the collection conundrum
I think I’m beginning to understand now,” said Moomintroll slowly. “You aren’t a collector any longer, are you? Now you are just an owner. That’s nowhere near as much fun.”
“No,” said the Hemulen thoroughly dejected. “It is most decidedly nowhere near as much fun.
It can be easy to get caught up in trends and that applies in stationery too; there’s always the latest version of a pen or the new planner or we see someone’s perfectly curated Instagram feed and think our desk needs to look the same so we buy the same things. I’ve been guilty of this - my bank balance and my Kaweco collection can attest to it. But it brings me much much joy. I’ve always been a collector and this is just another collection within my collections.
Journaling and stationery do not have to be expensive to be useful or pretty. Good paper that does not bleed fountain pen ink does not come that cheaply. However, you can still journal with a ballpoint in a pocket notepad. Blocking off sections in your bullet journal in varying shades of gel pen ink might make it more aesthetic or might help with your note-taking style, but it could be done in plain old black ink if we’re being honest. But I have found, some products just have certain qualities that you can’t get at some lower prices.
I used to think that Moleskine was the primo notebook - it was sleek, it was stylish, it had a pocket. But I learned that I didn’t like the paper. Then I found out about Midori and Traveler’s Notebook. Then I found out about Hobonichi and Tomoe River Paper. I used to think Parker and Cross and Waterman and Schaeffer and Mont Blanc were the only pen brands, but then I found Lamy. Then I fell for Kaweco. Then I got a Twsbi. Then I won a Platinum. Then I got a Y-Studio…
I love my vast rainbow of Kaweco. Could I have bought a premium pen with the money I spent on them? Most likely, but it would not have brought me the same joy.
I like collecting things and the thrill of the chase for the next new thing is always enticing. I think Kaweco will be my magnum opus but I’ve decided I will never buy the red Kaweco sport. By keeping one out of the set, I will always be a collector and not an owner.
