I read somewhere on this list, that one definition of 'vintage' is 50 to 100 years old. Well, I'm not vintage yet, but darn near close...

I didn't think I was a life long collector until after reading this thread I looked around and saw all the books I have. I have been collecting and keeping favorite books since I started to read. Until recently, I still had the Dick and Jane book I learned to read on. Not an exciting book to many, but I still remember the excitement of the book because I could read it! I remember the passage in The-Wind-in-the-Willows describing the river--making it a living thing, that inspired me to write. Little House on the Prarie got this suburban kid a job on a farm when I was in college. More exciting, I thought, that working fast food. David Coperfield made me glad of what I had. Chesapeake made me appreciate where I live...stop me now (I can hear the chorus, "Stop her! Stop her!") or I'll go on and on. Jack's Pump book is now part of that collection.

I started the art thing in 2006 and in 2007 started buying a piece of art every year as a Birthday/Christmas gift to myself/from my husband. Included is a piece (in three pieces) that twirls in the wind, from a friend who builds sculptures out of old car parts from his work.

I was taking my time looking at these forums, soaking up stunning visual images, history and weird bits of data before I was going to take the plunge. I thought, if I buy anything, that first object would look interesting and have a patina that might look good in a still life painting. Lately though I've been thinking about this oil can...but the manufact--er--owner is a very wiley fellow. If I can get a-holt of him, it might be the start of something dangerous!