concerned.

You have found the best response........collecting only what you want.

Extremely few collectors can afford to keep up a complete worldwide collection any more, many don't even want to try simply because of the pathetic stuff being produced by a lot of countries. Maybe when some of them start to realize they are not helping themselves or the hobby some of them will re-think their stamp issuing policies.

We can only hope.

I hope I'll hit the lottery some day too. Fat chance either will ever happen.

Swabbie..about a year ago one of the Custodians at the elementary school bought a 20 dollar ticket in a special lottery New York State was running...he hit it for a million bucks..and is still washing chalkboards,sweeping around desks and emptying the trash for people worth a lot less than he is....

Tom,

I really don't blame Scott; without them, collecting would have been difficult for many beginners. It just took me a while to decide that it was my decision as to what to collect and the existence of the pages were a distraction

Jim

I must say I have had several different Hobbies. I have collected 9and still do to a degree) Hot Wheels Cars, I have tried to get into building car models for a hobby, I fly kites as a fun past time, but I think that Collecting Stamps has got to be one of the funnest hobbies I have gotten into. I can do it anytime of day or night, sunny or rainy weather, hot or cold. It's more interesting to me then the Hot Wheels cars to the point I have been thinking about selling my Hot Wheels to help add to my stamps. And also my Fiance has gotten into it with me and I love the time we spend together going thru our stamps.

CW you have found what we have been searching for..i wouldnt mind renting your ride to take Bobgggg on a tour of the Jersey marshland accross the river from Manhatten !!