I am 52 years old, I am in pretty good shape, and I have no health issues. I am certainly not expecting to pass away anytime soon <knocks on wood>.
In the past couple of years, an interesting thing has begun to happen. I am purchasing things in "lifetime supplies" when I can.
It started with #78 drill bits, I bought 1,000 of them at once because I never wanted to buy them again.
I purchased 200 DPDT toggle switches when I had a chance to buy them in bulk. That should do it.
When it comes to power tools now, I am buying good decent quality in the hopes I never need to replace it again.
The list just goes on and on... and I have only been doing this for a short time.
Is this something normal, or is it a sign of hoarding.
No, I am not buying toilet paper or other household items like this, just durable goods, and things I used to replace fairly often.
And the hobby items... I have all the freight car kits I could ever build in a lifetime now, as well as craftsman structure kits and other items.
Is this just getting ready to retire? I might be retired already.
Is anyone else doing this?
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190Is this something normal, or is it a sign of hoarding.
I'm 63 and sometimes I chuckle at myself when I see some of the things I "thought" I was going to need sometime in the future and now realize that future is now. Still, I don't regret having some excess on hand.
I live pretty far from most supply houses and rely mostly on Amazon, eBay, Grainger and those sorts of mail-order places. Same with railroad supplies, Walthers, MB Klein, etc.
It may be difficult to anticipate future needs but there's another thing I consider when I purchase an item that I think I'll need an abundance of for the layout and that is, will that item still be available when I need one again? Tenax comes to mind. Jordan Vehicles and many of the now "retired" structures and rolling stock models. Glad I got 'em when I did.
I never really know what project may pique my interest so when I get "creative" I'm glad I don't have to wait to fill an order for, say, styrene shapes, paints, adhesives and all that kind of "stuff".
It helps, too, to keep an eye out for price reductions from time-to-time. Recently, someone mentioned a "shortage" of Testor's Dullcote. I bought a four-pack from Amazon back in January and the price was $18.00. So it helps to keep an inventory. Of course some things have a limited shelf-life so you have to watch that. Amazon prices will fluctuate considerably. If you keep an item in your "want list" you can check prices and buy when it is on the low side.
Yep, as far as kits and things like that I have enough to keep me busy well into my second lifetime.
Cheers, Ed
Sometimes the bulk deals are the same as buying a few extra. Even though I don't pay retail, years ago whe I bought Sinohara code 70 rail joiners 50 packs were about 50% higher in price than 10 packs, so buy 15, get35 free.
I wonder if any of it had to do with buying power.
Since 2015 I have had plenty of disposable cash for the first time, Maybe I figured since I have the money I should just get all I will ever need.
This was not a pruposeful decision, but it may have happened without me knowing.
Now I am, trying to live frugal so I do not need to go back to work. Maybe now I am realizing I was spending on things I might not need.
I will ponder this for a while.
Well Kevin,
I am 62, and 25 years ago I bought a very high quality, heavy duty garden tractor that I full well expect to last the rest of my life. It was very expensive at the time. This brand is known to last 40-50 years with only basic care and maintenance. Mine still runs like new, and cleans up pretty nice.........
And because they stopped making these tractors in 2002 after a 32 year run, I have stocked up on a number of wear parts.
I told the wife the day we wrote that check it would be the only tractor we would ever have to buy.....she laughed.....she believes me now.
I have always bought good tools, and being a professional carpenter, retired electrician, and pretty experienced hobby auto mechanic, they see a lot of use, and do wear out from time to time, but I have many hand tools and power tools that are decades old.
In the 1980's I was a MATCO TOOLS dealer, still have tool boxes full........
I'm guilty of "keeping some inventory" on some sorts of things, drill bits, fasteners, etc. Some of it is planned, some is just the side effects of the construction business........
As a teen and young adult our family owned three Checker Marathon automobiles, every one went over 250,000 miles lasted a decade or more.
So I get it. I'm very practical like that too. Can it boarder on hoarding? Maybe, but if you have the space and money it's not hoarding in the bad sense.
I'm so practical the last two cars we have owned were nearly identical. In 2012 we bought a FORD FLEX. It was totaled in a crash in 2015. We bought another FORD FLEX with nearly identical features and options. And for those who don't know, the FORD FLEX has not really changed in its 11 years of production. I will be sad when I cannot buy a third one...........
I have been stock piling supplies for my layout for years. Tortoise switch machines, 24v control relays, Dallee detectors, Atlas track, equipment, locos, structures. All on a carefully planned list of future needs.
Sure I was building a layout at the old house, but I typically bought near the total quantities I expected to need, not just what I needed at the time.
So the new layout has a good start, some stuff never used, some stuff easily salvaged.
I think you are perfectly normal Kevin.
Sheldon
rrebell I bought Sinohara code 70 rail joiners 50 packs
I sure did stock up on those Shinohara rail joiners when they shut down production.
The two compartments in the upper left hold 14 of the 50 packs for code 83 rail. There are code 70 rail joiners to the right.
Along the bottom there are 20+ packs of Peco track pins.
According to my calculations, this should be all I need to build the layout.
It cost in excess of $300.00 to fill this box. That is about 20 Tortoises, these bits of metal are expensive!
Silly me thought you were talking about a lifetime supply of toilet paper, noodles and bottled water
I never bought more than what I would need in the foreseeable future and I have not regretted it at all. Life sometimes wanders off in directions you did not or could not foresee. It´s better to travel through life with only a light luggage. Too much ballast slows you down when you have to run.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Hoarding? I wish I had more notice Radio Shack was gonna close shop. I'd have stocked up on those switches that you did, and other commodity items.
I bought a set of Harbor freight drill bits with the fractional, number and letter bits. The bigger bits are plenty good enough. But I ate a lot of the smaller, number bits. SO!
Having had great results from Norseman fractional bits, I spent good money on TWO sets of Norseman number drill bits, cuz I HATE it when I break a bit and the project depends on having it. Then I found a seller who does sell those singly. Thats good. (Those, I do not lend!)
I've bought "life time" supplies of some things, and used 'em up. Some others I'll have for my life time.
Edited in: I bought a 4x8 sheet each of .040 and .060 styrene, my 2 most used sheet styrene sizes. SO nice to know I have it! I keep it behind a 4'wide cabinet where it takes up almost no space. Dan
I only stock up on Kadee #148 Couplers,knuckle springs, both sizes of Kadee washers, Intermountain metal wheels, Atlas locomotive detail parts like horns, mu hoses, cab sunvisors, various colors of paint, various sizes paint brushes, alphabet decals, various sizes of screws especially 2-56, freight car stirups and drill bits and I restock as needed since I don't have a lifetime supply.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
SeeYou190 In the past couple of years, an interesting thing has begun to happen. I am purchasing things in "lifetime supplies" when I can. Is this something normal, or is it a sign of hoarding.
Overview
Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs.
Hoarding often creates such cramped living conditions that homes may be filled to capacity, with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. Countertops, sinks, stoves, desks, stairways and virtually all other surfaces are usually piled with stuff. And when there's no more room inside, the clutter may spread to the garage, vehicles, yard and other storage facilities.
Hoarding ranges from mild to severe. In some cases, hoarding may not have much impact on your life, while in other cases it seriously affects your functioning on a daily basis.
People with hoarding disorder may not see it as a problem, making treatment challenging. But intensive treatment can help people with hoarding disorder understand how their beliefs and behaviors can be changed so that they can live safer, more enjoyable lives.
Symptoms
Getting and saving an excessive number of items, gradual buildup of clutter in living spaces and difficulty discarding things are usually the first signs and symptoms of hoarding disorder, which often surfaces during the teenage to early adult years.
As the person grows older, he or she typically starts acquiring things for which there is no immediate need or space. By middle age, symptoms are often severe and may be harder to treat.
Problems with hoarding gradually develop over time and tend to be a private behavior. Often, significant clutter has developed by the time it reaches the attention of others.
Signs and symptoms may include:
Excessively acquiring items that are not needed or for which there's no space
Persistent difficulty throwing out or parting with your things, regardless of actual value
Feeling a need to save these items, and being upset by the thought of discarding them
Building up of clutter to the point where rooms become unusable
Having a tendency toward indecisiveness, perfectionism, avoidance, procrastination, and problems with planning and organizing
Excessive acquiring and refusing to discard items results in:
Disorganized piles or stacks of items, such as newspapers, clothes, paperwork, books or sentimental items
Possessions that crowd and clutter your walking spaces and living areas and make the space unusable for the intended purpose, such as not being able to cook in the kitchen or use the bathroom to bathe
Buildup of food or trash to unusually excessive, unsanitary levels
Significant distress or problems functioning or keeping yourself and others safe in your home
Conflict with others who try to reduce or remove clutter from your home
Difficulty organizing items, sometimes losing important items in the clutter
People with hoarding disorder typically save items because:
They believe these items are unique or will be needed at some point in the future
The items have important emotional significance — serving as a reminder of happier times or representing beloved people or pets
They feel safer when surrounded by the things they save
They don't want to waste anything
Hoarding disorder is different from collecting. People who have collections, such as stamps or model cars, deliberately search out specific items, categorize them and carefully display their collections. Although collections can be large, they aren't usually cluttered and they don't cause the distress and impairments that are part of hoarding disorder.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hoarding-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20356056
Alton Junction
Some people call it hoarding, to us it is known as model railroading.
richhotrain SeeYou190 In the past couple of years, an interesting thing has begun to happen. I am purchasing things in "lifetime supplies" when I can. Is this something normal, or is it a sign of hoarding. According to Mayo Clinic, it is not normal, and it is definitely a sign of hoarding. Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about this disorder. Overview Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs. Hoarding often creates such cramped living conditions that homes may be filled to capacity, with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. Countertops, sinks, stoves, desks, stairways and virtually all other surfaces are usually piled with stuff. And when there's no more room inside, the clutter may spread to the garage, vehicles, yard and other storage facilities. Hoarding ranges from mild to severe. In some cases, hoarding may not have much impact on your life, while in other cases it seriously affects your functioning on a daily basis. People with hoarding disorder may not see it as a problem, making treatment challenging. But intensive treatment can help people with hoarding disorder understand how their beliefs and behaviors can be changed so that they can live safer, more enjoyable lives. Symptoms Getting and saving an excessive number of items, gradual buildup of clutter in living spaces and difficulty discarding things are usually the first signs and symptoms of hoarding disorder, which often surfaces during the teenage to early adult years. As the person grows older, he or she typically starts acquiring things for which there is no immediate need or space. By middle age, symptoms are often severe and may be harder to treat. Problems with hoarding gradually develop over time and tend to be a private behavior. Often, significant clutter has developed by the time it reaches the attention of others. Signs and symptoms may include: Excessively acquiring items that are not needed or for which there's no space Persistent difficulty throwing out or parting with your things, regardless of actual value Feeling a need to save these items, and being upset by the thought of discarding them Building up of clutter to the point where rooms become unusable Having a tendency toward indecisiveness, perfectionism, avoidance, procrastination, and problems with planning and organizing Excessive acquiring and refusing to discard items results in: Disorganized piles or stacks of items, such as newspapers, clothes, paperwork, books or sentimental items Possessions that crowd and clutter your walking spaces and living areas and make the space unusable for the intended purpose, such as not being able to cook in the kitchen or use the bathroom to bathe Buildup of food or trash to unusually excessive, unsanitary levels Significant distress or problems functioning or keeping yourself and others safe in your home Conflict with others who try to reduce or remove clutter from your home Difficulty organizing items, sometimes losing important items in the clutter People with hoarding disorder typically save items because: They believe these items are unique or will be needed at some point in the future The items have important emotional significance — serving as a reminder of happier times or representing beloved people or pets They feel safer when surrounded by the things they save They don't want to waste anything Hoarding disorder is different from collecting. People who have collections, such as stamps or model cars, deliberately search out specific items, categorize them and carefully display their collections. Although collections can be large, they aren't usually cluttered and they don't cause the distress and impairments that are part of hoarding disorder. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hoarding-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20356056
According to Mayo Clinic, it is not normal, and it is definitely a sign of hoarding. Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about this disorder.
Well, I can't speak for Kevin, but that does not decribe me.
Despite how much stuff I/we may possess, our home is neat, sparse and clutter free.
I have adequate storage space for the "stuff" and that too is neat and well organized.
And despite the stuff, I am very quick to make a dump run, and be rid of things of no value.
The 1000 freight cars, 140 locos, 100 turnouts, 500 relays, 700' of flex track, tractor parts, tools, construction materials, nearly complete collections of MR and RMC, 1700 vinyl records, 700 music CD's, etc, etc, barely put a dent in the available storage space, which we have less of now at the new house.
Lots of questionable stuff did not even make here from the much larger old house...........
But if you need a wire nut, or screw or other mechanical wigget, there is a good a chance I will have one........
While I no longer collect IPD boxcars I started collecting boxcars,covered hoppers and tank cars but,limited them to 100 boxcars, 80 covered hoppers, 60 tank cars and 50 miscellaneous cars..
I never like using the same cars over and over and over-Oh look there's that dented Railgon again or there's that MR&T boxcar again...
I don't consider it hoarding since my house remains clutter free.
A coupla thoughts come to mind. In no particular order . . .
If the kids need new shoes and you buy that 4 pack of covered hoppers instead, that might be a problem.
If you still have the alternate nozzle for that leaf blower you bought in 1992 and discarded in 2008, that might be a problem.
If you already have 12 leaf blowers and you buy another one at a garage sale because it cost only five bucks, that might be a problem.
