So, when is it an addition, cont'd

When is a hobby too much? Anyone ever read "A Gentle Madness," about collecting in general, or hobbies in particular, or "Magnificent Obsessions?" Is it when we run out of space? Mary Randolph Carter, author of American Junk, Garden Junk, Big City Junk, etc., would say of a true collector, "Never ask, "where are you going to put it?" She was also a vice president for art/marketing, etc. for Ralph Lauren.

Me, I'd say it's when your family, not you alone, mind you, but your family, has to eat ramen noodles every night because you blew the family savings on a doll, or whatever you collect. Disappointment notwithstanding, when you are so upset at losing a doll at auction, or when someone bought it before you could, that you get depressed, can't eat, don't enjoy anything, cry repeatedly, and are in general, too disconcolate to function. Of course, business people might be excused for feeling this way if their livelihood depended on one big find or pick, but CF "The American Pickers' Guide to Picking" by Libby Calloway and Maureen Stanton's "Killer Stuff, Ton's of Money" on this last point about getting sold out or bought out from under.

Personally, I think when people collect dolls and think they talk to them, or that the dolls talk back, it's time to stop. And, that is a collection of a different category. When the dolls tire us, when we no longer like them or get pleasure out of them, it's time to stop.

Just my thoughts.

There is a difference between passion, and addiction. Passion leads to educational opportunities and new discoveries. It promotes life long learning, and can lead to a business. Collectors are considreed merchants, and thus, experts under the UCC. Passion can lead people to become writers, and can inspire their imagination. In a world of economic recession where the mantra has become, "simplify, simplify," collectors are looked at askance. Collecting anything today is not waht it was sixty years go, or even 40 years ago. I've seen doll collecting go from a growing hobby, still within most peoples' financial reach, to a fad, to the insanity of the 80s which encompassed the CPK mania, to a highend investment goal for French Bisque dolls and other antiques, to a steady decline in some categories due to eBay and the need for many dealer/collectors to downsize. Also, I think the hobby has changed because most collectors are aging, and many famous collectors and even dealers, have died or retired. Too many doll museums have had to close, and not enough younger people are interested. I attended one of our regional shows this weekend, and there was a good crowd, but it was very small. There were great selections, and still lots of variety, but I saw many old, familiar faces missing. The buying crowd was mostly over 40. Vinyl dolls and Barbies were doing very well. Two years ago, the last time I was there, there were dealers with various ball-jointed dolls, like Pullip and Dalfie. There were a lot of 20-somethings and younger children looking at the toys, too. This time, I didn't see any modern ball jointed dolls, and no teens and 20s running around. The toy dealers were gone, too. This, I think, made a difference in clientele.

So, is there a future for us who want to collect, and keep our collections, long term, or...forever? How do we get younger people and kids interested. It is true that most kids are plugged in and prefere gadgets to toys. The rest of their lives is "hands on," with play dates, and clubs, sports teams, and competetitions.

My old sport and other great love, gymnastics, is by itself a death knell for many childhood pastimes, including collecting. The nuclear family itself shifts for these young athletes, who must now start from the cradle if they wish to be Olympic quality or set for international competition. I watched the homecoming of one of them on Dateline, and I had to think if it was all worth it. Too much too soon; our definition of childhood itself may be reverting to 18th c. and earlier conceptions of the child as a miniadult in training for adult roles and responsibilities. Yet, see our other blog, Doll Museum, there were dolls, as toys, even then, and into prehistory.

I would be interested in hearing readers thoughts. Happy Dolling!!