Collections.

I'm the kind of guy who really enjoys history. Ancient history to be more accurate, that of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and to a lesser extent Northern Europe. Why aren't I so enthusiastic about Asian history? Well, I dunno. I just find myself more attracted to those cultures. I read books, articles and I love learning new things. Then on the advice of a friend with similar interests, I found myself on a few websites about two years ago. Since then I've been slowly collecting antiquities from that era.

Mostly coins from the Roman Empire. I've got bronze coins with various emperors on them and a lot of silver denarii. Now some of you must be thinking, "What an expensive hobby!" You'd be surprised about how inexpensive these coins are compared to some American coinage. For example:
My first Roman coin, circa 317 - 326 A.D is a bronze coin with the likeness of Crispus Caeser on it. Wiki his name, really interesting story there. This was bought for only about 18 dollars and is really worth it. When you consider these coins were printed in the millions for hundreds of years, they aren't that rare, just hard to find. Just wonder about what this coin was used to buy and who handled it. If you're interested, it's about the size of a dime and the picture was provided by the company who sold it.

Anyways, about a year after the collecting begin, with the blessing of Ashley, I begin to invest in something a little more expensive. That being the collecting of artifacts spanning from 5000 BC to 1500 AD. Again, not as expensive as everyone thinks. I have a varied amount of items. Some of my favorites are ancient Roman dice, Egyptian game pieces and a very beautiful Roman glass vial. I have about 10 pieces of antiquities.

Now on the other side, Ashley is a reader and writer. She reads a crap ton of books and she buys a crap ton of books. A lot we've had to sell for space, but she is not a fan of e-books and loves to have a physical book in her hand.

Even before I met her, she has a special collection of first editions, that she has added to over the years we've known each other. *Cough* Rich girl! *Cough* Not her favorite, but my favorite of her collection, is a first edition of "The Giving Tree."

Now, we've come up with a nice little system. All purchases must be approved by our significant other and trust me, prices play a big role. Now once a year, around our birthdays, we give ourselves a little leeway. To buy something fairly expensive, but only once a year. Trust me, 4 years ago if I saw the kind of money I spent on my special thing, I'd kick my ass.

Now Ashley just got done buying and received her special treat.

Ashley: It came! It came! (Giggity.)
Me: Oh.
Ashley: It came in its own wooden box, for preservation of course. Letter of appraisal for insurance purposes and it's going right onto the shelf! (She has a glass and metal shelf for preservation purposes.)
Me: The **** ***** book?
Ashley: Yes and one of my favorites!
Me: How much did you spend again?
*She mumbles*
Me: Ashley you said it fit into the budget!
*Mumbles more*
Me: How much?
Ashley: Something 500...
Me: Something is what in this case?
Ashley: 4...
Me: 4500! WHAT THE F--

I blacked out for a few hours there. In the end I was perfectly fine with it.

She has had a really hard time this month and, her smile right now is really worth it. Plus she promised she'd be more honest from now on. This also counts as her special thing for next year.