For some reason that classic Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith as the last man on Earth and he wanders into a library and stacks up all of the books he plans to read for the rest of his life and then he steps on his reading glasses . . . not sure how this applies, but it came to mind.
Robert
PS Like Mel, I also buy 10 packs of CA glue in little tubes, and for the same reason.
LINK to SNSR Blog
Maybe we all have a sense of insecurity in the hobby. Better buy it now at a good price in case I might NEED it later and will be stuck buying it at a higher price, or not be able to find it at all.
I don't think drill bits are in that category. They wil likely be used up.
I used to accumulate kits, and locos, and rolling stock, and structure kits for the day that I would build that bigger layout.
I then decided that nothing I owned was all that rare or valuable, and whatever I need could be picked up on ebay pretty easily. I sold a bunch of stuff that fell into the "some day" category and kept the stuff that was in the "use now" category.
"Some day" will probably never get here.
There was a certain amount of relief to shedding stuff that wasn't going to be used in a reasonable time frame, and the cash gneration was a nice benfit.
Now I practice just-in-time inventory methods for the layout build.
Having said that, I'm fresh out of #78 drill bits.
- Douglas
richhotrainAccording to Mayo Clinic, it is not normal, and it is definitely a sign of hoarding. Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about this disorder.
Hmmmm...it seems Rich's post has brought on some defensive replies....
Or are discussion topics getting worn and thin.
They say that recognizing a problem is the first step to correcting it.
Congratulations Kevin, you've made that important first step. One small step for most of us, one giant leep for Kevin.....
Mike.
My You Tube
ROBERT PETRICK A coupla thoughts come to mind. In no particular order . . . If the kids need new shoes and you buy that 4 pack of covered hoppers instead, that might be a problem. If you still have the alternate nozzle for that leaf blower you bought in 1992 and discarded in 2008, that might be a problem. If you already have 12 leaf blowers and you buy another one at a garage sale because it cost only five bucks, that might be a problem. For some reason that classic Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith as the last man on Earth and he wanders into a library and stacks up all of the books he plans to read for the rest of his life and then he steps on his reading glasses . . . not sure how this applies, but it came to mind. Robert PS Like Mel, I also buy 10 packs of CA glue in little tubes, and for the same reason.
My kids always had shoes, they are grown up now. In fact, I started and finished the kid thing at a young age, I am 62, my oldest is 43, my youngest 33, so by 50, my time and money was pretty much my own.
I only have one leaf blower, because I bought a good one, in fact, only owned two in my lifetime.......
I think genuine hoarding would be buying those 1000 #78 drill bits and then being afraid to use even one for fear it might break. Or buying a replacement immediately for one that did break.
We have all (I suspect) had the experience of intending to get around to buying some hobby supply or kit or whatever, and waiting too long and missing out, or waiting too long and now it is an expensive and rare collectible. I noticed at this February's train show in Madison WI that one or two guys seemed to be reaching for all the same Jordan kits that I was reaching for. So a certain buy it when you see it mentality sets in.
And a buying frenzy sets in when a major manufacturer calls it quits, only to have the line revived anyway, making it look like you were hoarding.
And some people just get quirky about things. I know a guy who has this odd "thing" for Athearn 0-4-2T "Little Monsters" and he probably has over a dozen of them. He has no idea if they run or not. I guess he wanted one as a boy and was always disappointed.
It wasn't that kind of quirk but more like bad memory: years ago I told myself I kind of casually wanted a certain kit, so I bought it at a train show and added it to the shelves for someday. I forgot I'd done that so I bought one at another train show and added it to the shelves for someday. And you guessed it, it happened a third time! And that is when I noticed the other two sitting there. I only sort of wanted it so actually buying it did not trigger a major memory in my head I guess.
But I know one guy, a model railroader and railfan, who is a genuine, clinical, hoarder. Eventually he begged for help and a group of us, wearing masks and latex gloves, agreed to try to clear out his house. It was depressing and disgusting and filthy and even though he had asked for the help he fought us every step of the way and kept going out to the Bagster to retrieve what we were throwing away. We found well over $1000 in cash and checks and coins on the floor. He didn't care or thank us. And the crunching noise we kept hearing as we walked over the 18 or so inches of newspapers and other refuse, some of it disgusting, that covered every bit of the floor turned out to be -- Lionel trains, HO trains, and other railroad models on the floor. The floor was nearly covered by trains. And 35mm railroad slides. And then two feet of papers. We had no idea.
I can't bring myself to describe the refrigerator or the bathroom.
