In collecting is it possessions or experiences?

Years ago, a former boss of mine noted on the company’s website that he’d rather have “experiences” than “possessions”. As a late 20-something at the time, I could only see his worldview to a point. He lived in a house overlooking the Pacific Ocean and had a BMW in his driveway. It seemed all too easy to suggest that he’d rather have experiences when he already had many great possessions.

I had already traveled a bit at that point, but my focus at the time was on buying my first apartment – not thinking about running with the bulls in Pamplona or engaging in adventure travel.

I was already a collector, and it was only a few years later that a friend told me that for what I spent on my shelf of helmets I could have traveled the world and would have seen even rarer helmets at various museums.

My response to the wholly unsolicited advice was, “Or, I could just buy a book, look at the pictures of helmets, and stay home.”

My friend was taken aback by my retort, and I was quickly told, “That’s not the same. Pictures don’t do some items or places justice. I’m just saying that things aren’t the same as experiences.”

I did see the friend’s point – but again, only to a point.

I say this as someone who has been to literally dozens of museums around the world. Seeing the rarest items behind glass in a case well out of arm’s reach isn’t the same as owning and discovering the history when you own the item – even some less rare, or historically significant. Like many of you reading this, I’m still a collector, and there is a drive to own these things – while still knowing that some items do belong in museums for the entire world to enjoy.

Over the years I’ve been fortunate to see the Death Warrant of King Charles I of England, a sword carried by Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, and General George S. Patton’s revolvers. All are impressive, to say the least, but I can’t honestly say that seeing these on a computer screen or a book is really any less impressive than viewing these in person. Once you walk away, you’re left with the memories and photos.

Those who don’t collect can never truly understand the desire to own what some might see as expensive junk. Likewise, I’ve met many collectors who wouldn’t dare travel to some of the places I’ve been – and if I had a nickel for every time I heard, “Was it safe” or “You could be robbed or worse,” well, I’d probably have a lot more helmets bought with that money!

I’ve had plenty of great experiences traveling the world. Of course, I’ve also ended up in the ER in distant lands, dealt with endless rain that hampered sightseeing, and notably found the entire World War I section at the Austrian military museum in Vienna to be closed for renovations.

Likewise, dare I sound like a privileged millennial or Gen-Zer (I’m proudly Gen-X for the record), I must admit Europe has become somewhat disappointing, to say the least. Cities like Venice, Prague, and Budapest are still fantastically charming, but it is hard to escape the tourists, especially in the summer. The authentic Old World seems to be largely gone, replaced by souvenir stands and Starbucks!

In Venice, the problem with daytrippers has gotten so bad that the city is now charging a visitor fee, while in Paris, the Louvre is now building a special room to house the Mona Lisa as so many tourists head to the museum to only see the arguably overrated painting.

Now in fairness, many military museums often lack the crowds of the Louvre or the Uffizi Gallery, but rarely is there an opportunity to truly study an artifact and take in its significance – and visiting a museum doesn’t bring close to the joy of adding a piece to the collection. This is where my friend missed the point about my helmets and other collectibles.

Seeing something in a museum never brings the same connection to the past as having it in a display case or on the shelf in my office. This explains why those with far deeper pockets than most buy artwork from the great masters, collect automobiles, and simply enjoy “the finer things.”

At the same time, I must make a case that one shouldn’t forgo experiences for the sake of their collection. I would tell anyone not to put off a vacation getaway just so a new item can be added to a display case, and certainly don’t be reduced to eating ramen noodles and off-brand mac and cheese because you couldn’t pass up on a seemingly once-in-a-lifetime purchase.

I feel an attachment to some items because of where and when I bought them. Some items are my connections to old friends no longer with us. I knew they treasured these items, and these pieces are a reminder of those friendships.

Likewise, I have a few items from vacations and trips. Sadly, the days of the great militaria shops in London and Paris are a thing of the past, but items can still be found if you look hard enough. Often, if it isn’t an actual collectible, it might be a book or other trinket.

The point is that as a collector I appreciate the idea of acquiring these prized possessions as much as having experiences. As with so much in life, it comes down to balance and personal preference.

While I have cherished memories of travels with my parents to Cairo and Jerusalem, my collection can also help lift my spirits on the worst of days. Finally, I am also far more likely to forget a bad purchase I made than I am to get over a truly bad experience!