Cashing In My Chips.

I have been an active collector since 2010 but I stopped making auction purchases about two years ago. Hard to find what I don't already have, and really want. Not willing to pay all the extra fees for crossing the Border. I am bringing my best material down to R. Maresch and Son for their Fall auction. My kids are 19 and 21 with no interest in collecting. I have quite a few really nice pieces that I paid good money for, but don't have the patience to sit on them for another 10 years. I of course also have tons of 'junk' that goes along with any big collection. That will be harder to get rid of because more time will be needed to go through that for years to come. There is no doubt that at 59 I am also a bit lazy. I like to get out of bed early to kayak or go motorbiking, but stamps just hide in my closet now.

I had an acquaintance who collected stamps for many years, and then, the minute he stopped working, he flipped a switch and his hobby became selling his stamps. That takes some willpower. He claimed that he was almost completely successful in not adding more stamps to his collection.

I felt a little bad about buying some of his material but he assured me he was truly happy to see it go.

I occasionally wonder if I would find that approach satisfying.

I know what you mean about getting out of a hobby. I used to collect coins. I had quite a collection, but stopped a few years ago, sold my collection and didn't look back. Sometimes you have to sell your collection, especially if you Are no longer interested.

Sold my collection of thousands of blues, soul and R&B LPs and 45s thirty-odd years ago outif financial necessity. I was surprised how, once I'd decided it had to go, I accepted it and moved on. This summer I've been pruning my cigarette card collection - again, thousands of items. I still have plenty of other junk to entertain me.