[jhyde77]

I collect off and on because of all of the good times I've had collecting. I'm 37 and I've been collecting since '89. Some of the best collecting memories have been trading with friends in the early '90s, going to card shows with friends, following the homerun chase in '98, following the Braves teams of the '90s, building a '92 Bowman set with packs (at $3 each), and recently pulling a Ripken rookie from an '82 Donruss pack at a Flea Market. Book value doesn't matter that much to me. Pulling the Ripken was more fun for me than pulling a $100 autograph.

If you want to take a break and have a hard time stopping, put a '94 regular Bowman set together with boxes. Opening those packs will make you question why you collect.