Collecting Brings Couples Closer in Life and Love

Last month my fiancé and I watched a program on 20/20 that showcased a couple that had been together for almost 20 years. Their secret was they both shared an intense passion for collection Coca Cola advertisements and other collectibles. They had amassed so many items it took up an entire bedroom in their house. I joked with my fiancé that it would be impossible for the two to get divorced, as they would never be able to agree on the separation of the collection. But in my joking, something rang true.

Here you had a couple that seemed do happy with one another and maybe it was for no other reason that to collect these items together. Now maybe some would view this as stupid or childish, but when you come right down to it, how many relationships stand the test of time anymore?

My fiancé is going on her second marriage and I am going on my third so we are both determined to make this one work. As an avid eBayer, I suggested we find something to collect together. The suggestion was met with much enthusiasm, but quickly turned to frustration as we kept shooting each other's ideas down. I began by suggesting Zippo lighters, she said no. Then she suggested snow globes, but I didn't find that too thrilling.

We were about to give up on the idea, when we were about to settle on McDonalds memorabilia. She then said, "You know I love penguins." I replied with a resounding "CHILLI WILLIE!" We had done it; we had found our shared passion. We went right onto eBay and bid on our first penguin item. The item was a planter that we eventually won for $0.99 plus $4.50 shipping and handling. Thus the madness was born!

We now both have Chilli Willie stickers on our back windshields (courtesy of eBay), many plush penguins and some other neat items we have picked up along the way. We are only a few weeks into our collecting together and we already have a sizable collection.