人们往往会不断积累财物，有时甚至没有意识到自己正在这样做。
People tend to amass possessions, sometimes without being aware of doing so.
确实，当他们发现某件有用的东西——而自己竟然不知道曾经拥有它——时，往往会有一种令人愉快的惊喜。
Indeed they can have a delightful surprise when they find something useful which they did not know they owned.
那些从来不必搬家的人，会成为不加选择的杂物收藏者——那些东西只能被描述为"乱七八糟的杂物"。
Those who never have to move house become indiscriminate collectors of what can only be described as clutter.
他们把不需要的东西放在抽屉、橱柜和阁楼里好几年，坚信自己有朝一日可能恰恰需要那些东西。
They leave unwanted objects in drawers, cupboards and attics for years, in the belief that they may one day need just those very things.
随着年龄增长，人们还会因为另外两个原因积累物品：一是缺乏整理和丢弃所必需的体力和精力，二是情感上的留恋。
As they grow old, people also accumulate belongings for two other reasons, lack of physical and mental energy, both of which are essential in turning out and throwing away, and sentiment.
长期拥有的东西充满了对往昔的联想，也许还与已故的亲人有关，因此它们逐渐获得了超越其真实价值的情感意义。
Things owned for a long time are full of associations with the past, perhaps with relatives who are dead, and so they gradually acquire a value beyond their true worth.
有些东西是有意识地在家里收集起来的，目的是为了避免浪费。
Some things are collected deliberately in the home in an attempt to avoid waste.
在这类东西中，我要提到的是细绳和牛皮纸——节俭的人在拆开包裹后会把它们留下来，以省去购买这两样必需品的花费。
Among these I would list string and brown paper, kept by thrifty people when a parcel has been opened, to save buying these two requisites.
收集小物件很容易变成一种狂热。
Collecting small items can easily become a mania.
我认识一个人，她总是从报纸上剪下时装图样——那些如果有钱她就想买的衣服。
I know someone who always cuts sketches out from newspapers of model clothes that she would like to buy if she had the money.
由于她并不富裕，她能买得起这些衣服的可能性极其渺茫；但她从来都没有足够坚定的意志力去停止这种习惯。
As she is not rich, the chances that she will ever be able to afford such purchases are remote; but she is never sufficiently strongminded to be able to stop the practice.
这是一个无害的习惯，但它让她的书桌变得如此杂乱，以至于每次她一打开抽屉，散落的纸片就四处飞落。
It is a harmless habit, but it litters up her desk to such an extent that every time she opens it, loose bits of paper fall out in every direction.
把收藏作为一种认真的爱好，则是完全不同的一回事，并且有许多优点。
Collecting as a serious hobby is quite different and has many advantages.
收藏为闲暇时光提供了放松的方式，因为仅仅欣赏自己的珍藏就始终是一种乐趣。
It provides relaxation for leisure hours, as just looking at one's treasures is always a joy.
人们不必外出寻找消遣，因为藏品就安置在家中。
One does not have to go outside for amusement, since the collection is housed at home.
无论藏品包含什么——邮票、唱片、初版书、瓷器、玻璃器皿、古董家具、图画、模型车、标本鸟、玩具动物——总有与之相关的事情可做，从为最新入藏品找到合适的位置，到在参考书中核实相关信息。
Whatever it consists of, stamps, records, first editions of books, china, glass, antique furniture, pictures, model cars, stuffed birds, toy animals, there is always something to do in connection with it, from finding the right place for the latest addition, to verifying facts in reference books.
这一爱好不仅能让人在所选领域内受到教育，还能使人了解与之有某种关联的一般性知识。
This hobby educates one not only in the chosen subject, but also in general matters which have some bearing on it.
此外还有其他好处。
There are also other benefits.
人们会希望与志同道合的收藏爱好者交流，获取建议，交换心得，互换藏品，炫耀自己最新的发现。
One wants to meet like-minded collectors, to get advice, to compare notes, to exchange articles, to show off the latest find.
于是，一个人的朋友圈便扩大了。
So one's circle of friends grows.
这一爱好很快会带动旅行，也许是前往另一个城市参加聚会，也可能是出国寻觅一件罕见的标本，因为收藏家并不局限在任何一个国家。
Soon the hobby leads to travel, perhaps to a meeting in another town, possibly a trip abroad in search of a rare specimen, for collectors are not confined to any one country.
随着时间推移，一个人很可能会成为自己爱好领域的权威，并很有可能被邀请在小型聚会上做非正式的讲座，进而——如果反响良好——在更大的听众面前发言。
Over the years, one may well become an authority on one's hobby and will very probably be asked to give informal talks to little gatherings and then, if successful, to larger audiences.
通过这种方式，自信心得以增长——首先来自对某一主题的掌握，其次来自能够就此主题侃侃而谈。
In this way self-confidence grows, first from mastering a subject, then from being able to talk about it.
收藏活动，通过如此有建设性地占用闲暇时间，使人感到满足，再也没有时间无聊了。
Collecting, by occupying spare time so constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom.