Never tell people you collect something (unless it is something VERY obscure and difficult to find).

Years ago, in a former lifetime, an ex-wife and her family were into "collecting" things. Her dad collected "horses." Her mother collected "ducks." She decided to collect "frogs."

Being under extreme duress to "name something you'll collect so we can give you lots of cheap crap" I finally remarked once that I supposed I might collect "beavers."

Although my great-granmother was a famous beaver trapper (and mule skinner) not far from here, beavers were nearly extinct in Kansas, and not something anyone talked about much. I had also carefully checked the "usual sources for blue-collar collectibles" and found NO BEAVERS anywhere in the vicinity. G-Granny's professional heritage, and that the beaver is a college mascot (on my class ring) gave an "excuse" for such an obtuse choice.

It took them almost 13 years to find the first beaver for my "collection."

Unfortunately, when I was temporarily transferred to Washington state, someone there found out about my "collection." ... and ...

(I'm just fortunate I didn't pick "porcupines" - the other Washington state bird.)

Current collection runs to a modest 80 or 90 pieces, mostly small; but the "centerpiece" is a pair of matching bookends, hand carved by a "local craftsman" on commission/request from a couple of WA friends for a Christmas gift a few years ago. (Each about 18 inches long, solid logs, and around 10 or 12 pounds per "end." Signed by the maker - in "magic marker" on the bottom - but I haven't been able to find anything about him and suspect they may have found him at a street fair.)

John