Does Anyone Else Collect Weird Stuff?

Updated on October 16, 2014
M.K. asks from Glendale, CA
19 answers

this is so silly, but I want to know if I am right in thinking, it is also a bit disturbing.
My husband buys a book - the exact same book, over and over again. It is not a different edition of the book, it is the SAME book. Right now I have a pile of this same book about 2 feet high in my kitchen, he probably has around 20, at least that I know of.
He says, "other people collect things, I collect this book, it is a good book, and it is out of print, so you can't get it anymore"
When I ask him what is he going to do with all of them, he says he doesn't know. He in no way thinks it is weird.

The cost is not an issue, the books cost less than $10 each, but I think it is bordering on obsessive. Does anyone else hubby collect weird stuff?

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So What Happened?

LOL, the book is the camra guide to home brewing, it is not particularly rare or old - he just likes it!

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B.C.

answers from Joplin on

I used to collect so much stuff, goodness I had every kind of bunny...stuffed, ceramic, cross stitched etc, I also had a passion for Wizard of Oz stuff...I had other things too, but one day I woke up and felt like I was DROWNING in "STUFF" and then I found FlyLady to help me with cleaning and she has this motto that you cannot clean clutter...I embraced it and got rid of all of the THINGS that were sucking the life out of me...I kept very few things that had sentimental value but the rest got packed up to Goodwill or sold on Craigslist...I am MUCH happier now.

4 moms found this helpful
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B.B.

answers from New York on

I don't, but my BIL collects camping lanterns. The same one, same color, some are different sizes. But he has like 20 of them!!!

2 moms found this helpful

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C.F.

answers from Duluth on

I collect dust bunnies under the bed....

I'd rather collect a book!

8 moms found this helpful
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H.W.

answers from Portland on

I don't know if it's weird, but our home could be the Cribbage Board Museum of Oregon. My husband has over 200 boards...folk art, mircomosiac, ivory, scrimshaw, bakelite, wooden..from all over the world. It goes on and on. Some boards have cost more than I would ever spend on a single item besides education. He does like to restore them, however, we do have a full room devoted to these game boards. (And to think that I taught him the game!)

He also has boxes in the basement which are full of vintage, unpacked toys. (Think 40YearOld Virgin. But married and nearly 50!) I would love the floor space. sigh.

And now he's collecting different kinds of small jewelers vises, to work on the cribbage boards with. double sigh.

Me, myself, I collect the Desert Rose Franciscanware pattern of crockery. And I have a love for old dictionaries, so that I can bring all my 19th century English literature to life. I like odd literary reference books, like those which tell "Literary Names" and give you a synopsis of the character named and where it comes from (literary work, mythology, Bible, other religious/significant works, etc.) Other than that, my collections lie underground in my garden, waiting for spring.

Maybe our husbands can introduce each other to selling on Ebay?

2 moms found this helpful

J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

We collect vintage stuff. I'm just as guilty as my SO though. Old gas pumps, coke machine, cars, signs, license plates, coke products, it goes on from there.
I guess it depends on what your definition of compulsive is?
For me, if I can afford it and it makes me happy, why not? He has 20 of them, is his goal to buy all of the one's he finds?
I think the only thing I would request is he find a place for them. LOL. As a joke I would probably frame one in a shadow box for him. =)

2 moms found this helpful

M.P.

answers from Provo on

I try not to because of my parents. My family does Colonial reenactments and so if they see anything that is remotely accurate it goes with us. UGH!!!!!!!!!!! For the longest time my dad would grab any glass hurricanes for candles. OMG!!!!!!!! We seriously have 100 of them! Just because of that I try not to.

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Y.D.

answers from Dallas on

I collect russian nesting dolls, elephant things, vintage owls, old avon bottles and mickey mouse things. I don't really think any of that is weird, but my aunt collects weird things. Like skin tags, teeth, umbilical cords, etc... She even went so far as to ask my husband for the stones when he had kidney stones. Weird!!!

1 mom found this helpful

M.R.

answers from Rochester on

Well, not my husband. And not the same edition of the book. I have about 13 to 15 copies of Black Beauty. They are all different editions and when I see a different one, I still am likely to pick it up. I have antique copies, collector's editions, illustrated editions, etc. I have said that I might someday give them away as gifts to nieces and nephews, but I doubt it. I used to pick up The Feminine Mystique when I found it used since I hated paying the new price for it, even though I already have a copy of it.

