Chat with a comic book guy at a flea market made me rethink my whole collection

I was at the flea market in Raleigh last Saturday, digging through a bin of old baseball cards. This older guy next to me was sorting through a stack of 90s Marvel comics and said, 'You know, nobody collects what they actually like anymore, they just collect what they think will pay off.' And it hit me weird because I've been hoarding those rookie cards hoping they'd appreciate, but I don't even enjoy looking at them. Meanwhile my son has a shoebox full of random Hot Wheels he loves and that kid's happier than me. Has anyone else had a random stranger's comment make you rethink your collection?

3 comments

3 Comments

seanjackson20d ago

Nobody collects what they actually like anymore" is a bit dramatic, don't you think?

burns.jenny20d ago

Haven't you seen people collecting weird stuff just because they actually like it though?

uma_ellis20d ago

burns.jenny I used to think people collecting weird stuff was just a quirky thing, but that flea market guy made me realize I was the one missing the point. I had all these cards sitting in a binder that I never looked at, and honestly they felt more like a chore than a hobby. Now I'm selling off the boring stuff and keeping the few things that actually make me smile, even if they're worth nothing.