I think about this more and more as I get older...

I collect not only beads, but dabble in native artifacts as well. On another forum related to such, similar threads to this have popped up, asking "What do I want to happen to my collection when I pass? My kids couldn't care less."

Native artifacts (lithics), even with good provenance, are not wanted by most museums. Too may times, "Grandpa's arrowheads" donated in good faith to a museum, end up gathering dust in a warehouse, go to someones private collection, or are simply destroyed. Good examples can be extremely expensive, but only to the right buyer. Beads are a very similar situation.

I'm starting to think that the "nightmare" scenario that some envision (OMG, my stuff might end up in a garage sale somewhere!) might be the best case scenario. So...someone "discovers" my beads for a few dollars at a garage sale. How exciting is that? Someone picks up a ready-made collection of arrowheads at an auction for cheap...how can that be a bad thing? A young person, excited by a newfound hobby, gathering knowledge as they go...how else can someone with limited resources enter this hobby? When I began, it was precisly because it was a relatively CHEAP way to own a bit of the past. That has changed, and it's a shame, really.

Perhaps a person should think about how their collection can best be used to stimulate interest in younger people, make them think, inspire them to research...and enrich their lives.

Can't take it with you...