[Rockhounds] AD- Downsizing / collections important?

[Alan Silverstein]

> I'd like to hear what other members in the list plan to do with their
> collections.  Sell?  Donate?  Landfill?

Never sell, I made the decision years ago not to sell any rocks, and
never have, despite a few offers for some of them.  And hopefully, not
landfill either.

I'm not a serious gem/mineral collector, don't buy much either, mainly
I'm a self-collector and field-trip leader.  I just keep what I want and
give away the rest!  (Although I pride myself on always PROCESSING
everything that comes home, timely; no buckets in the back yard full of
dirty rocks.)  The resulting "pile" is bigger than I ever dreamed, over
250(!) (now labeled and indexed) flats and other boxes.

"Adde parvum parvo magnus acervus erit."
(Add little to little, get big pile.)

But I'm slowly high-grading it, giving about half away, and re-shelving
the rest better.  (Plus slowing down on the collecting.)  For example,
so far this winter I have pulled, now that I can locate them, 12 flats,
all previously considered "keepers", of raw (cleaned but not polished)
and tumble-polished "Parker" (Colorado) petrified wood (I've had the joy
of collecting dozens of times in dozens of locations), sorted it down to
7, and used the rest for Halloween, kids' table at the annual club show,
etc.  When you gather it all in ONE place, it's a lot easier to part
with half of it!

Now more directly to your question:  I have no illusions about living
forever, nor of creating a rock and mineral legacy of any kind...  Sic
transit gloria mundi.  These rocks are MY toys, borrowed for the
universe to enjoy while I'm around to do it, and to share the fun and
wonder.  If I live long enough, after I slide out of the go-go phase of
retirement (now age 63) through the slow-go phase and then into the
no-go phase, I will continue to whittle down, rather than accumulate, my
collection, and give away everything I no longer want.

What I've told my heirs is that whatever's still around when I'm gone
(and it might be a LOT of stuff); first, don't panic, take your time.
Take whatever you want to keep for yourselves, then hold an open house
giveaway day for the local rockhounds club, maybe throw out a tip jar
for anyone who's feeling generous, but it's NOT ABOUT THE MONEY.  It's
about sharing the fun.

Cheers,
Alan Silverstein