Generally speaking, YES. Most people I know view flashlight collecting as funny or weird or strange. About 2 months ago, my friend really started to lay into me as to why it was mentally unhealty to collect something so weird. FOR THE MOST PART, I really play down the whole flashlight thing, except for my wife, who puts up with it and is generally a pretty good sport about the whole thing.
I recognize that I have a bad habit of turning items that I have a small interest for into a huge collection of dozens of the exact same item. And I would like to think I have started to cure myself of that. For example, I used to buy every old metal bottle / beer can opener I would find. (Same with cork screws, and most kitchen knives, and even old scissors) Now I very seldom even bother to pick them up to look at them and have given away or sold a large portion of what I had at one time.
Flashlights remain jsut about my only "addiction" ( or hobby) that I have not lost interest in. I mean, I know I have 30 of the old plastic Eveready 2D cell lights, and I know that they are in every drawer and cabinet and closet in the house, but I am OK with that.
One of my friends, an older man, and I were having a conversation about this. He buys guns like I buy flashlights. And we drew these conclusions:
#1. I can afford it. I am not going broke or putting myself in debt because of it.
#2. I don't have kids.
#3. I don't smoke.
#4. I don't do drugs.
#5. I am not out giving my money to bars or topless joints or anything like that.
#6. I see buying myself a new light as a small reward for all the constant stress and frustration I put up with day to day at work, etc.
"Hello, my name is CAPNAL, and I am a flashaholic. It has been 4 days since I bought my last flashlight."
