My Cardboard Habit: Collecting Goals

Sunday, January 7, 2018

Looking Ahead to 2018

Now that I've put a bow on 2017, it's time to look ahead to 2018.

This post will be much shorter than my last.

The reality is this: my only goal for 2018 is to enjoy collecting. Whatever brings me enjoyment will be the path I follow. As I was mentioning in the last post, setting goals - at least for me - made collecting less enjoyable because I felt like I had to do certain things.

There are a couple things that I hope to do, however. First and foremost, I want to build the 2018 Heritage set (including High Number). I've got every Heritage base set dating back to 2013 (those high-numbered short prints can be a pain in the butt to gather!) and the High Number sets from 2016 and 2017 (though I think I also have 2015 somewhere, I just need to find it).

I would also like to keep getting my collection organized in the Trading Card Database. This has been an incredibly useful tool for me recently, and I hope to get everything put in by the end of the year. I crave organization!

So there it is: my 2018 non-resolutions!

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Looking Back on 2017

I didn't have a post-op breakdown of 2017 put together in my queue prior to the new year, so I guess now is as good a time as any to look back. Here were my goals and my analysis of how I did.

1. Get my hands on a 1969 Mickey Mantle

Nope, didn't happen. One of my resolutions that didn't make it to paper was to not force myself to work on sets or collections. I did that in the past and it really took the joy out of collecting for me. That being said, I didn't force the '69 set in 2017. When I felt like snagging a card or two or found a deal I couldn't pass up, I went for it. I also accepted set needs in trade packages. But I didn't force anything. A Mantle that I could afford never crossed my path and that's okay.

2. Finish organizing my collection

Sort of happened. I got about three-quarters of the way through organizing my collection and then found the Trading Card Database. This site is by far, the most detailed and in-depth organization website I have found. Therefore, I am in the process of get my collection organized there.

3. Start and complete the 2012 Topps Heritage base set

Nope, didn't happen. Never got there, for the same reason that I didn't get my hands on a 1969 Topps Mickey Mantle.

4. Add 50 new cards to my Rusty Greer player collection

This definitely happened. Beyond all of the trade packages and small purchases here and there, I bought a 75-card Greer lot on eBay back in January. In all, I'm willing to be that I snagged a hundred and fifty Greer cards during the year.

5. Find a new way to digitally share my growing Rangers cardboard collection

Check! As I mentioned, the Trading Card Database has become my go-to for organization. It is also perfectly suited for sharing my collection. I still have a lot of cards to add to the database (mostly scans).

So there it is. Two-and-a-half goals completed, two-and-a-half failed. However, it doesn't matter that I didn't complete all of the goals. In 2017, I really just wanted to enjoy my collection more than I did in 2016. Though I had some serious down moments in 2017, it was fun.

Now, let's look at some of my favorites from 2017!

Favorite Card