How To Progress With Life, Once You Cant Collect What You Want

[lonely panet]

well, the title says it all (HAHHAAHAHAH)

 

Im expecting my first child in six months and have tried to retire from collecting buy selling off the bits I can live with out and keeping the good stuff.

 

but its a hard addiction to kick, and I sometimes feel like just selling it all off because it will just sit there doing nothing. but don't want to be one of these old guys, who we all know who say " I had one of those but sold it"

 

does anyone have a way of helping with the change so to speak hahahahhaah

regards H

[SwordGuyJoe]

If you figure it out, let me know. I still haven't found a way to quit this little habit.

[b.hennick]

The Rochester New York sword study group was called the muto kai. No sword group. The feeling was that ownership wasn't necessary but study was. You could focus on a School and devote your "free time" studying that group. As for the items you still have I would put them away without regrets. You might always regret selling your treasures. It may not be the "best" that you keep but the one that was a challenge to get or a first sword/tsuba etc.

Parenthood is great, grandparent hood even better! It just takes time. Kids are expensive but to me very precious. The times with the young ones will fly by faster than you thought possible.

Here is another approach - sell all and buy one sword worth what you paid for all that you sold. Study that one and then perhaps sell it to buy a better blade. I know a collector active on messageboard who likes to own one great sword. He has worked himself up to a blade of such quality that few of us will ever own. Not for me but it works for him and perhaps for you.

[Greg F]

Not much to say the guys havnt said above but congratulations on being a father, my only child turns 4 next week and it does go very fast but is the most precious time. As far as addictions go, if its not hurting anyone then maybe dont make any decisions you may regret. All the best.

 

Greg

[Ken-Hawaii]

 

Parenthood is great, grandparent hood even better! ... The times with the young ones will fly by faster than you thought possible.

Amen, Barry.  And now that my granddaughter is 21, I've gotten her started in the study & appreciation of Nihonto.  That way, I know where my collection will be going!

 

Ken

 

[Brian]

If you sell it all, what are you going to spend time discussing and sharing when he/she is older?

[lonely panet]

thanks for all the comments guys,

you raise good points, I will have to give it a good thinking over.

the other question, is if I do choose to sell, who do you choose to pass them on too? I have some rare stuff. I was lucky enough to be in the right place with the right amount of enthusiasm with a older and very respected collector who chose to pass them onto me as the next generation of care taker. I don't wish to let him down by just selling them on to JUST any random person

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kissakai]

_{I've sold most of my swords in a two week flurry and just a couple to go}

_{I wanted one reasonable example of a tanto, wakizashi and a katana}

_{I have the tanto and wakizashi but still looking for a katana (hint, hint)}

_{It was much easier than I thought as the responsibility of looking after them all was becoming quite onerous}

_{With my wives aversion to swords being on display it will be so much easier to look after just the three}

_{There must be some that are special to you so you may regret moving these on. Let your heart rule}

_{There will always be regrets but that life!}

_{Best of luck with a difficult decision}

 

 

_{Grev UK}

[Jean]

"With my wives aversion..."

 

With so many wives, no wonder Grev LOL

[Pete Klein]

[Jean]

You're too much, Pete. LOL

[Peter Bleed]

Hamfish said

"don't want to be one of these old guys, who we all know who say " I had one of those but sold it"

 

Well, Sonny, I will overlook your gratuitous "ageism" and congratulate you on your impending fatherhood.  Indeed, I wish I still had some of the swords I used to own, Fatherhood is pretty wonderful. Let me be the "old guys"  who tells you that kids grow up and move away, too. I enjoyed fatherhood - even if my grandsons  live in Australia!

Peter

[Alan F]

Hamfish said

"don't want to be one of these old guys, who we all know who say " I had one of those but sold it"

 

Perhaps better than being one of those old guys who says, "I still have one of those, but can't sell it for anything like what I paid for it originally".

 

Peter

[Bazza]

Perhaps better than being one of those old guys who says, "I still have one of those, but can't sell it for anything like what I paid for it originally".

 

Peter (i.e., Pietro)

Well, I've got a few of those.  I call it "paying one's due to learn" and to be able to possess and study a great art form.  Over 50 years I've never counted the dollars, but rather paid attention to what I wanted to acquire on the rare occasions I found something of charm and appeal.  What I really want to say here is that to me the JOURNEY is more important than a win/lose equation.  The good friends one makes along the journey are priceless and I consider this Board and its denizens a priceless treasure.

