Collecting Is Dead: Why We Must Trade Trinkets for Tango

Imagine you’re at a crowded estate sale, clutching a porcelain figurine that once belonged to a stranger’s grandmother. You’re excited, but is this really a hobby? As an editor who has covered “Hobbies” for years, I’ve seen collecting dominate our pages, but the evidence is mounting that we’ve got it wrong. I’m here to argue that collecting—the quiet accumulation of objects—is a pale shadow of what a hobby should be. We need to trade our trinkets for tango.

The Seductive Shelf

Let’s be honest: collecting feels productive. You research, you hunt, you curate. It’s neat, orderly, and can be done from a comfortable armchair. But look at the numbers on what Americans actually call their favorite pastime. A 2024 Monmouth University poll found that cooking and baking topped the list at 68%, up from 37% in 1974. Travel came in second at 61%, and arts, crafts, and DIY hobbies hit 46%—more than double the 21% in 1974. Notice what’s missing? Collecting didn’t even crack the top three. Meanwhile, the real growth is in doing, not having.

I’m not saying collecting is worthless. I own a few vintage maps myself. But as a hobby, it’s static. You buy, you display, you dust. The only muscle you exercise is your credit card. The only skill you hone is negotiation. And the payoff? A fleeting dopamine hit when you win an auction, followed by the slow decay of objects on a shelf. Compare that to the payoff of a hobby that engages your body and brain simultaneously.

Your Brain on Hobbies

Here’s where it gets personal. A 2025 study in Nature Communications (Coronel-Oliveros et al.) used AI ‘brain clocks’ to measure the effect of hobbies on aging. The results were staggering: expert tango dancers’ brains appeared about 7 years younger than their chronological age. Musicians and visual artists showed 5-6 years younger. Even beginners—people trained for just 30 hours in the strategy game StarCraft II—showed an average brain age delay of 2 to 3 years.

Now, I ask you: what does collecting do for your brain age? I’ve yet to see a study showing that cataloging vintage comic books delays cognitive decline. The act of acquiring is passive; it doesn’t require the complex coordination, memory, and social interaction that tango demands. Tango forces you to learn steps, respond to a partner, and move to music—a trifecta of cognitive challenges. Collecting, on the other hand, is a solo activity that can be done in isolation. It’s no wonder that the study’s authors point to “hobbies that involve active engagement” as the key to brain health.

But Won’t My Collection Be Worth Something?

The strongest argument for collecting is investment potential. You might think your vintage Star Wars figures will fund your retirement. But consider the fate of the Santa Clara Golf & Tennis Club, a municipal golf course that closed in October 2019 to make way for a new development. That course was a community asset, not a personal collection, yet its value was in its use, not its mere existence. When you collect, you’re betting on future demand for objects that may or may not hold value. The market is fickle. Your grandkids don’t want your Hummel figurines. They want experiences.

I’ll concede that some collectibles—like rare books or classic cars—can appreciate. But that’s investing, not hobbying. The moment you start tracking market prices, you’ve crossed into finance. And I’d argue that a hobby should enrich your life, not your net worth. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that 148 million Americans (57%) participated in wildlife watching in 2022, contributing to a $395 billion economic impact. Those people aren’t collecting birds—they’re watching them, feeding them, photographing them. That’s active engagement, and it’s far more likely to keep you sharp than dusting a display case.

Get Moving, Not Hoarding

So what should you do instead? I’m not suggesting you dump your collection tomorrow, but I am urging you to diversify your hobby portfolio. Take up pickleball, which grew 46% from 2023 to 2024 and 311% over three years, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. It’s social, fast, and requires constant movement. Or try golf—26.6 million people played on a course in 2023, and it’s not just for retirees. The point is to move, to create, to learn.

Quick tip: Sell one item from your collection and use the money to sign up for a dance class or a pottery workshop. You’ll gain a skill, not just a possession.

If you’re in Santa Clara, you’re in luck. This city is a playground for active hobbies. You have nearly 450 acres of parks, including the 40-acre Ulistac Natural Area with trails for birdwatching and biking. You have the Triton Museum of Art, which offers classes and workshops for all ages. And you have Santa Clara University, where you can audit a course or join a community event. The city even hosts a professional sports team at Levi’s Stadium, home of the 49ers, with 68,500 seats for watching—though I’d rather you play than watch.

But even without those amenities, the principle stands: choose hobbies that make you sweat, think, and connect. Your brain will thank you for it.

Bottom Line

Collecting is a pleasant pastime, but it’s not enough. The best move you can make for your cognitive health is to replace passive acquisition with active engagement. Take up tango, pickleball, or painting. Your brain—and your shelf—will be lighter for it.

Sources

• Monmouth University poll (2024) - https://www.monmouth.edu/magazine/the-way-we-play/
• Coronel-Oliveros et al. (Nature Communications, 2025) - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-64173-9
• SFIA (Sports & Fitness Industry Association) - https://sfia.org/
• City of Santa Clara (Golf & Tennis Club closure) - https://www.santaclaraca.gov/Home/Components/News/News/39336/
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2022) - https://www.fws.gov/program/national-survey-fishing-hunting-and-wildlife-associated-recreation-fhwar