Collecting

So, why do we collect things? I've been collecting stamps since I was 14 years old, including this beauty above. I do it simply because I have an affinity for artifacts and an appreciation for history. I also like to collect things that have a memory or an attachment to an event.

One collector of historical documents refers to his own collecting as “a genetic defect”. More likely though collecting is a basic human instinct; a survival advantage. Our ancient ancestors who managed to accumulate scarce objects may have been more prone to survive long enough to bear offspring. Even today, wealth correlates to longer life expectancy.

But, here are a few common reasons people collect:

1. Knowledge
2. Relaxation
3. Personal pleasure
4. Social interaction
5. Competitive challenge
6. Recognition by fellow collectors
7. Altruism
8. Nostalgia and/or a connection to history
9.Accumulation and diversification of wealth

How about you? What do you collect and why? For me, it's just plain fun.