The Thrill of the Hunt

I have noticed an interesting collecting phenomenon that I will refer to as the "Thrill of the Hunt." Basically, this applies to the feeling you get when you see -- maybe in an on-line auction or at a show or wherever -- a card you have been searching for. It refers to the moment in time between discovering the card is available and the actual moment of potential purchase. I have found that I enjoy card collecting quite a bit more than an average day during that period.

Since I began searching for signed T206 cards, the availability of ones I don't have has gotten to basically nil. So in the rare instance I see one come available, I really enjoy the process of putting together an offer or trade proposal and seeing if the card can be mine. But it is also a time of struggle, because I usually have to give up more money or cards than I really feel comfortable with. Still, the thrill is there and it is really one of the main reasons I collect.