Why do you collect stamps?

Well when I moved for the first time on '07 I found a little clutch of old stamps amongst my stuff. I knew one was a 10 cent Colombian and I thought I found a lottery ticket! Si while researching the stamp on the internet I found a stamp forum (that no longer exists) and joined to ask my rookie questions and discovered that I liked it! I already have/had a pretty extensive classic US coin collection and remembered that my Grandfather used to collect them and thought it might be fun to find out about his collecting interests. Admittedly It was very disappointing because the bulk of his crap holdings was all just F.D.C.'s from the 40's to the '60's so I decided that I would start a classic United States collection. I love history and nomenclature in general so it was a natural fit. I gave away and threw out most of the junk (I mean actual junk! eg: torn soiled creased etc...) and used my meager allowance to purchase a Scott #35. I was hooked. Plus I figured it was more socially acceptable than drinking beer or murdering people...j/k

I have had 2 major illness' that has afforded me a lot of free time also so it kind of worked out. Liver Disease and Lung Cancer and Arthritis tends to slow one down a bit. I can't work anymore so I just collect stamps and spend enormous amounts of time with my Daughter and family.