I think there's a necessary learning curve involved in any collecting
activity; one makes connections in the particular world of the chosen
items, one absorbs the terminology (e.g., I had no idea until quite
recently that marbles can have fleabites) and one certainly proceeds
with extreme care in making acquisitions.  All sorts of good and bad
things ensue, but then that's the same thing in matters of the heart,
isn't it?

If we were to attempt to warn the general public of anything,
I should think it would be against getting involved at all, unless you
are prepared to get your heart broken a few times.  As with almost
everything (except possibly cheesecake): if it looks too good to be
true, it _isn't!_

And my personal favorite: "Works great, but could use a little fixing,"
(has no hair and no teeth).  Why should this be any different than 
a blind date?  How much would you invest before you either saw or met
the item?

Claudine Jones
San Francisco Bay Area