It’s a real problem. If you’re a passionate collector you eventually run up against the space issue. A New York Times piece tells how a couple that collects puzzles had to buy an Italian castle to house their collection. I appreciate their passion, but I operate on a more modest budget. We bought our house going on six years ago. Like many people raised in poverty, I’m a bit of a packrat. When you’ve experienced a life of not being able to afford things, you tend to keep everything. That’s an economic reality. You spent money on this and you don’t want to waste it. Add to that the passion of a collector and you could have a real problem. Castle-sized.
When we were searching for houses the market was poor. It still is. Although a recent trip to Somerville, where we used to live, revealed massive amounts of new apartments—we were literally stunned—buying a house remains difficult. (But all those apartments! When we moved to Somerville in 2006 there were only a few units available, so I guess that was before it became popular.) And we specifically needed a house where you could keep books. (I do periodic purges and end up feeling full of regret afterwards.) Our house has a large garage with storage space. Not an Italian castle, but the principle is the same. Only our garage has been taken over by aggressive squirrels. We can’t yet afford to have the roof rebuilt (with solar panels because we have beautifully unimpeded southern exposure); we can’t lay up books where squirrel and mildew doth corrupt, so I guess we might have to consider a castle down the road.
My escape fantasy would probably be Ireland, however. They speak English there and they have castles. And Scotland’s just across the way. Although I spent my doctoral years in Edinburgh, my ancestry leans more toward Ireland. And Germany, but although they have castles I’m not sure I can revive my German well enough to get along there. No, Ireland might be the best choice for my castle-buying dreams. Of course, those of us who grow up poor do dream of castles. I read about them in books. And books beget books—this seems to be an inescapable law of nature. I do wonder if Irish castles have problems with squirrels, though. If I’m going to make this work it’s going to require quite a bit more money. And thought. It’s a real puzzle.
