What Is A Sane Number Of Pens?

[Helen350]

I have heard everything! Am I sane? Well, I have 65 pens (10 fingers), and I am thinking about my next one. I am right now in the passion stage, and hoping that I don't cross over to the obsession stage. Maybe once I secure my "grail" pen I will be satisfied. Or will I? Sanity is a relative question anyway Now I rationalize that because I am unable to purchase the big dollar item pen, then I am not really a collector, just an enthusiast. So as long as I remain an enthusiast, I maintain my sanity. I hope that makes sense. Someone asked me today why do I use fountain pens. It was an opportunity to share the magnificent insanity and passion of writing with such an instrument. He asked me for a pen, so I reached in my purse and gave him one of my inexpensive, yet recently smoothed nib Jinhao 599s, which was filled with Chesterfield Cobalt (you know I was not going to give him my Noodler's Konrad Ebonite or my Nussbaum Pen - Jon Ross Series which I had in my purse) . He took the pen and began to write on a small piece of paper, and when he lifted his head up and looked in my eyes, I knew he was hooked. I spoke with him about the pleasure of writing with a FP & where he might purchase a bottle of ink. I encouraged him to watch sbrebrown on YT to learn all he can. I saw a certain level of "insane" excitement on his face, as he began to write down the information I shared. Sanity--heightened joy--how do you gauge that? It will be interesting to watch how this young man begins the journey into FP mania. Next month I think it will be an Edison - that is the pen & number that will satisfy. Yea......

Edited October 23, 2014 by Helen350

[pmhudepo]

 

--an interest ? 2 or less

--a hobby? more than 2 but less than 30

--a passion? 30 to 90 functioning pens

--an obsession? 91 minimum -- there is no maximum on obsessions

--a disease/hoarding disorder? More pens than you can count or view in a normal week.

--and a happy state of recovery? Yes I am. Thank you!!!

 

 

Very reasonable numbers, I'd say. Especially because I'm below the minimum for calling it an obsession. Well below.

[richardandtracy]

Insane: 2.71x the number you have + 63.

 

Why 63? Well, it's a random number that has no logical basis for its selection, so is perfect in a definition of insanity.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Morwen]

Sane? According to definition, sane behaviour is anything that does not cause harm to you or someone else. Who suffers from your "pen addiction"? Do you or day, your kids get deprived of a basic need because you chose to buy a pen? I am pretty certain the answer is no. If you can afford to but the pen without serious budget consequences, and it brings you pleasure to have it, then, even 1000 pens is sane. This is my philosophy .

[Blade Runner]

1 million.

[Helen350]

Sane? According to definition, sane behaviour is anything that does not cause harm to you or someone else. Who suffers from your "pen addiction"? Do you or day, your kids get deprived of a basic need because you chose to buy a pen? I am pretty certain the answer is no. If you can afford to but the pen without serious budget consequences, and it brings you pleasure to have it, then, even 1000 pens is sane. This is my philosophy .

Sounds good to me Morwen. So 1,000 is a sane number. That means I need 935 more pens to reach that goal, which are within my budget. Thanks for that wonderful clarification, for I needed some sound justification for my "enthusiasm!"

[Brian Anderson]

I stopped counting at 1200. Not sure if I have more or less than that now, but am pretty sure it is a lot more. My hobby spiraled out of control, exceeded the capacity of my house and now I have a store. What does that make me?

[F104]

What does it mean, "sane"?

[cybaea]

I have a proposal, though perhaps not for everyone. A pen per page. Get a pen, then write a page with it: a great page, a true page, a memorable page… It can be anything: it does not have to be a poem, or a letter to your son or grandson, or a deep philosophical meditation. Just a page that you feel proud about, a page that can move someone to something, a nice drawing, some beautiful calligraphy perhaps, a page with some lines that are expression of your soul, some lines or even some interesting babblings, or a transcription of some thoughts or some famous last words, or even an attractive post in this FPN. You will know what. A page that you can show to your wife or to your girlfriend or boyfriend when they ask what do you want a pen (or so many pens) for… Then that pen will be justified. It will be a part of your life. It will be attached to that page, and therefore to you, for ever. It always will be the pen you used to produce that page, and you will never want to give away that pen, unless you give it as a gift to someone who will know what that pen was used for. But now it can rest and give an opportunity to other pen. Then you repeat the recipe with this new pen. Of course you can write more than one page with each pen if you want. But you don't need to. One page--one single and true page---is enough for making you feel comfortable with each pen, and sane enough, I guess.

 

+1! (:clap:)

[Helen350]

I stopped counting at 1200. Not sure if I have more or less than that now, but am pretty sure it is a lot more. My hobby spiraled out of control, exceeded the capacity of my house and now I have a store. What does that make me?

One of my reliable sources, thank you!

[Kataphract]

As many as I need to get the job done. They are tools to me. If I find I need a broad nib, I'll add that. If I need a broad nib with different inks, I might get multiple. Once I find a pen I'm happy with, I don't need to get zillions of different brands. I have 30 different brushes - sometimes two of the same type simply because acrylic paint is harsher than watercolor, so one is exclusively for one type of paint and not for another. I have lots of different pens, including felt, gel, rollerball, mapping, fountain, steel dip, random quill I found on a hike, whatever. But I don't buy them obsessively, they always have a purpose.

[islandink]

One of my reliable sources, thank you!

makes you one of my "dealers"

[Anne S. Gray]

At what point (or pen count) does simply using and enjoying writing with fountain pens and not giving it much thought morph into:

 

--an interest ?

 

--a hobby?

 

--a passion?

 

--an obsession?

 

--a disease/hoarding disorder?

 

--and a happy state of recovery?

 

 

What was the greatest number of pens you owned at one time and what is the stable number that you are comfortable with?

 

 

 

 

Whoever dies with the most wins!

[Behike54]

I think it depends on your needs.

 

If you are a "writer," I can't see someone getting by with less than 5 (correspondence, work/business, cards/notes/announcements, personal pleasure/art/writing for the sake of writing, etc........and something I am missing.

 

The problem, or pleasure of it all, is FINDING those 5, especially as your knowledge and needs evolve or become more clear.

 

If you are a collector........the SKY is the limit. In this case, the "SKY," is your wallet while being fiscally responsible.

 

I am new and have 4 pens, with 2 others on the radar.

 

I see myself finding MY 10 via 25 buys and selling or trading 15.

Now there are other people, normal people, I'll call them, "civilians," like my wife, who asked me why I needed more than one pen and one kind of ink.

 

You can't REASON with these people!

Edited October 23, 2014 by Behike54

[Behike54]

I stopped counting at 1200. Not sure if I have more or less than that now, but am pretty sure it is a lot more. My hobby spiraled out of control, exceeded the capacity of my house and now I have a store. What does that make me?

 

 

OKAY............forget everything I just said!

[freewheelingvagabond]

For me it is 5-6, and 10 is the maximum I can probably handle!

[demeter]

X.75, because you have to have room for those spare parts.

Andrew

[bernardo]

I'd say 100 pens would be sane.

Since I own less than that, I guess that makes me insane

[Joe in Seattle]

2 and 1/2 dozen

[Calamus plasticus]

How many books make you insane? My house is full of them, my office too.

How many music discs make you insane? Just Mozart are about 200...

Sure I already am insane, so... What pens have to do with it? :-)