I also like old science glassware and used to have a "dead" collection in my room (dead, dehydrated frog, dead insects like butterflies and unusual beetles, a dried out tarantula, etc.). I collect tea cups and saucers with no rhyme or reason to them (they are pretty and I like drinking tea out of them). When I was in high school I collected silverware (real silver or silver plate) and was obsessive about polishing it. We used it regularly when we were first married for a year or two until my in-laws bought us a stainless set, but I love all the odd and mismatched patterns. This actually made me smile because it is such an odd quirk for your husband. I can see why it is annoying, but it seems pretty harmless to me.

Oh, I also used to collect old grammar books, shorthand books, and always children's literature, especially vintage collections or anthologies with nursery rhymes. Being married with kids and car payments has forced me to curb my collecting urges, but they are still there eager to be indulged. :)

1 mom found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

I have actually started doing the same with a favorite kid's book that's out of print. And I always have my eye out for one particular book that went out of print 40 years ago (it's a decent book by one of my favorite -bestselling- authors, but I only have 2 out of the 3. That book is just not one of her more popular ones).

HOWEVER... what I collect:

- Forgeries. Signed by the forger whenever I can.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

I collect Zippo lighters...don't know if that is weird or not.

1 mom found this helpful
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E.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

LOL... I collect pens. My husband says I'm obsessed. I really don't know what it is about them or why I like them so much, but almost every time we go to the store I have to go down the office supply aisle and check out the pens they have (and usually buy new ones).
I have a few containers filled with various types of pens.
I especially like gel pens - but I buy all kinds, haha.
For the longest time I wouldn't use the pens that I had collected, LOL - but I have gotten over it and started using them now.

I'm pretty weird, aren't I? LOL.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.L.

answers from Colorado Springs on

What book is it? The world wants to know!

I'm thinking it's something he really loves SO much that, when he sees a copy, it's like seeing an old friend, and he feels he MUST give it a safe home!

Maybe he needs to find a local book club, pass his copies out, and have a nice discussion about it. :^)

I have multiple book copies, but they're not exactly alike. They have different illustrations. I'm a sucker for good illustrators. But that's surely NOT weird, is it?.... Huh? Please?

1 mom found this helpful
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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

I found your post so amusing that I read every response. I never heard of such collections. For the most part, I collect clutter! I always have a hard time deciding if I will need something later, so I hold on to it, until one day I have a wipe out day and everything goes.

There are 9 copies available on Amazon right now!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.L.

answers from San Diego on

I agree that's a little wired, but harmless, I think we all collect things, but I don't know anyone who collects the exact same thing. That's cute. J.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from New York on

Yes, I collect vintage baby things. Especially things from the 1970's from when I was a baby. I like to get the same items I see in my photo albums that myself, my baby brother or older cousin had. I search and search on ebay, and thrift stores, and yard sales, and pay next to nothing for these items. It's getting harder now that I am 36, and most items back then were vinyl plastic and now cracked or destroyed. Many people might still find these items in their attic or garage, and just throw them out. Sad :( I have quite a bit so far. Enough I think to actually have and take care of a baby in that era. I cannot wait to have an extra room when the kids go to college to actually set up a complete retro nursery, complete with clothes, toys, books, crib, playpen, bottles, swing, bassinet, etc. I have yet to fins anyone who enjoys the same collection. I wish I knew someone. I am desperately searching for a GM Babylove rear facing infant car seat, it was the first of its kind!!!
Thanks!

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S.N.

answers from Minneapolis on

Collecting is one thing, collecting different (colors, styles, etc.) of the same thing is one thing..... but collecting the same book over and over and over again?? I believe that does border on compulsive and would warrant a little further investigation :)

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K.D.

answers from New York on

What book is it? My family and I are collectors. Whether collecting this book is weird or not I think depends on the book. Is it a rare old/vintage book he finds at used book stores and thrift shops and stuff? Look it up on the internet and see if it is worth anything, some old books are, especially first editions out of print. Or is it just some random recently released book that he keeps buying from the book store? If that's the case that is a little weird, I don't see the point. Was it his favorite childhood book, maybe it is sentimental to him?

C.F.

answers from Boston on

Does None Winning Lottery Scratch tickets count as weird???? LMAO
his collection stays in the Car..........

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Um, wow, is he OCD?

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