The Wife Isn't Impressed And I'm Worried I've Become Addicted!

[Blueorb]

Well, it looks like I have quickly developed an addiction to fountain pens and ink.

 

I had a few old fountain pens that I had hidden away until about October last year. I cleaned these up after not using them for years and proceeded to purchase my first new pen in November 2013, a Delta Italiano. Since then I have purchased:

5 TWSBI mini's,

4 Sailor Sapporo's,

1 Sheaffer Balance 2,

1 Pilot Custom 92,

1 Pilot Custom 91,

3 Pilot Decimo's

2 Pelikan m200's

 

I've also had Oxonian fix up some of my older pens including:

 

1 Montblanc 114

1 Parker 51

1 Vintage Platingum

Plus a number of nib tunes on the pens listed above. I have also bought speciality nibs from Richard Binder and Pendleton Brown.

 

I have also purchased 13 bottles of Pilot Iroshizuku ink and many bottles of other brands including:

R&K

Herbin

Private Reserve

Sailor

Delta

Diamine

Lamy

 

I worked out the cost of all this that I have acquired in 7 months and I am horrified! My wife is also less than impressed. The worst thing is I can't seem to satisfy my urge for pens or ink. I'm also discovering different papers and journals which are also pricey!

 

What I can say is that I am developing a taste for particular brands of pens, ink, paper and particular nibs. I now have a much better idea of what works for me. All of my pens are inked and I use most of them daily, sometimes for work, sometimes for letter writing and sometimes just for writing none sense at the end of the day. I find it strangely relaxing!

 

My handwriting has improved loads and I have acquired a number of pen pals from placing a profile on a web site.

 

This is a hobby I very much enjoy, but I have to slow down. At the moment, I am very much into my Sailor and Pilot pens. I also love the Iroshizuku ink. I have a real affinity for the Japanese stuff. Part of me wants to sell the other pens in my collection and reinvest the money into Sailor and Pilot pens, but part of me likes the other pens I have.

 

I know I can't continue spending money at the rate I am doing and my aim is to have maybe 10 pens (to fill my two Pilot Pensemble cases!) which are all used at least once per week.

 

The problem is, there are so many brands of pens and so many inks and I haven't even got started with the vintage stuff yet!

 

I think I am pen drunk and maybe ready for the asylum!!

[xwingrox]

Aye, welcome home.

(Seriously, visiting FPN will only make things worse better )

[load81]

5 TWSBI mini's,

 

Even as a fellow pen addict i can't imagine why anyone would want to buy 5 TWSBI Minis ??

[ac12]

Like any addiction, it needs to be controlled, or you may find yourself in the poor-house or divorced.

Don't spend mortgage or food money on pens....

Stay away from ebay and other auction sites and online shops.

 

As difficult as it may seem, you could limit yourself to 1 pen a month, or 1 pen every quarter/3 months.

And maybe no more inks until you finish one bottle.

It is all about self control.

 

I will go in spurts, buying a bunch in a short period, then several months buying nothing, just enjoying what I have.

 

gud luk

Edited May 27, 2014 by ac12

[OcalaFlGuy]

I'm sorry, is there some problem I'm not catching?

 

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[Tas]

You're amongst friends. We understand.

 

You'll soon start deleting incriminating emails and listen out for the postman so as to rush down to get there before anyone else.

[MBFan]

You're amongst friends. We understand.

 

...and listen out for the postman so as to rush down to get there before anyone else.

So embarrassingly true

[da vinci]

Dont panic, its just a stage

 

You will find the sort of pen you really like, then go for quality over quantity in your purchases, selling off what you dont use.

[miguelgoncalves]

Thank God you did not start buying Montblanc pens… :-)

 

As others have said you need to control yourself and enjoy and know better what you have. Appreciate the difference between nibs. Slow down and watch the ink dry on the paper and look at the shading of the ink.