 

Bestests,

BaZZa.

[Stephen]

you dont want to be a old guy? stop breathing...lol. Youll find your saying that no matter the hobby, just keep breathing. 

[Eric Santucci]

I've recently experienced this same dilemma a few years ago when my twins were born.  If you think one is tough, try having two at the same time.  You will quickly understand what zombies feel like because you will never get to sleep again, walk around in a stupefied state all day, and you will always be hungry because you will never have time to eat. 

 

But all kidding aside, kids are awesome and many of the things I *thought* I needed or enjoyed quickly fell by the way side in favor of them.  They do amazing things, say amazing things, and it is so incredible to watch them grow and experience the world as new people. 

 

You will also learn a great deal of patience and you will become educated in subjects you never thought possible before from art, science, politics, etc. Their presence changes your entire world view. 

 

I elected to sell off a majority of my collection when the kids arrived and kept the items that I really felt had special value to me.  I'm still selling items actually as it is a slow process to catalogue and get everything out the door.  I have since acquired additional items that evoked a connection with me though as well, so I think I have become quite specialized and it allowed me to see my enthusiasm and collecting in a new directed light. 

 

Good luck and congratulations to you!

[Shamsy]

I will always keep my first sword as it the marker for a great journey, only just started. Having said that, I'm still trying to reconcile the fact I will have to clear out other items to make way for the next item. Specialising is a good way to reduce the collection but still have few special pieces. I've decided to collect Yasukuni Shrine gendaito. One for each smith. I'm still struggling to let the others go though. Some wise words here and it makes me feel better to hear them, and to hear I'm not the only one with attachment issues. Cheers gents.

[SAS]

There is no hope, sell your kids and rescue everything nihonto you can get your hands on......or.......just......say......nooooooo

[SwordGuyJoe]

Someone's auto signature (can't recall who) went something like this - tweaked for me personally - and is very apropos to this situation, "I've spent most of my money on alcohol, cigarettes, women, and nihonto.  The rest I wasted."

[Alex A]

well, the title says it all (HAHHAAHAHAH) Im expecting my first child in six months and have tried to retire from collecting buy selling off the bits I can live with out and keeping the good stuff. but its a hard addiction to kick, and I sometimes feel like just selling it all off because it will just sit there doing nothing. but don't want to be one of these old guys, who we all know who say " I had one of those but sold it" does anyone have a way of helping with the change so to speak hahahahhaah regards H

 

Yes, don't get too attached

 

and keep doing the lottery.

[Stephen]

Once the kid comes yull be to busy to care about this thing of ours.... capiche?

[Rich S]

Definitely keep the Nihonto and get rid of the kids. That's why I've always had dogs instead of kids; easier upkeep and still able to collect those things (knives and swords) that I like.

Rich

[Brian]

Definitely keep the Nihonto and get rid of the kids. That's why I've always had dogs instead of kids; easier upkeep and still able to collect those things (knives and swords) that I like.

Rich

Couldn't agree more. Luckily the gf (of 20 years now) agrees completely

[tokashikibob]

Keep the swords and buy more with the upcoming tax deductions,  shop at the goodwill for kids stuff,  they break or get bored of the toys quickly and you'll sell your $1000  of Toys are R Us gear at a yard sale for 20 bucks.   Saving for college?  Hogwash!  Buy more swords with that cash, they can earn there way to school with academics or sports if they really want to go.   If not, trade school is better long term anyway as nobody can fix anything these days.  

 

    I have 10 children 25 y/o on down,  3 already with college degrees,  The last college grad was a Halloween tech at a seasonal store, now is starting at Walmart.  A couple of semester's of time reading thru the archives of the NMB would have been more worthwhile than sitting around with liberal profs at the State U.

 

  Kids are great, but don't spoil them because after awhile you will wish you kept the blades.

 

Best Regards,

   Bob

[lonely panet]

so after thinking it over, and iv decided to sell my 15 years of collecting to re-invest in my new family.

 

so next step, I would like to sell the whole collection in one piece. any one know someone in Australia with a spare $20K

 

it gets you 12 military swords, 3 listed in Fuller & Gregary books

about 25 hard to find books

25 mint sake cups with tray

3 great flags

10 photos of admirals, generals etc

assorted rare fittings including tsuka, tassels blah blah blah

 

and  a massive display case including my home made racks

[Eric Santucci]

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