My middle life crisis itch

I was always thinking of myself as a rational human being (with a bit of a crazy hidden side but that’s for another discussion). While I’m nearing my 50th birthday – in a year and a couple of months from now- I realise that I become impulsive and irrational, especially as far as it concerns my watch collecting itch. Growing up and feeling more bored than ever by everyday activities I found resort and comfort in the paranoically and sadistically beautiful world of horology. I sense that my urge is fulfilled more from the journey, the hunting and the expectation of the watch becoming my own than the watch itself. This feeling fills gaps which remained unfulfilled through the different periods of my life. Like a little kid that was standing every day after school outside the candy store slurping on the mouth-watering delicacies in the display window but being sort on money to really taste one of those sugary treasures left him just with a fantasy about how good they could taste (yeah, I am a sweet tooth too). And suddenly the kid is invited in the store by the lady manager with the golden curly hair and the glowing baby blue eyes! And her words are coming out of her mouth like a thousand blossomed flowers raining from the sunny sky “Come on in kid, take any candy you like. Gift from the store”. Japanese, Swiss, German, American, Chinese of any colour, shape, and size. Varieties of complications, movements and brands with pedigree and great stories, screw-down crowns and water resistance certifications, colourful straps and jubilee bracelets…and (oops) homages. All there available to fill the kid’s pockets. Should I just take the three-layer cake with the Rolex submariner icing at the top or get a taste of as many Seiko, Casio, Tissot and Hamilton candies as my stomach can take? Troubled and confused. The rational fights with the irrational. The kid wants more, selfishly, and greedily. This is where I stand today. I experience the kind of addiction that the professionals of this hobby cleverly call “the itch”. And I scratch and scratch and the kid needs its sugar dose. I see people talking about 2-3 watch collections and I envy them. I wish I could be them but I can’t. I don’t own any Rolexes or Omega’s although I could have done it if I had saved my money for a 2-3 holy grail watch collection. Instead, I went for the smaller and ongoing doses of thrill, anticipation, and excitement! At least this was my watch collecting path until very recently when I suddenly started having glimpses of logic caressing my brain like sunbeams on a summer Sunday morning. I am taking a step back cherishing my collection, actually wearing my watches. Everyday giving them what they deserve. My appreciation! I try not to buy any new watches the last 3-4 months (apart from a couple of models which were really in my list for some time now). There were periods that I could buy a watch almost every day, but these days are over along with the obsession of possessing more watches. I find talking about it liberating because I understand that this hobby can easily end up becoming a very addictive and painful experience. I enjoy it very much still focusing on the watches and not on stuffing the kid’s stomach with more deserts! Every watch in my possession is part of my life, full of memories and stories and I don’t regret having any of them (well maybe I regret my 1-2 fashion watches from the early days when I was still very young and ignorant of how much fascinating watches are as mechanisms). We all love watches and that’s why we are here because we get a sense of belonging in this group, meeting with people who can understand our passion.  I would love to hear your stories and your journeys. Your similar experiences and how you manage to cope with them. Take care everyone!