Update on my collecting future

[Leafsman]

Hi folks,

As I posted a few weeks ago, I am on a self-imposed hiatus from the hobby due to the coronavirus (covid-19) outbreak. Mail goes through many hands and some of them may be unknowingly infected with the coronavirus. I have diabetes and respiratory issues, so I refuse to take any chances with my health. I will not be resuming my activities until the coronavirus is completely gone. The way things are going, that may be quite a while from now.

During this hiatus, I have discovered that I do not miss the hobby in the slightest. Just last night, I looked down at my collection and thought, "what a pile of cardboard". Yes folks, that was my honest thought. It didn't excite me; I didn't hate it; it didn't bore me; nothing. I have reached the point of apathy towards the hobby. It's just a pile of cardboard neatly stowed in a number of boxes at this point.

Since it is likely that it will be months before things get back to normal (and at least that long before I go to a post office or bank), it is more likely that I will be selling the majority of my collection instead of adding to it, The only cards I will be keeping is my collection of players from Newfoundland and Labrador.. I don't have many current sales or trades pending, but those that are on the go are cases where nothing has been sent either way so they will likely be cancelled because of the current situation. I will be in touch with the people involved in those deals soon.

If anything, the coronavirus has helped me make the difficult decision about my collecting future that I couldn't bring myself to make. My future in the hobby was bleak to begin with. I don't have a PayPal account and with about 600 SP Authentic rookie cards in my collection, I could not see myself stepping back and collecting something on the lower end of the scale. My wantlist is extensive and I will never be able to afford to acquire them all. When I began in the late 1980s, I never intended to collect into my 40s in the first place. Here I am at 41 and it is time to go.

I am unsure how I will go about selling my collection, since I do not have (and will not be getting) a PayPal account. I will not be asking anyone to sell on my behalf because I am looking to sell off and get out. Giving someone a percentage of what they sell on my behalf does not appeal to me.

I have a lot of nice cards in my private collection. In summary, when this virus is wiped out, I will be selling my collection. This is not going to be a firesale. I have prices in mind and I have no problem holding steady until I get an amount close to what I'm looking for. Those I don't sell will either be donated or trashed.

I just...don't care anymore. This virus has shown me that there are more important things in life than pieces of cardboard.

Thanks to everyone who made the hobby enjoyable over the years. I look forward to moving my collection to new homes in the (hopefully) near future.

Tony

[piper1]

Best of luck to you and here's hoping we will all still be around to see what you post in a year from now.

[doniceage]

Tony,
I wish you the best. I also think the cards are worthless in a sense but with each card or group of cards there is a story. Friends that have come to the house to trade, members that have sent me a gift, or items I gotten attending a event. I never worry about not having a complete set of this or that. I just enjoy the time and camaraderie with some folks. If your missing the fun it definitely time for you to move on. Wish you the best in whatever you do.

Dom

[Leafsman]

Tony,
I wish you the best. I also think the cards are worthless in a sense but with each card or group of cards there is a story. Friends that have come to the house to trade, members that have sent me a gift, or items I gotten attending a event. I never worry about not having a complete set of this or that. I just enjoy the time and camaraderie with some folks. If your missing the fun it definitely time for you to move on. Wish you the best in whatever you do.

Dom

This is supposed to be a hobby. Something fun. It has come to the point where there is no fun in the hobby. Trading is dead. If the only way to collect cards is to save up and buy them, that's not fun. That's stress...stress I can do without.

[rookmyster]

All the best Tony, really appreciated all the deals we did over time on here. Stay safe. Tim

[pwskelly]

This is supposed to be a hobby. Something fun. It has come to the point where there is no fun in the hobby. Trading is dead. If the only way to collect cards is to save up and buy them, that's not fun. That's stress...stress I can do without.

Tony, that actually sounds .......... smart!

In all seriousness I think a lot of us are feeling that way right now. I'm glad that you were able to recognize that the hobby is not doing it for you anymore. I have seen a few traders become bitter and hardened when they try to stay involved for the wrong reasons.

From one Newfoundlander to another, keep safe!

[Leafsman]

Tony, that actually sounds .......... smart!

In all seriousness I think a lot of us are feeling that way right now. I'm glad that you were able to recognize that the hobby is not doing it for you anymore. I have seen a few traders become bitter and hardened when they try to stay involved for the wrong reasons.

From one Newfoundlander to another, keep safe!

Thanks buddy! This coronavirus situation changes nothing for me...I don't go anywhere in the first place LOL

[pwskelly]

Thanks buddy! This coronavirus situation changes nothing for me...I don't go anywhere in the first place LOL

HAHA I never thought about that.

[GreenCap]

Wish you the best, stay healthy!
If you have any Brendan Gallagher for sale, let me know.
Thanks!