Reading · Adam’s Substack

Hey friends. Nothing heavy this time. Let’s just go light hearted and talk about stuff. When I had to start my life over after a divorce in 2014, I left with barely anything. I had maybe six smaller boxes of stuff, about 10 DVDs, a handful of CDs, two short boxes of comics and my computer. I had no furniture, not even a bed. I bought a crappy couch from Goodwill for $25 to sleep on.

But here it is twelve years later and I’ve accumulated so much that I am trying to get rid of it! I now have about 300 CDs, 200 DVD/Blurays, TONS more books, twelve short boxes of comics, lots of toys, games… it is virtually endless. I over-accumulated to the twelfth power times nine million, one-hundred and two. What is it Tyler Durden said in Fight Club?

At one point, I asked my kids what in my collection would they want when I croak. None of them wanted anything really. A couple video games and maybe my computer. They don’t have interests in all the crap I like. So, approaching middle age, I find myself in a crisis. But, I cannot afford the sports car or a much younger new girlfriend. Instead, I am getting rid of things. Streamlining, really. Cause I am still keeping a lot. My CDs are mostly intact but I gutted the DVDs which are now paired down to the essentials. I’ve trimmed down to seven short boxes of comics and a lot of the toys are gone. I sold these to local dealers as well as putting a lot on ebay. I’d sell comic lots and some books here and there, but its mostly been toys and games.

I let go of a lot but I still have very far to go. I do not strive to become a minimalist like the kind who live in a foldable stackable shack, where my sink also becomes my bed, my kitchen table into a toilet. I’ve just been cutting it all down to just the things I really love. Music, movies, books, comics and Star Trek. I kept most of the Trek collection, which at this point is obscene. See?

And you should see what is not pictured! Don’t ask what’s going on over here. I tell people that it’s as if a really rich nerdy fifth-grader lives here.

But, this is about embracing the true me. Not accumulating things cause I can or just vaguely like it. (Did I REALLY need an MC Hammer mirror won from a county fair?) The last thing I should do is get more stuff. But… THEY KEEP MAKING MORE STUFF!!! Most things are not for me (thank creation), but then I see the new drops. For example, at Comic Con this weekend, they showed a display and a pre-order for the Star Trek Lego Set.

I mean, it’s kind of cool… but not for $199! Legos are always so steep! So I can take a pass on this one in favor of the real prize: The Nacelle Toy Company ENTERPRISE BRIDGE!

Behold it’s glory!! If I had this as a kid, I would’ve never left my bedroom even to pee! So I am forced to arrive at the inescapable conclusion that the big kid inside me needs this. I gotta start saving my pennies and beg Santa Adam to get it for me. But I hear he’s an asshole. (Ed-It’s him)

I still have a love of books and magazines. Believe me, they get read a lot! I always got a pile going by the bed, in the shitter, at my day job desk, in my work bag… you know how it is. I recently got a few old Sci-Fi digests from the 1970s, plus a reprint of an EC Comic featuring the first work of Harlan Ellison. (So that is definitely for the Little Ellison/Mark Owens Wonderland part of my collection that will not leave me so long as I draw breath.)

But again, these will be kept nice and read well. All in inspiration for the art and writing things to come in my future. And I’m already hip deep into writing again. I’ve been blogging more lately, as you can tell! I got the written word on my brain and I am so ready to start kicking names and taking ass. (Strike that, reverse it.) Also I’m itching to break out those paints for some ideas I have had in my brain. It’s new routines, new challenges and a whole new me perhaps. A bit more mentally healthy I would think.

I am subscribed to artist/writer Scott Kurtz’s Substack and in a recent post, he revealed that he probably has fully stopped his long running webcomic, PVP and is focusing on doing the young adult novels. And he sounded very excited to pivot and learn new skills and ways to do things. Scott Kurtz is a bit older than I, but still we’re somewhat close in age. I only met him once, at SDCC many years ago. I’ve always connected with him not just because of his humor, actually it’s because I grew up on strip comics that he loves also, we both lost our mothers at an early age, our fathers both have dementia, etc. I’ve always been inspired by his work ethic and execution of ideas. And now he inspires me as I also switch gears and start focusing on other things besides just comics and going to conventions. Just goes to show you that you can never be “too old” to try new things. Old dogs can indeed learn new tricks.

I can’t retire. I don’t know how that is done or if it ever will be done for me. As the great Sam Elliot said in Road House: