How many still read a physical book? Just curious....
Due to disease, I must use my tablet to read. I don't like it and very much miss real books.
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Quakertrucker · 70-79, M
@PhilDeep
One note about collecting books - and over my recent 72nd year, I have collected (and given away thousands - and never charged anything for them):
Remember that you are responsible for what your spouse or significant other has to go through after you die - assuming, of course, that since men tend to die younger, and you are 5 years younger than your wife (or, at least, I am) you will die first.
Does she have to sort through your collection of thousands of books from many genres - science-fiction; alternative reality (I don't know what the term would be but something that would include "Narnia" and "The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy"); history, science, mystery, labor, philosophy, etc. in mine - or have you presorted and predisposed of, saving her the emotional and time consuming task of sorting thousands of books; giving away, or leaving them at Goodwill or similar charitable organization?
I can't think of the Swedish word, but it means "death cleansing", and means going through your possessions before you die - thus saving your beloved one that tedious task.
About a year ago, I started on that job - beginning with my books. I started packing a book box - mover term - or two with books that I intended to give away. I included Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Asimov, Jack London, Arthur Clark, Maupin, Kerouac, Ginsberg, Bukowski, many children's books/series from the early-to-mid 20th century - as well as many of lesser renown, and some of no reknown. I included a pristine copy - not old, just not tattered and torn - of Ulysses.
I have kept the box - or, sometimes, boxes - filled and in our main car. Whenever I see one of the small personal libraries - and, I know where three are in my county - I always stop and fill it up. I then refill the box(s) when I get home. I have even put books into these mini-libraries while on trips to the Detroit, Michigan area and to Columbus, Ohio.
I have now saved my wife the strain and trouble of having to sort through about 6,000 books. Now, I still need to give away about another 3,000 before I am called up yonder. The preceding is just being used as a metaphor, though I am a Christo-Centric Quaker!
Next, I need to start on hats - the only thing besides books that I have ever collected. I have a collection of about 50 XXL (size 7 3/4) hats in all styles - homburg, porkpie, fedora, newsboys caps, top hat, stove pipe top hat, 10 gallon hat, Gilligan - I can't think of the name for the type of hat that he wore throughout the series. My hats also come in many materials: cotton, wool, straw, and leather of several thicknesses and design or bareness. I also have Stetsons and Borcalinos among other name and nameless brands.
I will have a hard time convincing myself to give up my hat collection - which was begun my senior year of high school in Spring, 1970, when someone jokingly gave me a yarmulke. Other than baseball style caps and winter hats, I had never owed a single hat; but that joke put me on the road of collecting hats, and searching out men's hat stores whenever I am on the road - resulting in the purchase in 2006 in Albuquerque of a grey wool 10 gallon hat with a 6 inch brim, as well as a white, straw 10 gallon hat with a 5 inch brim, both of which will need homes if I can convince my wife of my need to do this to make sure that her job post-me is easier.
Now, I will just have to convince myself to start giving away hats as well as books. I will also have to figure out how to give the hats away - carefully considered and orchestrated gifts to friends or acquaintances, or just donations to charities - like Goodwill or Volunteers of America.
Time will tell!
One note about collecting books - and over my recent 72nd year, I have collected (and given away thousands - and never charged anything for them):
Remember that you are responsible for what your spouse or significant other has to go through after you die - assuming, of course, that since men tend to die younger, and you are 5 years younger than your wife (or, at least, I am) you will die first.
Does she have to sort through your collection of thousands of books from many genres - science-fiction; alternative reality (I don't know what the term would be but something that would include "Narnia" and "The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy"); history, science, mystery, labor, philosophy, etc. in mine - or have you presorted and predisposed of, saving her the emotional and time consuming task of sorting thousands of books; giving away, or leaving them at Goodwill or similar charitable organization?
I can't think of the Swedish word, but it means "death cleansing", and means going through your possessions before you die - thus saving your beloved one that tedious task.
About a year ago, I started on that job - beginning with my books. I started packing a book box - mover term - or two with books that I intended to give away. I included Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Asimov, Jack London, Arthur Clark, Maupin, Kerouac, Ginsberg, Bukowski, many children's books/series from the early-to-mid 20th century - as well as many of lesser renown, and some of no reknown. I included a pristine copy - not old, just not tattered and torn - of Ulysses.
I have kept the box - or, sometimes, boxes - filled and in our main car. Whenever I see one of the small personal libraries - and, I know where three are in my county - I always stop and fill it up. I then refill the box(s) when I get home. I have even put books into these mini-libraries while on trips to the Detroit, Michigan area and to Columbus, Ohio.
I have now saved my wife the strain and trouble of having to sort through about 6,000 books. Now, I still need to give away about another 3,000 before I am called up yonder. The preceding is just being used as a metaphor, though I am a Christo-Centric Quaker!
Next, I need to start on hats - the only thing besides books that I have ever collected. I have a collection of about 50 XXL (size 7 3/4) hats in all styles - homburg, porkpie, fedora, newsboys caps, top hat, stove pipe top hat, 10 gallon hat, Gilligan - I can't think of the name for the type of hat that he wore throughout the series. My hats also come in many materials: cotton, wool, straw, and leather of several thicknesses and design or bareness. I also have Stetsons and Borcalinos among other name and nameless brands.
I will have a hard time convincing myself to give up my hat collection - which was begun my senior year of high school in Spring, 1970, when someone jokingly gave me a yarmulke. Other than baseball style caps and winter hats, I had never owed a single hat; but that joke put me on the road of collecting hats, and searching out men's hat stores whenever I am on the road - resulting in the purchase in 2006 in Albuquerque of a grey wool 10 gallon hat with a 6 inch brim, as well as a white, straw 10 gallon hat with a 5 inch brim, both of which will need homes if I can convince my wife of my need to do this to make sure that her job post-me is easier.
Now, I will just have to convince myself to start giving away hats as well as books. I will also have to figure out how to give the hats away - carefully considered and orchestrated gifts to friends or acquaintances, or just donations to charities - like Goodwill or Volunteers of America.
Time will tell!
PhilDeep · 51-55, M
@Quakertrucker I've thought about this for sure. I've given away hundreds too. Definitely plan on giving away more. I don't have much in the way of family but I plan to clear out well in advance of life expectations if I can. Thanks for sharing and all the best to you and yours.