We eventually just had to give up as he was bringing back inside everything we were throwing away (dead plants, empty milk jugs, decade old calendars, unused tickets to baseball games, and unopened bags of fast food that had been allowed to rot, but he had written summaries of daily weather on the bags). One of our crew has refused to talk to him or even acknowledge his presence ever since.
I wouldn't want a rat to live like this guy lives. That is hoarding, and it is a real disease, not just a personality quirk.
Dave Nelson
Doughless Maybe we all have a sense of insecurity in the hobby. Better buy it now at a good price in case I might NEED it later and will be stuck buying it at a higher price, or not be able to find it at all. I don't think drill bits are in that category. They wil likely be used up. I used to accumulate kits, and locos, and rolling stock, and structure kits for the day that I would build that bigger layout. I then decided that nothing I owned was all that rare or valuable, and whatever I need could be picked up on ebay pretty easily. I sold a bunch of stuff that fell into the "some day" category and kept the stuff that was in the "use now" category. "Some day" will probably never get here. There was a certain amount of relief to shedding stuff that wasn't going to be used in a reasonable time frame, and the cash gneration was a nice benfit. Now I practice just-in-time inventory methods for the layout build. Having said that, I'm fresh out of #78 drill bits.
I have run real businesses most of my life. I have never been a fan of "just in time". It has been a blessing and a curse in many industries, model trains being one of them.
That said, I only buy model trains that fit the size and scope of the CURRENT layout plan, and with money others might use to take an expensive vacation. We don't take 5 digit, or even mid 4 digit vacations........
Having a few days off to do what I want at home, or near home, is the best vacation you can give me........even before the virus...........
I must have about 25 un-built kits on my shelf - locos and cars mostly. My rule on that is to not buy another kit before completing one. I am not retired yet, so I bought a few more expensive kits that I probably won't be able to afford when I retire. Some are also getting harder to find (loco kits).
But I do keep a healthy supply of craft paints, good paint for grimy black, and glues. Turns out that the "hoarding" of paints and glue really helps me go through the pandemic. I am still working from home for my real job, but evenings are dedicated to model railroading. And I have managed to do a lot of things without going out there or ordering parts. Paint and glue, it goes a long way!
Simon
mbinsewi richhotrain According to Mayo Clinic, it is not normal, and it is definitely a sign of hoarding. Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about this disorder. Hmmmm...it seems Rich's post has brought on some defensive replies.... Or are discussion topics getting worn and thin. They say that recognizing a problem is the first step to correcting it. Congratulations Kevin, you've made that important first step. One small step for most of us, one giant leep for Kevin..... Mike.
richhotrain According to Mayo Clinic, it is not normal, and it is definitely a sign of hoarding. Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about this disorder.
I agree with you Mike. Kevin has already taken the first step toward recovery, i.e., acknowledgement of the problem.
From the Mayo Clinic description and the replies so far, the only other hoarder that I can determine with certainty is Sheldon who is still in the Denial stage.
Rich
I like practicing just-in-time inventory for the layout, but I wish that I would have hoarded some Cascade Rail Supply Homabed that I had on my ebay watchlist for abot a year.......
Sometimes I wonder if this forum is a kind of "therapy" for some of the members. The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now. I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
SeeYou190 rrebell I bought Sinohara code 70 rail joiners 50 packs I sure did stock up on those Shinohara rail joiners when they shut down production. The two compartments in the upper left hold 14 of the 50 packs for code 83 rail. There are code 70 rail joiners to the right. Along the bottom there are 20+ packs of Peco track pins. According to my calculations, this should be all I need to build the layout. It cost in excess of $300.00 to fill this box. That is about 20 Tortoises, these bits of metal are expensive! -Kevin
Back in the decal paper shortage a few years ago, I found some online. It was in packages of 25, which I realized would last me forever, but that's the least I could get.
I either lose stuff or it dries out anyway. On the other hand, I'm 73 and have heart issues and diabetes, so a lifetime supply doesn't have to be very big.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Doughless I like practicing just-in-time inventory for the layout, but I wish that I would have hoarded some Cascade Rail Supply Homabed that I had on my ebay watchlist for abot a year.......
And there you have the reason why I try to buy the full quantity I expect to need once a product is selected. And that is the one I missed too. I have some in stock, but not enough........
Rich, it will not be real hoarding untill I get to 2500 freight cars and 300 locos, because the layout is designed for about 1200 freight cars and requires the 140 locos to protect the schedule.
But that will never happen, I am mostly done buying rolling stock and locos. I may have a lot of stuff, but I am actually a very disciplined hoarder..........
The only thing I plan to acquire in large numbers is switch machines. I want everything to match and I'd hate for the choice I make to leave production.