Did you ever collect anything? Stamps, coins, pins. If you ever did, how and when did you start? Who introduced you to whatever it was? Whatever you collected, it made you...you.
Over my lifetime I have learned to be amazed by different folks' hobbies. The variety of what some people collect is nothing short of amazing. There were normal items such as postage stamps, art, coin collections, automobiles, toys, and then there were other not so normal items.
One of my rancher buddies collected various samples of barb wire. He has hundreds of different pieces, and I had no idea there were so many different styles. His wife, not to be outdone, collected buttons. Her sewing room walls were covered with thousands of buttons from top to bottom, and no two of them were alike.
Another friend collects cars. No, not full sized, but thousands of Hot Wheels toy cars. A whole room in his house is wall to wall glass cabinets with each car in its original box! He started his collection when he was 8 years old. Movie posters, antique firearms, autographed baseballs, thimbles, watches. You name it and you can bet there's somebody with a collection of whatever it is.
Back in the 1980s and 90s when I was a road warrior and constantly in and out of airports on a weekly basis, I would always bring my daughter back a Beanie Baby. She has hundreds of them. But at some point, as she got older, she lost interest and now they are all in a box in a closet. To this day, she won't let me toss them out or donate them as she says they have sentimental value.
So, what was your collection? Do you still have it? How did you get interested? Or maybe you never started one? But if you did, whatever you collected, made you...you!
By David Edge
David Edge is a retirement lifestyle writer and contributor to the ARA monthly newsletter. His articles blend personal stories with practical insights on living well in retirement.
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Easy Eddie's Take
David's story about collecting really hits home for me. Most people are surprised when they learn this, but your collections might actually be worth more than you think as you head into retirement. I get questions all the time like "How do I value my collection for estate planning?" or "Should I sell my collectibles to fund retirement?" The answers depend on what you've got and your specific situation.
Here's the good news: if you've kept items in good condition like David's friend with those Hot Wheels cars, certain collectibles have actually outpaced inflation over the decades. Baseball cards from the 1980s, vintage toys still in boxes, even some of those Beanie Babies can have real value. But here's what's important for 2026 planning: if your collection is worth more than $13,610,000 (the current federal estate tax exemption), you'll want to get it appraised for estate planning purposes.
Think of it this way: your lifetime of collecting could be part of your retirement funding strategy or a meaningful legacy to pass down. Either way, it's worth knowing what you really have. A little preparation today can make a big difference tomorrow.