MUSEUM QUALITY IS WHAT BOOMERS CALL THEIR ACCUMULATION

Museum quality is a collector’s goal. Leave the bad, take the good.

Then what?

If possession is nine tenths of the law, what’s the last tenth?

After you’ve got what you’ve been looking for, put it in a box, on a shelf, in a case. The idea is to enjoy the company of an artifact, what it means, where it came from.

If the treasure is in a display case with overhead lighting, it feels important. Walk by and take a look. But when time comes to move the cabinets for new carpeting, some things come into better focus.

Some questions need answers.

When you look at stuff, what’s the first question to answer? “What is it?”

That’s an easy one since it’s something you’ve collected. At least it should be.

When you’re changing things up and put a collection together, like the creative box top full of little bowls and plates at the top, along with a ceramic bird’s nest, take note.

Is it important? Does it fill a gap in a longer story of more stuff? What is the reason for it being in the house in the first place?

Museum Quality Boomer

If you’re moving things temporarily it doesn’t make sense go all museum-care and bag and tag everything for long term storage.

If you can walk and chew gum at the same time, use the lids of bankers boxes for transport. Pack it tightly and move with caution. You don’t want to lose a creamer, or gravy boat, or whatever these things are.

Lucikly, boomers know just what they are since they grew up with them. Which leads to an awkward realization: how has such fragile things survived so long?

Great Grandma had a favorite cup that was passed down to Grandma, then mom, then daughter. Daughter gets married and decides the cup is lonely, so she finds friends for it.

That’s one theory. Another is just having a thing for tea cups.

If you have a bunch of cream pitchers for tea, you need tea cups.

It’s important to keep this in mind: There are everyday tea cups and special tea cups. The everyday is on a kitchen shelf; the specials are in a showcase.

Why is this important? They don’t always look different, but they are.

They have value beyond dollars and cents. They hold memories of High Teas past, and hope for more in the near future. It pays to be ready.

Are you living in a High Tea house?

High tea is not a fancy tea, as many people assume. Delectable scones, tea sandwiches, and cakes are the hallmark of an afternoon tea, which is served in midafternoon. A high tea, however, includes much more substantive fare, such as meat, fish, and egg dishes, as well as breads and desserts, and is offered in the early evening. Think of it as a light supper served with tea.

Value Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

If you’ve ever downsized and had your stuff appraised, you know the cruel reality. You own ‘Nice’ stuff.

The gorgeous silver collection is not what you thought it was? The crystal isn’t crystal?

What about the dancers?

Nice dancers.

Be glad for the memories stuff carry with them. No one can take that away. What can be taken away is a misunderstanding of value. We don’t all have priceless objects of museum quality, but we still don’t recycle, or donate, or throw away.

We can’t. I tried, but nothing looked disposable. If you feel the same way it’s because you’re too close.

Extra Space For More To Fill

After emptying the cabinets I made a little display.

A Presidential letter and Presidential plate sit above honorable service papers from the Marine Corps for my dad, and the Army for me.

Kind of an American story, don’t you think?

The empty shelves in three display cabinets tell another kind of story with one question: Where did it all go?

Luckily I have a storage system with extra room hanging on a wall.

In the near future it will all be consolidated back in the cabinets.

Some will stay and some will go.

The exciting part is deciding which is which.

Maybe you’ve had this conversation:

“We don’t have to keep everything.”

“Why not?”

What’s the best answer? Comment below.