 

Fountain pens make me slow down in the middle of a day shuffling e-mails and phone calls. If I was buying new pens every month I wouldn't be able to enjoy the ones I have.

 

Just sloooow down and enjoy.

Edited May 27, 2014 by miguelgoncalves

[knarflj]

Thank God you did not start buying Montblanc pens… :-)

 

As others have said you need to control yourself and enjoy and know better what you have. Appreciate the difference between nibs. Slow down and watch the ink dry on the paper and look at the shading of the ink.

 

Fountain pens make me slow down in the middle of a day shuffling e-mails and phone calls. If I was buying new pens every month I wouldn't be able to enjoy the ones I have.

 

Just sloooow down and enjoy.

 

+1

I think I probably enjoy my pens more because I have so few, and have to save up so long and carefully for new ones. At least, that's what I tell myself, and it seems to work.

 

And maybe the next pen you buy should be for your wife?

[Guernseytim]

Buy her some new shoes and she'll forget all about it!

[sargetalon]

Tread lightly with the wife and try to not bring pens up if at all avoidable. I find that a don't ask, don't tell policy is prudent here.

[MisterBoll]

What a lovely tale - and I like the picture from the David Icke book.

 

Keep on keepin' on - buy more and more. That's what we are here for.

You can never have enough pens, ink, or paper.

[oregano]

Like any addiction, it needs to be controlled, or you may find yourself in the poor-house or divorced.

Don't spend mortgage or food money on pens....

Stay away from ebay and other auction sites and online shops.

 

As difficult as it may seem, you could limit yourself to 1 pen a month, or 1 pen every quarter/3 months.

And maybe no more inks until you finish one bottle.

It is all about self control.

 

I will go in spurts, buying a bunch in a short period, then several months buying nothing, just enjoying what I have.

 

gud luk

 

This is sensible advice. I've tried it with varying success, but at least it keeps you consciously thinking about budgeting/limiting the number

of pen purchases. On the other hand, I've found that doing that can also backfire and lead to more pens, but it depends on personality probably.

I would also caution against entertaining the selling-my other pens to-buy new pens idea (something I admit having done many times over)

because then you're also not enjoying the ones you have and thinking about new pens...

 

Echoing what others have said, avoid ebay; while it's fun to browse sites and look at pictures of pens, it's also like conditioning yourself to buy them,

and provides ample opportunity to buy a pen during a 'weak moment'. If all else fails, just think, it could be worse! you could have a habit of liking pens

that are much more expensive! You're in good company

[CaptainBA]

I'm sorry, is there some problem I'm not catching?

 

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

 

Haha, that made me laugh in person. I think someone said it best when they said, "Welcome to the forum of enablers".

[Sasha Royale]

Your wife thinks you are crazy. We know you are, and welcome you to Bedlam-FPN.

Nobody needs more than three TWSBI's.

 

If you have been married more than 30 years, tell the wife those shoe make her look fat.

Edited May 27, 2014 by Sasha Royale

[Bo Bo Olson]

How to stop buying pens..................buy a italic calligraphy book.

Been there....done that.....

 

Use it.

 

Ah, Ha!!!!

 

On my list to do.

[FayeV]

 

As difficult as it may seem, you could limit yourself to 1 pen a month, or 1 pen every quarter/3 months.

And maybe no more inks until you finish one bottle.

It is all about self control.

 

 

This is what I need to work on, give myself some sort of "allowance". I've only recently renewed my interest in fountain pens and within the past 2 months -- heh, notice that this coincides with the amount of time I've been on FPN -- I have picked up 9 pens, 14 bottles of ink, 17 samples, plus a bunch of other misc pen accessories.

 

I need to start thinking about paper...

[Runnin_Ute]

Tread lightly with the wife and try to not bring pens up if at all avoidable. I find that a don't ask, don't tell policy is prudent here.

oh, yeah.

 

and ship to the office.

[zaddick]

oh, yeah.

 

and ship to the office.

Yes, this is the ey to avoiding questions.