Soul Collecting & Reaching Retirement Age

[viphitman]

I just wondered while many people seem to sell off their record collection right now if others consider buying records again once they draw their pension or if they rather want to splash out on posh holidays or other long-held dreams ???

Secondly, if you are still collecting would keep on collecting once you have reached retirement age or would you part with your precious goodies ???

Edited February 24, 2012 by viphitman

[Geoff]

When I retired last year one of my resolutions was to stop buying vinyl. I thought it's a luxury I can do without, doesn't matter if it's on vinyl, tape, CD or MP3, it's the music that counts, and at home it the media doesn't matter. And the latter is true, but the lure of vinyl has proved too strong and I have succumbed. Fortunately I don't buy expensive records but it still adds up. And once you've got one you want there is another one you want.

As for selling up, well my collection couldn't match most on here I'm sure. I can't imagine selling my records, they are an enormous part of my life, the music means everything to me. In the future, who knows? One of my biggest dreads is losing my hearing, don't think life would be worth living without my music.

[Wilxy]

I must admit, that I'm hoping to retire at 60, which is just under 3 years away, however being part of the Soul "society" keeps me young (at heart ,at least) And collecting vinyl has always been an important part, or the "big draw" for me personally,in particular when attending venues!

What frightens me, is that whilst I'm a wage earner, which enables me the luxury of sustaining a healthy interest in obtaining my vinyl "fix", a major drop in income on retirement could curtail my ability financially to pursue what probably is my major hobby......which brings me back to my first paragraph

[Guest Mrs M]

I have sold some of my bigger money tunes recently to raise necessary finances but I still have a wants list that continues to grow. Once I get working again I have every intention to replenish my collection. I am 43 and have collected for 24 years and if and when I reach a point to sell up they will be fed back into the scene. There are a lot of young newcomers emerging and hopefully they will be the right people to sell on to. This new blood will keep the scene alive when i'm too old to remember my name, never mind record labels, titles and artists..

[Markw]

I must admit, that I'm hoping to retire at 60, which is just under 3 years away, however being part of the Soul "society" keeps me young (at heart ,at least) And collecting vinyl has always been an important part, or the "big draw" for me personally,in particular when attending venues!

What frightens me, is that whilst I'm a wage earner, which enables me the luxury of sustaining a healthy interest in obtaining my vinyl "fix", a major drop in income on retirement could curtail my ability financially to pursue what probably is my major hobby......which brings me back to my first paragraph

Mike

I'm 6 years behind you mate and, having started again a year ago, I'm into building my 4th collection or so and my mind is buzzing around the same potential dilemma. Particularly because this collection is something I would like to build on more than previously rather than selling up when personal circumstances dictated. But, hey, as you say it is only a hobby.............or is it????

[Mark Bicknell]

Sold pretty much all the big trophy tunes over the past few years since I stopped DJ'ing oin a regular basis, still collecting but to a lesser degree but still having fun getting little bits and bobs back alongside fresh stuff to me, don't think I'll ever stop buying records as it's something I've always done just wish I'd kept them all lol.

[viphitman]

Great to hear that some of you still collect even when the bus pass is for free !!!!!!!!! I think once the budget is tighter, there is also a great chance to look a little deeper into soul music !!! Lots off cheaper tunes which have been overlooked for various reasons can open up a whole new world of listening pleasure. There are still lots of great & cheap and sometimes even unknown tunes. Sometimes we all get a little carried away with it by chasing the expensive stuff but a lovely bargain makes collecting even more enjoyable!!!!.. Geof please change your picture... I always get the munchies everytime I see it Well, I am off again to stuff my face

[Guest Mrs M]

Well said.. Its the cheapie semi-unknowns making a big impact on me at the moment and also lesser priced tunes I always loved but never got round to picking up over the years... Prime example The Mighty Marvellows - Talkin' Bout You Baby'.. Class tune and I only got round to buying it four years ago..

[TOAD]

its buying expensive records cheaply for me and allways has been ! This week @£8 inc pnp a 45 thats on sale on here for £150. Carnt see me stopping buying its a way of life.

