Why Do We Always Want Just One More Pen?

[The Blue Knight]

I can't deny like most of us I have more then enough pens already some which that don't find there way into rotation very often either.

 

However I have been slowing down the acquisition of new pens down dramatically over the last 8 months and haven't bought one in the last six and been giving away pens quicker then I have been buying them for the first time in 18 months. But the pen bug has started to surface once again and I really want to buy either a Diplomat Esteem or Balance. But I know give it anywhere between a week and 6 months I will back tralling the internet trying to dig reviews and discounts on yet anther pen.

 

Is there any end to this madness?

[Consulting_Detective]

Not really, I told myself, save up for a new XB-One.. but ended up buying two monteverdes... so a short answer again, is no.

 

-C.D

[penviper]

becos you hv visited this site!! lol. it is about PASSION.

[doggonecarl]

 

Is there any end to this madness?

I hope so. But it hasn't happened yet.

 

I have more than 50 pens. More than I can write with. A few haven't been inked yet. I'm happy with the pens I have, I could easily settle on an EDC (every day carry) pen. But the obsession to get yet another pen is one I constantly struggle with. I convince myself that this next one will be my last one, that it will fulfill all my pen expectations. Then, with the ultimate pen, I'll be done buying.

 

But that's just a ruse I use to justify a pen purchase.

[Algester]

that next pen only comes after selling the same amount of pens

[donwinn]

We settle for one more pen, when what we really want is several more pens, but significant other is already looking askance at the collector.

[LionRoar]

It's a common human failing, but a failing nevertheless because beyond a few pens to write with, having more pens will not make your life any better, and in fact will make your life worse by complicating it (how to store all those pens?) and wasting money that could be used to save for your retirement.

 

The same applies to all other material goods that people waste their money on.

[Cordovian]

We settle for one more pen, when what we really want is several more pens, but significant other is already looking askance at the collector.

 

Is that sort of like cognitive dissonance? I might need to get a therapist.

[Sasha Royale]

 

 

Is there any end to this madness?

 

Basically, NO ! The heart wants what the heart wants.

 

May you always have much joy, and a little madness.

[Guernseytim]

Can't ever have enough.

 

I tried resisting but today ended up ordering a Pelikan Twist (curious as its a cheap pen that was mentioned in a Pelikan student thread).

[Sasha Royale]

I might need to get a therapist.

 

Excuse me. What am I supposed to learn from " the rapist" ?

Edited December 23, 2014 by Sasha Royale

[Moshe ben David]

For us, another fp is like another dog to anyone who owns serves the needs of at least one greyhound! There's a reason that owners of greyhounds call themselves 'chippers' (hint: famous ad tag line from Lays....)

[StyloBug33]

It's a common human failing, but a failing nevertheless because beyond a few pens to write with, having more pens will not make your life any better, and in fact will make your life worse by complicating it (how to store all those pens?) and wasting money that could be used to save for your retirement.

 

The same applies to all other material goods that people waste their money on.

hmmmmm. I have pondered this a lot. Am I just stealing money from our retirement? My solution has to been to only buy pens at bargain prices and that will have decent resale value in 20 years. I keep them all in good shape and save the boxes. Theoretically, when and if we actually need the money I have spent on pens, I can liquidate it.

 

That's my story, anyway, and I'm sticking to it.

[WaskiSquirrel]

This is a common human thing, and not just with fountain pens.

 

I will never need another one, but I know I'll end up buying more. My solution is to keep giving away pens so the collection stays at a reasonable size.

[ac12]

Once you head down the slippery slope, there is no hope...

There will always be "one more pen to get."

Or as has been said "n+1."

[Letterman]

There is no end to the madness. At least not for me there hasn't been. So far my collection is small but my ambition is great. Oh, how I want that Namiki Custom 823 because I don't have a vacuum filler or that Pelikan 400+ because it's German and I would like to compare it to the Namiki. I think it is comparing the different pens to each other that is interesting, because that's how you learn about them. A day that you learn something new about fountain pens is a good day for me.

[erpe]

It is not limited to pens. In my house are 146 pairs of shoes and 89 handbags and they are certainly not mine so I don't experience any guilt in this respect (On the other hand, 7 bass guitars and 57 camera's (all film) are mine )

We might all be looking for the perfect pen and when we have found and purchased it, we decide to try another paper or ink and the search starts all over again.

[jdllizard]

I have enough fountain pens to last several lifetimes, and the kicker is, I hardly ever write anything pen to paper.

 

I just fell in love with fountain pens and I keep buying them to add to my collection (mostly Esterbrooks and Parkers). I wish I knew why I keep buying, so I could fix it and stop doing it! Lucky for me my taste in fountain pens hasn't reached the really high dollar stuff, yet.

 

Just a few more Esties and a couple more Parkers and I should be done....... yeah, right. *rolls eyes at myself*

[DonLeone]

I read something a while back about people being more happy about something when they look forward to getting it. Trying to find the relevant science behind it now.

[LionRoar]

hmmmmm. I have pondered this a lot. Am I just stealing money from our retirement? My solution has to been to only buy pens at bargain prices and that will have decent resale value in 20 years. I keep them all in good shape and save the boxes. Theoretically, when and if we actually need the money I have spent on pens, I can liquidate it.

 

That's my story, anyway, and I'm sticking to it.

 

Whether you are truly wasting money better saved for your retirement depends on how much you are spending on pens relative to your income. Only monks and nuns lead a truly ascetic life. A $100 a year on pens or even $500 isn't that much compared to how much most Americans spend on hobbies and other frivolous spending.

 

However, if you owe money on your credit cards and have no savings, I'd highly recommend that you either spend less or figure out how to earn more money.

 

And the cost of some pens however is pretty hard to for me to understand. $1000 or more on one pen? (Although I spent more than that for a MacBook Air which I didn't really need and will be obsolete surely in a few years.)