In re-reading this for perhaps the third time I just recalled a fleeting moment today, which seems to be something I have been aware of happening with more frequency of late. More of a feeling really, when I stood in front of my watch box and looked down at all the various pieces and I thought “MY GOD!! Where did all these things come from!? SO MANY (relative of course) amazing watches, any one of which I could hardly have imagined actually owning at one point not so long ago in my collecting journey. “How did it it come to BE that there are so many?”
Then I started looking at each one individually and began recalling the story behind each piece and remembered “the hunt” ; how each one was first planted in my mind as a goal, exactly like in this article, and began believing first that I would somehow get one, then kind of obsessing and looking and scheming (a little harsh but let’s be honest) until eventually it came into my possession. Now I must add that at times this might have included more than one watch at a time and one that had been “in the hunting down process” for a relatively shorter period of time presented an opportunity before another that had been there for sometimes years (up to 10 in at least one case).
The point being that each one was indeed a goal (something I generally have never been very good at setting in most areas of my life) and once reached was replaced by a new one, as written here.
BUT somewhat unexpectedly, and quite possibly as a result of reading more of the articles in this archive of sorts, I find the “urge”, the insatiable “thirst” dissipating, as I realize that there are so many incredible timepieces being released almost daily and so many more that have been growing in beauty and appreciation for years and that I’d never be able to have all the ones I like AND that I can hardly give enough wrist time to the ones I already have. I truly love them all at this point and I’m pretty sure that if I should get that desire back for a “really special piece” then one would have to move out for another to move in.
Now all this may pass; I know for sure that I don’t know what I don’t know! But for some time now that feeling of “what’s next” has not immediately followed the receipt of a NWA.
And that feels pretty good. I am reminded so many times the last few years of the Talking Heads classic “Once in a Lifetime” ....... “How did I get this beautiful wife, large automobile, horological magic machine, etc,. “ ...where the heck did they come from? well, one at a time, time after time. Now it’s time to take some time......... to enjoy and appreciate
This is such a thoughtful, nay, EPIC comment... I kinda wish I could frame it somehow. Thank you, ever so much, for taking the time to write it. I truly appreciate it!
And thank YOU for taking the time to actually put all these thoughts together on various aspects of collecting and the connection to life’s lessons and where it all fits into the much larger hierarchy of what’s really important in this strange wild ride we perceive as life!
Also, I must say it kept me up a little bit later than I had expected, trying to put these thoughts down in a cohesive matter😳😣😉..... another benefit of reading them; sharpening up my own writing skills, such as they may be 🙃
And thank YOU for taking the time to do these insightful examinations into the wacky world of horological collecting and it’s (sometimes thin and sometimes direct) connection’s to life’s bigger issues. I haven’t found anyone else doing it quite the way (many ways actually 😝😹) you do. I’ve been challenged to look outside my little box view and set of “confirmation biases” frequently!
In re-reading this for perhaps the third time I just recalled a fleeting moment today, which seems to be something I have been aware of happening with more frequency of late. More of a feeling really, when I stood in front of my watch box and looked down at all the various pieces and I thought “MY GOD!! Where did all these things come from!? SO MANY (relative of course) amazing watches, any one of which I could hardly have imagined actually owning at one point not so long ago in my collecting journey. “How did it it come to BE that there are so many?”
Then I started looking at each one individually and began recalling the story behind each piece and remembered “the hunt” ; how each one was first planted in my mind as a goal, exactly like in this article, and began believing first that I would somehow get one, then kind of obsessing and looking and scheming (a little harsh but let’s be honest) until eventually it came into my possession. Now I must add that at times this might have included more than one watch at a time and one that had been “in the hunting down process” for a relatively shorter period of time presented an opportunity before another that had been there for sometimes years (up to 10 in at least one case).
The point being that each one was indeed a goal (something I generally have never been very good at setting in most areas of my life) and once reached was replaced by a new one, as written here.
BUT somewhat unexpectedly, and quite possibly as a result of reading more of the articles in this archive of sorts, I find the “urge”, the insatiable “thirst” dissipating, as I realize that there are so many incredible timepieces being released almost daily and so many more that have been growing in beauty and appreciation for years and that I’d never be able to have all the ones I like AND that I can hardly give enough wrist time to the ones I already have. I truly love them all at this point and I’m pretty sure that if I should get that desire back for a “really special piece” then one would have to move out for another to move in.
Now all this may pass; I know for sure that I don’t know what I don’t know! But for some time now that feeling of “what’s next” has not immediately followed the receipt of a NWA.
And that feels pretty good. I am reminded so many times the last few years of the Talking Heads classic “Once in a Lifetime” ....... “How did I get this beautiful wife, large automobile, horological magic machine, etc,. “ ...where the heck did they come from? well, one at a time, time after time. Now it’s time to take some time......... to enjoy and appreciate
This is such a thoughtful, nay, EPIC comment... I kinda wish I could frame it somehow. Thank you, ever so much, for taking the time to write it. I truly appreciate it!
And thank YOU for taking the time to actually put all these thoughts together on various aspects of collecting and the connection to life’s lessons and where it all fits into the much larger hierarchy of what’s really important in this strange wild ride we perceive as life!
Word 🫡🥂
Also, I must say it kept me up a little bit later than I had expected, trying to put these thoughts down in a cohesive matter😳😣😉..... another benefit of reading them; sharpening up my own writing skills, such as they may be 🙃
And looks like the skills are not negligible... So better sharpen the pencil once again, and get to it!!
And thank YOU for taking the time to do these insightful examinations into the wacky world of horological collecting and it’s (sometimes thin and sometimes direct) connection’s to life’s bigger issues. I haven’t found anyone else doing it quite the way (many ways actually 😝😹) you do. I’ve been challenged to look outside my little box view and set of “confirmation biases” frequently!