It's not that I'm upset people own more than 1 sculpt. I'm talking about the people that no matter what their collection is, if they miss one drop you'd think someone stabbed their baby. It's not an issue here but on Instagram some people kind of disgust me with their greed. I'm sorry you didn't get <insert toy here>, but considering your collection dwarfs 99 out of 100 people, maybe you should be happy with the 500 other toys you have that others don't.
You darn kids with your new fangled damn instagram, why back in the day we used to use crappy flickr and photobucket with crippling space limitations and liked it!
I think it is also relevant to point out here that not everyone spends hundreds of dollars per toy in this hobby. While that might be the 'new norm' and what all those hep kids are doin', it certainly does not apply to everyone on the board. I am not picking on anything in particular, just trying to say that this area of collecting spans a much wider berth than many people who just come into it assume. Just want to point this out so people can keep it mind, which seems like it happens less and less these days.
Longshot but you wouldn't happen to still have some 40k minis you'd be willing to part with, would you?
I got rid of my bins and only keep what I can display as well. I just decided that you can't take it with you, and life is about change and new adventures. I take photos of my stuff before I let it go, and I trust someone else will enjoy it. Here's my problem. Have you ever landed a really rare piece but really didn't like the colorway that much after a while? Or found out in hand it didn't fit the rest of your collection? Or it was too big or too small but you didn't realize? Or that you decided all glow, or all blank, or mixed parts, etc wasn't what you wanted to do anymore? Maybe I'm fickle, or maybe i just want to look at different things over my years, but I change up my collection all the time. I don't believe toys should be "hoarded", not because someone else could put them to better use, but because using the toys as currency/investment, status symbols, or a way to throw around clout is not what the hobby should be about. I don't know, I read a lot of Zen and Kabbalah and possessions are pretty frowned upon in general. They create the need to protect them and that creates evil in the heart. But I'm a collector at heart just like my grandma. So I've found a balance. One detolf and the mantle, and the ledge in my room. One of each sculpt, and if something comes in something goes. Same with my skateboards, I'm down to like 10, used to have +200. I'm happier! I'm not chasing as many hyped figures, I don't need to need as much, and I really take the time to hone my shelves into something I think is stunning when you walk in the room, not just pieces on top of pieces or overloaded shelves, or bins. Once again, do what you want, we all have the right to collect how we want to. But you want my advice? Possessions are baggage. Like Gaiito said pick a few artists to focus on and keep it simple. Quick connection, I am currently back to dating, and girls will say "nice collection" now when they come over. It's there, its my thing, but it's not strewn throughout my whole house. I remember a girl I was dating in the past just saying "OMG it's everywhere" as she walked through my house. It's a fine line between having a cool hobby and looking like an insane person is what I'm saying. Lol
This. A very true statement. Coming from someone who has been told he "hords and doesn't allow others to enjoy" ...I can say that I absolutely love what I collect. And I collect from all over the place. I put time and effort into what I collect because after all it is my Hobby and I'm proud of my collection. I think we loose site of that. Shit I'm just as happy scoreing a .99cent bag of Dino's at savers just to rip open the bag take one that I want and re donate the rest. As I would be to get my 51st kumon. Look, you collect what you love and love what you collect. I display my entire collection in one room, it's an entire room, it's a place I go to generate creativity and a bit of a sanctuary. I don't keep anything in storage Some people don't have that type of space and need to keep it for a later time. Perhaps one day I won't but it wouldn't matter. And I can see the idea of creating more space or cleaning house and getting rid of whatever but that's when it comes down to getting it to a collector who will love it.
I am in a very similar situation as you Joe. Over nearly 20 years of collecting different genres of toys, I have amassed so much stuff spread over multiple locations in different countries. LivingDead continues to bug me till this day for a figure which i know i have somewhere but cannot find I dream of a day when I can have a toy museum or a space big enough to display all of them in a single location. From time to time, when rearranging or digging through storage, it is a mixed feeling for me. On the one hand, I get a lot of pleasure from what i find within my own collection. Memories come back on a particular Superfes or Wonderfes or Luckybag or whatever. I really enjoy the old school style of brick and mortar buying before all the lotteries these days. Having said this, the festivals these days are on the brink of destruction with the huge influx of organized resellers in this hobby. The last Superfes was a complete disaster. Some even went to the extent of making fake dealer passes. On the other hand, sometimes I get depressed feeling guilty of the amount of money poured into collection just sitting in storage. It also reminded me what some folks often said to me: "look at the shit you are buying, I would never buy these craps just because it is black". Sometimes, it makes me feel like selling off everything and stop the buying. Usually after some selling, I would give up as it is too time consuming or the next black figure that I have been looking for comes along I believe we can all have different collecting styles and opinions on building a collection which you enjoy. For myself, I consider myself blessed that I can still enjoy and find fun in the hobby of toy collecting and plan on doing so for as long as I can.
Since my initial response here was when I had my full collection on display and now my situation has changed to where 95% of it is in storage, I feel slightly different towards my collection. The whole out of sight out of mind mentality takes over at times and I have dreams of selling the whole thing off and actually using that money to enrich my life- travel, maybe move to a place where I'd have better job opportunities. I tire of the northeast of the US all the time and I'm quickly realizing how I've always felt out of sorts here. These fantasies kind of disappear though as I still love this hobby (collecting aspect, friends etc) and I remember all I need to do is look at photos of my collection to realize how much time and effort I put into it- especially given how I did it without much income. Sure I could land a job with decent income (only a matter of time) but- its one of those weird paradoxes where I always think if I sell- it cancels out all that effort and will I ever find the deals I did or even find the same toys (vintage especially)? It's been so long since I've lived by myself and I really do have the dream of just living like that surrounded by everything I enjoy (and no fucking feedback from g/f's roomates, family etc) Can't really indulge that if I sell but selling would facilitate getting to where I want possibly quicker. For now though there is no way I can sell I love my collection too much.
