A Collection of Collections?

In some ways, I would definitely call myself a collector... but I'm not a very dedicated one. I tend to go through phases in which I become attached to a concept and surround myself with items related to it. For example: I have an abundance of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle merchandise one one of my shelves, and another is decorated with Joker related comics, DVDs, and figurines. I also have a bundle of old German books that I picked up from various secondhand shops. I can't read them very well, but I hope to one day put them to good use! Somewhere in my house is a vase filled with bottle caps that I gathered together when I was wee... I certainly collect things! I'm just not very consistent about it.

It's difficult for me to keep one collection going for very long. Often times, when I perceive my collection as finished, the magic disappears and I either get rid of it or abandon it for a while. Don't get me wrong-I'm a total packrat and I appreciate the value of nostalgia. But I prefer giving my junk a new home to letting it collect dust on my shelf.

One of my more conventional and currently growing collections is my collection of Maneki-nekos. I only have an armful of them right now, because I limit myself to purchasing them when I visit different Chinatowns across America (and hopefully related attractions in other countries some day). They're said to bring good luck and, frankly, I find them adorable. They serve to remind me of the adventures I've had in the places that I've travelled to.