When I attended Trinity College, University of Dublin, a high percentage of the students attended lectures and studied in buildings hundreds of years old. They were perfectly good buildings and their age in no way hindered the quality of TCD education. "New Square", which is still a dominant part of the university, was built in 1491. In contrast, there is a parcel of land in Evansville, IN that has had at least four brand new commercial buildling built on it since 1990. Each of the preceding buildings were razed. All of that debris had to go into a landfill.
I think of this every time I observe or participate in a group like Tin Can Tourists. Tin Can Tourists was founded in 1919 as a vintage trailer club. Our 30 year old Fleetwood Wilderness camper is a relative youngster at rallies. There are such clubs in the US that save all sorts of things - from buildings to old cars and toys. When we consider these clubs and their members there are two common reactions; viz. delight in whatever it is they are restoring and considering the members a strange group of people. I say 'thank goodness for the eclectics who march to the beat of a different drum.'
Clubs, organizations and societies that save and restore do so much more than preserve history. They also play an important part in the conservation of natural resources as well as teach others by example how to enjoy a richer and productive life.
No, I'm not exagerating. Consider the vintage trailer enthusiast. When you save an old trailer you are not only keeping it out of a landfill but youare reducing the resources used to build a new one. That act alone not only slows the demise of our natural resources but permits us to determine the best, most efficient use as well as greatest need for those resources.
But there is more than the argument for conservation and stewardship of our world. Consider the joy that such activity brings not only to the direct participants but to those who visit a rally and admire the fruit of their labors. How many people have you seen attend a vintage trailer rally, antique car show, or visit a preserved building and not come away with a smile and light heart. As a retired psychotherapist, I'd have to call such activities therapeutic.
Then you must consider the actual participant in the restoration. The joy of discovery. The knowledge gained and shared resulting from research into the history of the object. The excitement of watching the project develop - sharing progress through pictures on social media such as Facebook. The person who finds that they can do something which they never thought possible, and the satisfaction and pride in using those skills. Our Fleetwood Wilderness camper, which we call 'Willy', was destined for the junk yard. Three days from now it will become our home for 12 weeks as we volunteer in the wilderness of Glacier National Park.
Staying with example of the trailer, and remembering that this applies to many other things from toys to buildings, consider starting with this . . . .
and ending up with this . . .
Or starting with this . . .
and ending up with this . . .
Collectors and others who restore and preserve things like cars, trailers, books, buildings, toys, skills, etc., etc., bring us not only a lot of joy but preserve our history and help us conserve natural resources so that our grandchildrens' grandchildren can enjoy what we so often take for granted.
