I have a dilemma and need some suggestions.

[BigmanPigman]

I am going to die in a few years (now this isn't a woe is me, boo hoo rant) and have decided what I am doing with all my stuff. The only thing I can't decide is who to leave my small but very good record collection to. I don't want to sell them or leave them to anyone else who might end up doing that. I really love my records and if I sold them as an entire collection or individually on ebay I would be able to get thousands of dollars. I have rare ones, originals, complete artists' libraries, etc. of rock music mostly from the 60s and 70s. My family and friends either aren't into this type of music or if they are I don't trust them NOT to sell them. I want someone who really appreciates the actual physical record and cover and the music as much as I do. I met someone at the supermarket while I was wearing an old Pink Floyd t-shirt and posed this dilemma to him. He had this problem himself (his collection is much bigger than mine is) and he said that he's going to have them melted into an urn to keep his ashes in. That hadn't occurred to me but I don't really want to do that myself. Any ideas?

[Motley13]

1. Hard to find people that want that stuff

I have my mom's stamp collection, 3 storage boxes of books, wish I could find someone to appreciate them

[elehhhhna]

4. My sister decoupaged her stamp collection onto a table top

It's extremely cool.

[underpants]

2. Donate to a library?

[Blindingly apparent]

3. Invite your favorite young person (niece, nephew, grandchild, whatever) over.

Tell him about your love for music and your collection. Play a few of your favorites. And then ask him if they would be the custodian for your record collection. Good luck.

[Docreed2003]

5. I can appreciate your predicament Bigman

I can't imagine trying to decide how to pass on something that means so much to you and your identity. I'm 39 and I prefer vinyl to digital. There's just something about the warmth of the sound, the hiss, the physical touch of the music when you drop the needle, and the sheer pleasure of holding that album cover and relishing in the liner notes and the cover art. I get that....unfortunately my kids, at least right now, don't get it. My own collection would likely end up in a used record store bin or worse if I were to die tomorrow. As someone else mentioned, if you can't find someone to pass along the collection to, a donation to the local library would be a nice touch.

[elehhhhna]

6. I have a family member who is involved with the Grammys Music Cares program...

Among other things, it helps people in the business get and stay sober. Perhaps a superfan/collector would be interested in buying the collection? Perhaps a raffle/fundraiser for the cause? I assure you that some of the musicians and technical people who were involved in making those records have been helped by the music cares program. Most musicians don't have health insurance and music cares helps them get rehab , mental health support etc. I could name several, but will not do to anonymity and just ethics in general , although I guess it's okay to name Ozzy Osborne since he's outed himself and been pretty vocal about recovery.

This may be a way of knowing that you've kept the collection together and even given something back to the musicians who mean so much to you?

Pm me if you want to be put in touch w her.

[BigmanPigman]

8. I don't understand how this works. Could you give me more info?

[elehhhhna]

10. Check out this link - it's a grammy.org charity

They're pretty well-funded so it's not like they need the money but I'm just spit balling ideas here

https://www.grammy.org/musicares

[applegrove]

7. Ask a boy's and girls club if they want your collection and record player.

Or research local Disk Jockies for someone in your neck of the woods who may have a collection or interest in music from that time. Or go to local vinyl record shops and as if they can recommend anyone just starting out collecting. Or ask a student radio station, at the local university, if they want to hold a contest with written submissions to see who gets to win your collection. What a great legacy. No matter how much time you have, being connected to the world in all sorts of ways will make the path easier. You are a great egg.

[missingthebigdog]

9. Reconsider your position on selling them.

My mother died unexpectedly recently, and left behind, among other things, a massive collection of Longaberger baskets. She loved them, and my sisters and I each selected a few to keep, but none of us are really into baskets.

After much agonizing, we decided to sell them on eBay. It's the only way to insure that whoever gets them is someone who will love and appreciate them. People go on eBay to find specific things; it isn't like an estate sale where things are bought on a whim.

As an added bonus, selling things on eBay is likely to get you pretty close to market value.

[Duppers]

11. Dang. I can sympathize with both of your predictaments.

I'm very sorry for your diagnosis and shortened time.

I've a friend living in FL, a long distance from me, who has a fabulous old vinyl collection. A few years ago she said she is going to tash all of them because of lack of storage space. I was appalled - no, horrified. She spent 10mins just naming most all of her old great top 40 hits I love. She told me mailing them to me would cost too much, so I told her I'd pay the ~$100 in shipping cost. She dropped the subject but because of your post, I'll ask her about them again.

You know, folks just don't seem to value things as they used to. Just like the friend I mention above. They "move on" so very quickly. I'm a very nostalgic person, sometimes unfortunately so.

My hubby tries to "comfort" me by the fact that none of us will be living in less than 100 yrs, So I need to stop valuing THINGS so much. The planet will mostly be dead in a 100 yrs. Over the last couple of years I cried for months trying to reconcile myself to this fact. Because I have a child, it is deeply, deeply disturbing and sad to me, even more so than even my own mortality. (I'm an atheist, not believing in an afterlife.)

Because of my age, I'm adjusting and trying to refine my process of "letting go" - of things and my life.

Sorry I cannot offer any better advice except to say that IF you put a BIG price on your collection, would the buyer not value it? Get to know that person, the buyer, and share your concerns and your love of these records.

Good luck!

[BigmanPigman]

12. Thank you for your reply and I have decided to follow your advice and suggestions.

I too am nostalgic, an atheist and a realist. Your hubby makes sense and with the very real climate change I am glad I won't be around in a hundred years. I will price my records on the high end to weed out the unenthusiastic. Is that even a word? Thanks again!

[Duppers]

13. You are very welcome.

[pnwmom]

14. Another possibility would be to sell them to someone who wants them, and then use

some or part of the money to make a donation to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- or ask the museum if they had a better idea.

https://www.rockhallstore.com/prod-63-1-332-21/donate-to-the-rock-hall-annual-fund.htm

[BigmanPigman]

15. Wow, I can't believe you were able to find my post from May.

Someone on DU last night told me how to do a quick search by using an icon in the upper right corner of my tablet but I only have a star, download arrow, and three dots and none of them do a search at all.

Anyway, I printed this whole page from DU and stuck it in my living will/trust back in May. I was thinking of giving them to my cousin 3,000 miles away and she could sell them one at a time on eBay to enthusiasts but I don't think she has the time or desire to do so. I just got the address of a friend who I lost touch with and was thinking of asking him since he appreciates music and is pretty cool too.

Does the rock and roll hall of fame (in Cleveland, right?) have $$$ or the love of good music as a priority? Do you know anyone else who did this? I don't want this to be a burden for anyone, you know what I mean? People will have enough to deal with after I die and I want to make it as easy as I can. I am leaving everything in A+ condition and doing what I can so they won't have to deal with being sad and taking care of my stuff per my request.

[The_jackalope]

16. Donate them to a university?

My father did that with his violin collection. You might even get a tax break.