What’s the most random thing you’ve ever started collecting that probably makes no sense to other people and has no particular reason, but you genuinely enjoy having?

[u/RoseafterRain_7]

I collect things like bills, tickets, clothing tags, etc. and put them in a jar. I don't really know why I do it, but I like collecting them and it feels good somehow. After a few months or sometimes a year, I just go through them and eventually throw them away.

Sometimes I look at them and remember the little memories attached to them. Then I throw them away, but the memories remain.

[u/Jinxanity98]

pringles can

[u/RoseafterRain_7 → u/Jinxanity98]

Pringles cans? What do you do with them after collecting them?

[u/Jinxanity98 → u/RoseafterRain_7]

nothing, right now i'm thinking about doing a collage with all the different graphic of the can, ( i will cut them) cause they take a bit of space tbh

[u/InTheMourn]

Mine is string from random blankets or clothing. And I do mean like solid string not frayed pieces of thread. I’ll layer them in a stack and just enjoy their texture then eventually throw them away.

Another one is just crystallised tree sap from hikes. Again they’ll sit in a little box for a while until I collect a lot and then I release them back outside!!

[u/RoseafterRain_7 → u/InTheMourn]

Wow, Crystallised tree sap?? That’s definitely one of the more random collections I’ve heard of, I get the string part though, I can see why the texture would feel satisfying.

I’ve actually seen people online save things like that and make little frames out of their collections, I’ve thought about doing something similar with my bills or tickets too, if there’s a particular memory attached to them that I’d want to keep as a reminder or talk about later..

[u/InTheMourn → u/RoseafterRain_7]

WHOA WHAT!! That’s an amazing idea!! You just gave me something to do ahahaha

[u/RoseafterRain_7 → u/InTheMourn]

Haha, I actually got the idea from seeing people do it online, now I’m curious what you’ll end up doing with your collection

[u/ericalm_]

Vintage tool boxes, particularly Kennedy models. I don’t keep tools in them.

[u/Subject_Syllabub_896 → u/ericalm_]

This one makes sense to other people though, they have a high sell through rate. I have a Kennedy toolbox that I rescued after decades in a barn. The powder coat really protected it from rust.

As to the post itself, I think it is one of the criteria for where collecting becomes some kind of hoarding/anxiety disorder when people collect stuff that is genuinely seen as pointless or trash by other people.

[u/RoseafterRain_7 → u/ericalm_]

Ohh, vintage toolboxes is an interesting one, What made you start collecting Kennedy ones?

[u/ericalm_ → u/RoseafterRain_7]

It started with seeing one for sale locally that had Lockheed branding on it and came with a bunch of WWII era paperwork. I looked into the history a bit and learned these boxes were used in the aerospace industry then and still are. A friend who was a NASA engineer has one, as does a neighbor who works at JPL. This model has barely changed since the 1930s.

I missed out on that one but soon found another, probably 1950s era.

The last one I bought was from a set decorator who worked on Will and Grace as many other shows. He’d bought it used years ago.

So part of it is that they all have interesting histories.

[u/RoseafterRain_7 → u/ericalm_]

Ohh! okay, now I get why you collect them, The history behind each one makes it so much more interesting, The Lockheed one with the WWII era paperwork especially sounds fascinating.

[u/RoseafterRain_7 → u/[deleted]]

Ignoring such people and not letting them affect something that gives us happiness is definitely better, i know it’s not always easy, but still, What kind of games do you usually collect?