Carole P. Marshall wrote:
>
> Dear Matt,
>   May I make a suggestion. Everyone has times when they temporarily lose
> interest in something they previously loved, only to take it up again, in a
> few more years.
>
> My suggestion is to put your shells away for a while and you may decide to
> take up the hobby again. I personally, went through a period of almost 6 years
> when I put my collection  to the side and concentrated on other things, but
> then, here I am again, more interested than ever and very glad I didn't get
> rid of all my wonderful shells.
>
> I guess I am saying, don't be hasty in ridding yourself of things you worked
> hard to get.
> A year or so from now, you may wish you had them back.
>          Carole M
This is exactly what happened to me.  I had given up the hobby for a
good 15 years or so.  Shortly after the birth of my first son, my wife
and I traveled to the beach for a little R&R.  The first morning, we
walked out into the empty bay at low tide, found a number of beautiful
specimens and ZAP.......!!!!!!!  I was back on board!!!!!!!  As soon as
we got home, I dug out my collection out of storage.  The rest, as they
say, is history.
 
Chris B