Hobby or Investment? As an investment, our chip collections might not be doing too well, but neither are my mutual funds. But unless I need to sell right now, it's an opportunity to buy.

But as a hobby, it's still great - fun, friendships, collecting, looking at them, letting you step our of your world for a little while.

It's a shame that the bad economy or other hardship may force people to sell their collections for less than they paid. But it happens to collector cars, too. And houses. And at garage sales.

From my own experience, when people come by the house and notice the billions of chips on the wall, the reaction is that they didn't even think to collect them. The more publication there is about the club the more new memebers we will get. I know the club is discussing ways to do just that. When we know the dates of the 2009 convention, maybe each of us could put up a flyer in the local antique shop, or put an ad in our local paper. Maybe the club will provide us with approved material for that purpose.

So, let's just enjoy our day!

As for my collection: Watch for my obituary, then stop by the house in a couple days. Say you were my bestest friend and want some chips as a mememto. Say you don't want to be any trouble, you'll just help yourself. My husband SHOULD be so grief stricken he won't care. Or, he'll be celebrating. In any case, good luck!