Taking control of your collection

From: Lawrence Walker <lgwalker_at_mts.net>
Date: Tue Feb 5 00:00:20 2002

 I have a connundrum. I want to thin out my collection of computer artifacts
and I'm having problems on what to part with. I also could use the money.

 Instead, even in the middle of nowhere, far from Toronto where I accumulated
all this stuff, I find it growing. The problem isn't lack of space as it once was,
but simply to have a manageable hobby.

 I admit, I'm a packrat, and I transported most of my treasures 2000 mi.
shedding replaceable things like couches, beds and appliances justifying
that in my waning years I could dribble-sell them off to supplement my
pension. (even that huge Dumont tube scope that had been refused as
a gift by a list member, shipping would be ridiculous.)

 Plus the idea of a small computer museum (a Toronto one had once been
a justification) in the center of the continent in a totally unexpected
environment had some appeal.

 I don't want to go the route of a massive sell-off like several list-members
did, but clearly I have to take control of this addiction. My first fix was
only to have a couple of Ataris to supplement what was already becoming
a fixation. Then home computers, then CP/M, and you all know the downward
spiral. Thenks got, I never got hooked on minis.

 I just went thru my collection and each time I contemplated selling
something off I came up with a valid(?) reason not to. My SCO manuals
because they give a good exposition of UNIX and I MIGHT want to
install it on one of my boxes, an old 83 business computing text
cause it had a pic of my prized Micom system, another text from 73
that had pictures of card processing equipment that I once worked on.
Numerous programming how-to's cause I really have to get beyond hardware
hacking, and then things like do I really need 2 Kaypros or the H89 I'm going
to repair some day. And why in-hell do I have "Lex and YACC", Odysys
Development", Computes 1984 "Guide to Adventure Games". Do I really
need most of the PS/2s as well as several PS/1s for my IBM collection ?

 You get the picture.

 Sure I have things like my Apple IIc LCD display and DRI GEM volume
I could sell off for wanted cash, but I WANT to keep them.

 How do YOU limit your collection when you aren't a Sellam, John Keys
and others with warehouse space. Seriously. It must be a problem that
many of you have made a decision on, even when it wasn't your S.O.
giving an ultimatum. Any guidelines ? Be stern.

Lawrence

    

 

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Received on Tue Feb 05 2002 - 00:00:20 GMT