Gyrogami Blog - Precious Metals, Jewelry, Artwork

Yes, I Have Some

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Categories: Experiences and daily life; Human nature; Commerce and Business

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Some might consider the amount and variety of things in my shop as a potential hoarding situation or compulsive buying. Their observations would be valid. I won't skewer reality to fit my narrative. If you would consider alternate reasons then hear me out. Isn't that what any good hoarder says?

The simplest explanation is that I'm buying in mega bulk, literally for decades or a lifetime. Like, forever, no bullshit. It has served me well. Secondly, they don't make things like they used to so get it when it's good cuz it's going away. I'm a sucker for good deals, too.

Witness my socks. I purchased 50 pairs of wool socks in 2007 after waiting years for the company to bring them back. A few unopened pairs remain. Thus, it'll be over two decades from that one purchase. I'm kind of pissed at myself; I should have ordered 150.

OK, there may be other clothing. Though I had the foresight to buy multiples, it wasn't enough. I've kicked myself countless times for under-buying. Rarely do I chastise myself for over-buying and it usually is not enough anyway.

Every craft has its own tool vernacular. I have many interests and a boatload of tools to match. Sure, one screwdriver set, one this, and one that are what most of us have. But where did I leave it? Scavenger hunts are fun in an antique shop but not here, thanks.

Having centralized tool storage helps though it's not always the most efficient. I argue that each work station should have dedicated tools immediately accessible. They are specifically adapted for their task. An all-around hammer with marred faces is incompatible with manufacturing fine jewelry. Get it?

As a kid I played a mean game of marbles. Everyone revered the King Kong Steelies (ginormous ball bearings) and crowds would gather anytime they were played. I had one but wanted more. Sometimes I'd "help" the track and field team, bury a shotput, and hoped it remained until I returned. No such luck.

Years later I was rummaging through a scrap yard and came across the beast of all steelies, a 70lb behemoth. Sometimes you know that XYZ is important, just not when or for what. It took 16 years to find its purpose. Nothing else I had worked, including two shotputs, and I never would have known otherwise.

I would often stop by a local antique car restoration place to chat. The owner was fixing his suspension and correctly doubted that any local store stocked replacement nuts and bolts given their unusual size. He was elated when I returned minutes later bearing fruits. From my inventory. That's a good chit to have.

Or when the electrician did some work and needed parts he did not have. Surprise, surprise, guess who did? To say he was impressed would be an understatement and it saved me money to boot.

Living in the boonies has reinforced this tendency. It's inconvenient to get "anywhere" to buy anything so you buy as much as possible. If only those chocolate cookies had a longer shelf life.

Posted by M: February 4, 2025

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