I love organizing

Returning from a successful card show is one of the greatest feelings ever.

Of course, there's the initial joy of actually unearthing the cards at the show. Then coming home and re-examining all the day's finds is almost like reliving the entire afternoon all over again. Sometimes, I'll come across a card that I forgot I even bought in the first place.

Then it hits you.

"I'm going to have to sort and organize all these cards at some point."

Now, I'm sure I take it to the extreme when it comes to the sheer amount of pickups at card shows. I remember counting something like 770 total finds at last November's show, and I bought over 530 cards at last month's card extravaganza, including a quarter box find with the above Dave Winfield card. (It's interesting how the elegance of Wrigley Field in the background contrasts with the horrible 80's Padres uniforms.)

But I bet all of us come home with a healthy stack of new cards, at the least, all of which need to be organized in our own ways. (I never really understood how people could go to a show and come back with only two or three cards. But that's just me.)

As a result of my immense number of finds, it usually takes me about a week to fully organize everything and put all the cards in their rightful spots in my binders.

At first, I always react with both denial and a bit of anger. "Do I really have to put all these away? It's going to take forever! I hate organizing."

Lately, I've come to the realization that actually sorting and putting away my new cards can actually be fun and relaxing, in moderation. (Putting away a ton of cards at once can get a bit tedious.)

It allows me to soak up my collection a little more each time I do it. Sometimes, I'll be in front of the TV while I organize. Other times, I'll just be sitting alone on the bed in my room. It's simply a great way to relax and clear the mind.

It doesn't even require you to have new cards that need to be put away. Perhaps you could just sift through a doubles box you have handy and enjoy those. Sometimes, I'll even pull a random bin full of overproduction era cards from under my bed and start looking through those for no other reason that I love the hobby.

While it may not seem like it at first, I think most of us do appreciate the process of organizing our cards, whether we want to admit it or not.

Without it, the hobby might just fly right past us.