Hi everybody. I am really stuck in a rut here and I need help. Over the years, my collection of magic has been in a back room in my basement, and there was so much stuff there that even I would look at it and even say to myself, "wow, I really am a magic hoarder". I have been working on this room for around 7 years. there are well over a thousand effects, sets, cards, packet effects, books, magazines, gadgets, gimmicks, literally anything and everything you could think of. This was like walking into Fantasma or Tannen's Magic in NY City times 10. Everything was neat and clean, in its case and most likely inside a plastic baggie or something to keep it in good shape. Everything organized- 1 bin had all of my JB Magic stuff, one bin had all of my Alakazam items, one bin for Elmwood, etc.
I live with my wife and son, and her sister and her daughter. My Aunt recently fell into hard times and we decided to let her move in with us. The only place we could put her was in the "cave". It is a nice, finished room that somebody lived in before we moved into this house. So my wife and sister took all of my stuff and packed them away into big boxes and they are now stacked in the corner of the basement. Now don't get me wrong, I knew we were going to do this, and my wife and sister know what Magic means to me, and knew I was not going to be happy but they really worked hard to get all of this stuff neatly into boxes and really did a good job doing it.
So when I came home from working a double shift (it took them all day and into the night to do this) I saw all of these boxes stacked together in the basement, and my wife looked at me, I looked at her, and she said "I know babe, this is killing you right now". I told her "absolutely not", and thanked her for taking such good care of everything and doing everything so neatly, after all this is all of MY stuff, and SHE and HER SISTER did all of the hard work, not me, and I really appreciate what they did. but my wife and her sister has no real interest in Magic, so I don't think they understand. "we will eventually move", "get a bigger house", etc. she said, and all of that stuff. Now I have another walk-in closet upstairs and that is now full magic and of what I am trying to salvage from the boxes and keep "out in the open" for easy access.
But honestly, I feel like a piece of my life was stuffed into those boxes and I don't know why I am feeling like this. All of these years everything I had was on "display", well, at least most of it, everything else in bins or whatever, neatly. Even they are in these boxes, neatly, if I need to get to something even remotely close to the bottom of one of the boxes, well you can just forget it. I have a Ford Escape, and have a lot of room in the back, and when she saw me unpacking one of the boxes and unloading it into the back of my truck she said, smiling, "I knew this was bothering you". Of course I said, "no, no, this is just some of the "important stuff", I am only doing "one box". Now I have 2 boxes unloaded into the back of my truck and with the winter coming, I don't know how this stuff will hold up in the back of a truck all winter.
I am just being honest here, but sometimes I think it may be time to maybe sell a large chunk of this collection that I have (close to $75,000, maybe more). I feel, inside, like I am acting like a big baby doing all of this stuff, always worrying about Magic. Obviously, my family is #1 and there are many more things in life that are important- at least more important than Magic. Ever since the stuff went into those boxes even my wife said to me last night something like "OMG no magic tonight? (I ALWAYS have something in my hand or that I read wherever we go or whatever we do) and she said "is this whole thing bothering you this much?" and I told her "I don't know".
Don't get me wrong here, its not like I am walking around an emotional wreck or anything, but I think it may be time to make a change...but what change, I do not know. Sell a lot of it? Forget about it? Bigger house to put it out again??? Jeez, I even use a capital "M" just when saying the word "Magic"- I think I am going insane!!!
I do not know what to do and any advice would really help. And if anyone is seriously interested in buying $40 thousand worth of Magic at a STEAL of a price, just let me know.
Thanks to whoever took the time to read my ranting and raving- Jimmy

And I apologize if this is not the right place to post this, and if there is another area on the Magic Café that this should go- please tell me.

And I said "$40 thousand" because there would be no way in HELL I would ever sell EVERYTHING. I would keep at least 1/4 of it...

I also know that everybody I have known here on the Café over the years and even the people I don't know but follow their threads and posts are all great people. I am ready to listen to anybody call me weird, sick, a hoarder, jerk, selfish or whatever. I really don't mind. I just want your opinions, good or bad.
Thanks again everyone!

First - you are definitely not alone. I'm sure there's a ton of people here who'd love to visit for a beer and a snoop around your stuff
Second - if you're genuinely going to sell stuff, ebay is worth looking into. But sell your worst stuff first.

Finally - maybe you could scratch that magic itch by having a bookcase, or even just a briefcase of your very best stuff to hand, to practice with. Even in a full house or apartment, there's always room for another bookcase.

If your wife is allergic to having magic props lying around, maybe you could put them in boxes or a little medicine chest or something. She'd presumably be pretty happy with the idea of antique-hunting for some appropriate piece of furniture to hide stuff away in. If you frame it in terms of an opportunity for her to shop, she might be more receptive. Christmas is coming, so it's a good time for it. Plus, it'd get them all out of the house...

Maybe if you will the stuff over to a local magic club, which in turn can auction it to raise funds for shows, picnics, lectures, etc. You can't take it with you