Stamp Collecting Season ??

When I was first collecting back in the late 70's and early 80's it seemed a somewhat year-round activity. After getting back into the hobby a couple years ago I think I noticed a different trend.

Postings in the SCF and VSC forums and E-bay sales seem to start "tailing off" to a noticeable degree in late spring then start picking up again in the late summer and early fall. Is it just the internet that makes the activity ( or lack of ) more noticeable and it's always been that way ?? Do a lot of folks put collecting on the back burner for the summer and concentrate on more outdoor type activities.

Just curious ...........

JimBob
"Master of the Sr. Moment"

You're probably right. A lot of indoor activities take a back seat to outdoor activities when the weather improves. Then, of course, family vacations have an impact, too, I would imagine. (Besides, would you really want to study your stamps in 90+ degree weather, with a fan or air conditioner constantly blowing the stamps around your desk?)

Some years ago, the US Postal Service used to designate the month of October as "National Stamp Collecting Month" as it was common to have people get back into the hobby during that time of the year.

Of course, us year-round collectors will still enjoy our stamps during the Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.

Well possibly. I know that it would make sense, especially up North here (Pennsylvania) when it's warm, and one can get outside without the snow shovel- we do so! ha-ha! Also, yard work takes a high priority and, of course, all the other conveniences of the warm weather considered. I would have to say that being "holed up" all winter needs a good distraction and as a collector it only makes sense to delve in to your collecting. Again, this is only my opinion.

You bet - I dust off the RV in the spring and the family takes multiple trips throughout Spring and Summer and pack it up again in late fall. I do take a little bit of stamp projects with me depending on our destinations but the ol' collection certainly gets less attention in the summer months than the rest of the year. (And I do less purchases during those months as well - either at shows or online)

I go fishing and play in the gardens

Phoenix Arizona in the summer is the equal of winter in Minnesota, well sort of. It was 108 F here yesterday and summer is still a month away. Come July/August the AC runs 24/7 So during the summer when us Zonies are holed up in our air conditioned caves, comes the indoor activities. My stamp awareness increases during the summer.

For me, my collection work depends not only on the weather/seasonal factor but also how my work load goes.
Sometimes, I arrive home tired and with little energy or interest for anything that demands thinking or analysis.
I live in a small sized town here in Oman (population of about 10,000). There's not alot going on here. The hot season weather has started again. Tomorrow, the heat index is supposed to be about 124 degrees f. So, on days like that, there isn't much else to do but stay inside. Thank goodness for air conditioning! In July, I'll be back
in the US for 6 weeks and then the new semester starts again in Sept... as does the "cool/bearable" weather season. I don't see my family enough as it is, so there isn't much time for my collection during my time stateside. Last summer, I spent more time with my niece, mimi working on her collection than on my "permanent collection". It was quite alot of fun helping her start out and convincing her "It's ok not to put the right stamp on the right picture because you wno't be able to fill all the holes in the book." :)

Summer activites sometimes overide stamp activities with the summer months.
Vacations, gardening, outdoor activities, especially for the more nothern locations
where you have cold and snow for 4-6 months of the year.

Rainy days help stamp collecting in the summer.

Hmmmm, interesting question.

In the Fall, I prepare the snowblower and put everything away in storage - then go to stamps

In the Winter, I snowblow and shovel the roof - then go to stamps

In the Spring, I rake the leaves etc, then go to stamps

In the Summer, I mow the lawn, go swimming and then go to stamps

I guess that makes me a year-round collector <G>

Chimo

Bujutsu

Thanks for all the responses ....seems as though my observations had some merit after all ( contrary to my wife's opinion ). I really enjoy learning and appreciating the people as well as the stamps.

SCF is a really nice place to visit !

JimBob
"Master of the Sr. Moment"

Yep we Camp with our Fifth Wheel all summer and enjoy our Pontoon all summer riding and fishing too. I am indoors as little as possible when the weather is nice except at night for Bedtime of course. I get to stay indoors all winter when I'm not blowing snow. So I'm going to be outside as much as I can be all seven months of winter. I am way up north. Just 80 miles or so south of the Mighty Mac. So sitting inside the house sorting stamps isn't my idea of fun in the summer when the weather co-operates.

Yep we Camp with our Fifth Wheel all summer and enjoy our Pontoon all summer riding and fishing too. I am indoors as little as possible when the weather is nice except at night for Bedtime of course. I get to stay indoors all winter when I'm not blowing snow. So I'm going to be outside as much as I can be all seven months of winter. I am way up north. Just 80 miles or so south of the Mighty Mac.

Yep we Camp with our Fifth Wheel all summer and enjoy our Pontoon all summer riding and fishing too. I am indoors as little as possible when the weather is nice except at night for Bedtime of course. I get to stay indoors all winter when I'm not blowing snow. So I'm going to be outside as much as I can be all seven months of winter. I am way up north. Just 80 miles or so south of the Mighty Mac.