See this pile of tools. It's just a fraction of what they were purchasing.
Tool collectors? Nope. I've noticed a trend in antiques and collectibles.
Recently another person that used to be affiliated with an antiques shop told me that the younger generation, of which she was part of, was more into designing with antiques. They weren't really collectors.
That is partially true. And I've read plenty of articles (because I am nosy and curious) that spell doom and gloom for the antiques and collectibles markets due to the Baby Boomers getting older and being the last generation that will care about vintage things. It is true that certain antiques have taken a nosedive. I've witnessed it up close and personal.
But I can read all the articles that tell me to SELL now and don't buy any more antiques to sell or for speculation since the market is basically doomed for low to mid-priced items. According to some experts, unless I can purchase fine portraits and porcelain, etc. from the 18th century--I am doomed.
OK, I can't afford to buy really high-end stuff.
But facts don't lie. The younger generation, at least where I work, seem to be buying more antiques and collectibles than those Baby Boomers. Not that Baby Boomers don't get a little excited over some antiques.
But they aren't buying them for the reasons I would think.
The folks who were buying those tools did not look over age 25. They were a married couple.
So what were they going to do with all those tools? Go off the grid.
Turns out they just sold their house in Colorado and were planning on moving to another state where land is really cheap and building codes were almost non-existent. I'd mention the state, but I wouldn't want this information getting out and driving land prices up before these sweet kids could get their land.
They plan on building their own log cabin. Growing their own food and eventually be totally self-sustaining. And they decided to do the smart thing and come to Florence, the antiques capital of Colorado to make purchases. Most of the tools in their pile were in the $2 each range.
I asked them why they wanted to do it. I explained I came from the 1970s generation where most everyone read Mother Earth News and dreamed of doing this. But I had NO idea this new generation was into that.
They laughed and replied they have talked about how they were born in the wrong generation.
I didn't tell them that while I respect young people, I wrongly made the assumption that most of them were glued to their Smart phones and computers and couldn't live a day without Starbucks.
The wife explained why, "It's about being an American and doing it because you can. Proving that you can do it."
Wow!
I'm pretty sure she wasn't implying that other cultures don't do this in this modern era. I think she was saying that America is a wonderful place to live and prove yourself however you see fit, even if it's hard.
The husband echoed her sentiment and mentioned liberty and freedom to be who you want.
I actually got a chill up my neck and commented they must be Libertarians!
It turns out they were "just a little Libertarian."
Let's forget the labels. American. Libertarian. Off the grid. Pioneers.
They were simply telling me they were happy to live in America and be young and strong and free to choose a lifestyle that even older people might find too difficult.
And while these are the first antiques store customers who told me they were going off the grid with their purchases, surprisingly they weren't the first very young people to tell me they were buying antique tools and implements to get back to basics.
In other words--these antiques weren't being collected or going to gather dust in a display.
I had one young man who bought knives and hatchets say, once in awhile he simply goes into the woods for a few days and practices the art of survival and old school things just to know that he can.
These aren't people who are preppers or survivalists. Not that there is anything wrong with those pursuits. They are simply young people who don't want to sit in front of electronic devices all day. They want to be strong and prove themselves just because they can.
And I am meeting more and more of these young folks whose eyes literally sparkle when they are browsing at draw knives and planes and tools and dreaming of building their own log cabin or making furniture or making their way in the world on their own old school terms.
What a privilege to meet these "kids" and know that to them antiques aren't some old relic of days gone by--but useful tools in a meaningful and relevant life in the here and now.
