Collecting

People tend to amass possessions, sometimes without being aware of doing so. Indeed they can have a delightful surprise when they find something useful which they did not know they owned. Those who never have to change house become indiscriminate collectors of what can only be described as clutter. They leave unwanted objects in drawers, cupboards and attics for years, in the belief that they may one day need just those very things. As they grow old, people also accumulate belongings for two other reasons, lack of physical and mental energy, both of which are essential in turning out and throwing away, and sentiment. Things owned for a long time are full of associations with the past, perhaps with relatives who are dead, and so they gradually acquire a value beyond their true worth.

Some things are collected deliberately in the home in an attempt to avoid waste. Among these I would list string and brown paper, kept by thrifty people when a parcel has been opened, to save buying these two requisites. Collecting small items can easily become a mania. I know someone who always cuts sketches out from newspapers of model clothes that she would like to buy if she had the money. As she is not rich, the chances that she will ever be able to afford such purchases are remote; but she is never sufficiently strong - minded to be able to stop the practice. It is a harmless habit, but it litters up her desk to such an extent that every time she opens it, loose bits of paper fall out in every direction.

Collecting as a serious hobby is quite different and has many advantages. It provides relaxation for leisure hours, as just looking at one's treasures is always a joy. One does not have to go outside for amusement, since the collection is housed at home. Whatever it consists of, stamps, records, first editions of books, china, glass, antique furniture, pictures, model cars, stuffed animals, toy animals, there is always something to do in connection with it, from finding the right place for the latest addition, to verifying facts in reference books. This hobby educates one not only in the chosen subject, but also in general matters which have some bearing on it. There are also other benefits. One's friends and relatives, in their turn, may feel obliged to present the collector with gifts related to his collection. And these gifts need not be expensive. A young relative of mine, who is studying for a postgraduate degree in music, recently sent me a present of a book on the history of the piano. It was a very welcome gift as I have an interest in music and am also collecting books related to music.

Collectors may get a feeling of satisfaction from the fact that they have found something rare. But there is also the possibility that they may become obsessed with their hobby and spend all their time and money on it. This can lead to problems. For example, a collector who has a passion for antique furniture may find it difficult to resist the temptation to buy a very expensive piece, even if he does not have the money to pay for it. Or a stamp collector may become so obsessed with his stamps that he neglects his family and friends. In general, however, the advantages of collecting as a hobby far outweigh the disadvantages.

人们往往喜欢收藏东西，有时并没有意识到自己在这样做。确实，当他们发现自己不知道自己拥有的有用之物时，可能会得到一个惊喜。那些从不需要搬家的人变成了毫无选择的杂物收藏家。他们把不需要的东西留在抽屉、橱柜和阁楼里多年，相信自己也许有一天会需要这些东西。随着年龄的增长，人们收藏物品还有另外两个原因：缺乏体力和精力（这两者在清理和扔掉东西时是必不可少的）以及情感因素。拥有很长时间的东西充满着与过去的联系，也许与逝去的亲人有关，于是这些东西逐渐获得了超出其实际价值的价值。

在家里人们会有意地收藏一些东西以避免浪费。在这些东西当中我想把细绳和牛皮纸列进去，节俭的人在打开包裹后便把它们留下来，省得再去买这两样必需品。收集小物品很容易成为一种癖好。我认识一个人，她总是从报纸上剪下时装式样的素描，要是她有钱的话就会去买这些时装。由于她并不富裕，她能买得起这些时装的可能性很小；但她又没有足够坚强的意志来停止这种做法。这是一种无害的习惯，但是它把她的书桌弄得乱七八糟，以至于每次她打开书桌时，纸片就到处乱飞。

作为一种严肃的业余爱好的收藏是截然不同的，它有很多好处。它可以在闲暇时间提供休闲，因为仅仅看看自己的珍藏品就是一种乐趣。人们不需要到户外去寻求娱乐，因为收藏品就在家里。不管收藏品是什么，邮票、唱片、头版书籍、瓷器、玻璃制品、古董家具、图画、汽车模型、填充动物玩具、玩具动物，从为新增加的收藏品找到合适的摆放位置到在参考书中查证相关事实，总是有事情可做。这种爱好不仅能使人在自己选择的专题方面受到教育，而且也能在与之有关的一般事物方面受到教育。还有其他的好处。反过来，一个人的朋友和亲戚可能会觉得有义务赠送与他的收藏品有关的礼物。而且这些礼物不必很昂贵。我的一个年轻亲戚正在攻读音乐研究生学位，最近送了我一本关于钢琴历史的书。这是一件很受欢迎的礼物，因为我对音乐感兴趣，而且也正在收集与音乐有关的书籍。

收藏家可能会从找到稀有物品这一事实中得到一种满足感。但是也有可能他们会对自己的爱好着迷，把所有的时间和金钱都花在上面。这可能会导致问题。例如，一个对古董家具充满热情的收藏家可能会难以抵挡购买一件非常昂贵的家具的诱惑，即使他没有钱来支付。或者一个集邮者可能会对他的邮票如此着迷，以至于忽视了他的家人和朋友。不过，一般来说，收藏作为一种爱好，其好处远远超过其坏处。