Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
More adventures in research. At odd moments between working, have started assembling books for another purge, and I realize how many books I buy for a particular project (usually for a dollar or two plus postage from abebooks.com). But, not only are those projects done, but I'm unlikely to write another book about Abraham Lincoln, and if I do, do I REALLY need to know about his behind-the-scenes political mentor, David Davis? Probably not.
As libraries close down - and existing collections purge seldom-read volumes to make room for yet another copy of the latest bestseller - I find myself relying more and more on buying what I need, for as long as I need it, then letting it go, usually to the local Goodwill. (Friends have given me reasons why there are worthier or more politically correct charities to donate to, but the thing about the local Goodwill is it's LOCAL. I can get rid of the stuff and still have an afternoon to work). Back when I was with George, between us we had a collection about the size of a moderate city library; most of that went away (along with EIGHT GARBAGE-BAGS FULL of "collectible" Barbie-dolls which had turned out to be not so very collectible after all, and FOURTEEN BANANA-CRATES of mid-80s to mid-90s not-in-the-SLIGHTEST collectible baseball-cards). (Ah, George...)
The "letting-it-go" part is the trick. And making the correct decision what NOT to let go of (like the sleazy French bodice-rippers I figured I'd never read again, and then had to hunt all over the Internet for when I got a craving for that particular brand of trash...) I have about a wall of fiction these days, and it's getting smaller, as I realize there's a lot of this stuff that I will never want to read again. I'd rather keep that room clear, open, and friendly as a guest-room, that oppressively cluttered with the detriutus of bygone research.
That's what the Goodwill is for. Things that Seemed Like A Good Idea at the Time.
As libraries close down - and existing collections purge seldom-read volumes to make room for yet another copy of the latest bestseller - I find myself relying more and more on buying what I need, for as long as I need it, then letting it go, usually to the local Goodwill. (Friends have given me reasons why there are worthier or more politically correct charities to donate to, but the thing about the local Goodwill is it's LOCAL. I can get rid of the stuff and still have an afternoon to work). Back when I was with George, between us we had a collection about the size of a moderate city library; most of that went away (along with EIGHT GARBAGE-BAGS FULL of "collectible" Barbie-dolls which had turned out to be not so very collectible after all, and FOURTEEN BANANA-CRATES of mid-80s to mid-90s not-in-the-SLIGHTEST collectible baseball-cards). (Ah, George...)
The "letting-it-go" part is the trick. And making the correct decision what NOT to let go of (like the sleazy French bodice-rippers I figured I'd never read again, and then had to hunt all over the Internet for when I got a craving for that particular brand of trash...) I have about a wall of fiction these days, and it's getting smaller, as I realize there's a lot of this stuff that I will never want to read again. I'd rather keep that room clear, open, and friendly as a guest-room, that oppressively cluttered with the detriutus of bygone research.
That's what the Goodwill is for. Things that Seemed Like A Good Idea at the Time.
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