If you have followed my Instagram Stories while I’ve been on vacation at Isle of Palms, it’s obvious that I’m a collector by the number of shells I add to my beachcombing bag to take home with me. I embraced the fact that I was a collector a long time ago. I allow myself to collect things because I enjoy it, but I’m also aware of my tendencies enough to prevent things from taking over our house. Collections are only valuable if they can be seen, enjoyed, and interacted with in a meaningful way. But, as I was intently examining the piles of shells on the beach, I realized I wasn’t just collecting shells when I set out for our daily beach walks.
Shell collecting was number one. I was on the hunt for whelks, olive shells, fossils, interesting oyster shells, and anything else that caught my fancy. To me, that is the best part of being on the beach.
While in that beautiful location, though, I was also collecting reference photos for future paintings.
I would take pictures of the sky, water, surf, sand, and the light as it changed through the day. When I noticed a large number of dogs along with chatty owners, I started asking if I could take photos to use as references as well. I was able to photograph several breeds, starting and adding to another collection. I was often surprised by how helpful the owners were, trying to get their dogs to sit and pose for me to get a lot of photos.
I collected videos of the waves and when we spotted dolphins in the surf to share on social media and to look back on in the future.
I also noticed I was collecting steps. I kept checking my Apple Watch to see where my step count was to make sure I was well on my way to surpassing my 10,000-steps-a-day goal. I would make extra trips back and forth along the beach just to get a few more.
And, most importantly, I’ve been collecting memories. I’ve soaked in times with my parents, Jeff, the boys, and extended family. I haven’t seen my brother and sister-in-law for a few years (they live on the west coast) and it’s been so nice to reconnect. They started the “sunset club” and a group of us would go out most evenings to enjoy the beach in the evening and watch the sunset. I would comb the beach a bit while Jeff and the boys threw the football and tackled each other in the sand. We all took pictures and admired the golden light.
As I made all of these observations, I recognized that I’m always going to find something to collect. More than that, collecting isn’t always about things and stuff. It’s about the hunt, the finding, the exploration, and learning to see value in moments, experiences, and also things.
Collectors are going to collect. It’s just how we work. This trip reminded me that it’s important to focus on what I’m collecting and why…
19 Responses
Wow, I just had this conversation with a vintage shop owner the other day! As a lifelong collector, I can say that I love collecting the experiences of finding treasures and who I was with at the time, as well as the stories of the objects themselves. There are so many aspects to collecting that make it all so enjoyable and worthwhile.
Well said.
The thrill of finding something meaningful after combing through a thrift shop, aahh.
Kim
I too love collecting. Shells are a must at the beach. Hope to visit South Carolina beaches maybe this summer.
I also understand about collecting, I’ve been doing it all my life. All of my collections give me some sort of a feeling that I enjoy. Sometimes my family doesn’t understand it, but that’s must me 😉
Please tell me that thing on your dog’s collar is not some of those terrifying electroshocking things to make them stop doing barking or something like that, please please don’t use those things 🙁
Thank you and sorry if I bother but I’m concerned.
Also, just because there is a box doesn’t mean it even shocks. A lot of them either use noises, clicks, etc only, or offer them as an option in addition to shocking.
I can think of lots of reason to have a box on a pet. Especially in a wide open space. If Ole Red skips out of sight you could just click, click and back he’ll come if you have trained him to return to heal when you click.
Please tell me that thing on your dog’s collar is not some of those terrifying electroshocking things to make them stop doing barking or something like that, please please don’t use those things 🙁
Thank you and sorry if I bother you but I’m concerned.
Den—That dog does not belong to Marian. If you read this post through you would know that she took photos of other people’s dogs while on vacation to use as references for future paintings. It bothers ME how quick to judgement some people can be. I know you think you are helping by expressing your concern, but I don’t believe this is the appropriate platform for that type of comment.
Den, the dogs pictured do not belong to me, but to people who were walking on the beach. The red dog is a bird dog, so I assumed the box might be for GPS tracking when hunting with them or perhaps for an electric fence. Either way, I didn’t ask since they were gracious to allow me to take photos of their animals.
As the Pink Panther said, “that’s not her dog”.
Well said, Bev.
I live in the Pacific Northwest and I enjoy your blog. What is the pretty blue shell you posted? I’ve never seen them on the Oregon coast.
It is a whelk. A lot of people mistakenly call these conch shells, but they are whelks.
I was absolutely struck by the beauty of the sand in the first picture in your post, the one with the single shell on the beach.
While the shell is lovely, to me, the star of that photo is the sand.
Just lovely!
This resonates with me as I too am a collector. I have too many collections to list and each one is special to me. The hunt. The thrill of the find. The display of the treasures. All of this keeps my adrenaline pumping!
Loved this post. I think we can all relate to some of it. Like you and most on here, I took love collecting – whether it’s rocks, shells, ironstone. But somewhere along the way, it’s about the journey. It’s where you were when you found something, who you were with, and certainly the memories created. All of these are great collections to be treasured. Thank you for your insight as always.
You were collecting the best thing of all…memories. Enjoy your boys, they grow up too fast.
I love this post
! I don’t read many blogs any more for a multitude of reasons, but I love that you do you!
For as long as I can remember I’ve been a collector! Rocks, sticks, stones, ironstone, antiques, shells, art supplies, office supplies, photos, plants, seed pods, books, to name a few. There are memories attached to all of these and I can’t imagine life without the memories! Seems like I’m always finding things to pick up and save, even for a short time. It’s good to know I’m not alone (esp when people around me sometimes think I’m crazy)