[Guest Matt Male]

I intend to just keep buying and buy more in retirement and leave a pile of crappy vinyl for my kids to try and sell on ebay to pay for my funeral costs.

[Guest gordon russell]

Well lets just wait and see who can afford to retire...........matt male excluded (public sector worker :D )

[Wilxy]

Mike

I'm 6 years behind you mate and, having started again a year ago, I'm into building my 4th collection or so and my mind is buzzing around the same potential dilemma. Particularly because this collection is something I would like to build on more than previously rather than selling up when personal circumstances dictated. But, hey, as you say it is only a hobby.............or is it????

Mark, Where have I used the word "ONLY" relating to the "hobby"? LOL! Like you say, we're not into first or second collections, and from a personal perspective and moreover so "late in the day"......I'm probably chasing certain virtually unobtainable Top end Detroit pieces that I would have struggled to obtain even during the halcyon days, and whilst I approach the pensionable stage, I doubt I will obtain them from pensionable income, unless I either win the lottery......or discover time travel, and my way to the Motor City..... at least in the interim

Edited February 25, 2012 by wilxy

[paultp]

I sold quite a few of my records a year or so ago, mainly the stuff I'd bought because I thought I should have them in my box when I dj'd. I put all the stuff I really liked and that meant something to me into a separate box and then started selling all the rest.

I now don't DJ or go out anywhere, but I've started buying records that are just for me and it is much more enjoyable. The money I raised from selling records funds my sailing - new sails, refurbishing my vintage dinghy, etc etc.

I'm starting to enjoy my records again, but I doubt I'll ever set foot in a soul night or niter ever again. I could probably play a better set than I ever did too which is a bit ironic.

Cheers

Paul

Edited February 25, 2012 by paultp

[Dylan]

I'm starting to enjoy my records again, but I doubt I'll ever set foot in a soul night or niter ever again. I could probably play a better set than I ever did too which is a bit ironic.

Cheers

Paul

there is a valuble lesson in that for any up and coming guys who want to get into this.

[Kevinkent]

I took early retirement 16 months ago and had big plans of seeking out some long term "wants" to be funded from my lump sum. That soon got knocked on the head once I realised that my savings were diminishing pretty rapidly and that our lifestyle meant that our monthly outgoings were exceeding our income.Currently I'm buying nothing, but still can't stop searching for stuff . Old habits die hard.

It's not just the vinyl collecting that's been affected. Travelling the country to various venues is now a real rarity rather than a weekly occurence which is a shame. Probably living so far south has something to do with this as a night out often means a weekend away. On the few occasions that I have got out and about recently it's been heartening to discover that I still have so many good friends on the scene, and for those brief moments it seems like I've never been away.

Will I get rid of my vinyl? I doubt it. I have thought of selling all my boots/re-issues etc (especially my Stardust Tempests lol.) as they've been sat untouched in boxes for years and I don't even play them at home. That might change soon as we're off to Spain. If we re-locate permanently a decent night out will be even more of a rarity so some of those old copies just might get dusted off for home use (I'll hide them if Dave Moore visits!) Needless to say my hopes of replacing them all with the genuine article is now just a pipe dream.

Will I lose touch with the scene? Not if I can help it! I've been around a bit and led a varied life and have yet to find anything that matches the friendliness and cameraderie that exists on the soul scene. And on top of that there's the music - what more can you ask for? Plenty of do's in Spain and I'm especially looking forward to the 2012 Hitsville weekender, plus I'll be back for the occasional 100 Club and other events. What I really need to find though is a regular monthly/bi-monthly do in Spain. Maybe I'll start one - who knows.

So there you have it...

Selling up - No

Giving up - No

Buying - the jury is out.

Now, if anyone wants to send me some nice vinyl for my forthcoming 60th- don't be shy!

- Kev

[Guest Bearsy]

Kev records melt in the heat so leave them here with me i will take good care of them when you 60 will sort you out a little pressie for you in vynil form

once a buyer of vynil always a buyer and athough i still got about 25 years before i retire i cant ever seeing the buzz of that new tune arriving ever leaving so i think i may well be collecting to the day i die