My whole family collects magnets!!

Floaty pens! You know, those pens that have items that float up and down in them. They usually have a transportation item, eg a local cable car or tram moving up and down a local background. There are a few variations - I have one from Jerusalem where the bread and wine from the Last Supper moves up and down on Jesus's table. They are inexpensive, easy to carry and won't break!

Magnets and postcards!!

Yup: magnets, teaspoons, patches. My rules were basically one per country or major city we stayed in. For magnets they have to be smaller than a certain size (otherwise I'd have no room either in my bag or on my fridge), preferably not the flat plastic sort (the colours fade too easily), not the photo-in-perspex sort, not too strong a magnet (might damage the fridge trying to move/remove it). For teaspoons I inherited a collection from my grandmother (which came with a rack), plus my own which started when I was about 10, and I recently acquired a third rack to put the new ones on. Patches can't be found everywhere (especially in Europe). For me they have to be good quality (embroidery as opposed to motifs) and I quite like the ones with the country's flag incorporated in some way. I have a navy blue throw that I sew them onto so I try to avoid dark colour patches so they'll stand out on it. Oh and the other thing I've collected is visa stamps in my passport... but that goes without saying.

I went through a stage of collecting Xmas tree decorations and charms for my charm bracelet, which I have never ever worn. Finding Xmas decorations was a bit difficult so I don't have many but I got some cool charms. But yes, I agree with the rule that you can't say you've been there until you've stayed there a night. Just passing through doesn't count.

I collected silver charms when I did my OE in 1990 - it wasn't strictly one-per-place, more one-per-major-experience - I ended up with 40 of them, and I hadn't been counting, but when I took them to the jewellers to have them put onto my bracelet, there were exactly 40 links available. I don't wear it much, all the sticky-out bits hurt, but I absolutely love looking through it and showing the kids, it brings back rushes of awesome memories.

So many things are hilarious about this post, not the least of which is Nathan's hair, which continues to cause me amusement. I love that you collect magnets, and even more love that you haven't opened them yet. I must say, that shows considerable restraint.

God, I forgot about those shot glasses. And if you're not talking about me, then I just fessed up to an equally (I would say more) embarrasing collection. I also, gave up after about 5. Still have them though I think. They've been through so many flat moves. Can't bear to throw out the Munich one. It's a tiny beer mug!!

My family collects magnets as well. It started off with a my mum buying one on a family trip to the US when we were little and is still going 22 years later... The parents don't really travel overseas all that ofetn, but with four kids doing overseas trips every couple of years the parents' fridge is starting to look pretty chocka. The only rule is that it's one per country visited (thank goodness it's not every city, because that would be a hige committment!).

when i travelled i saved all the costers from every beer i drank

LOVE this blog! So cute and funny. A friend collects magnets too. She has them all over her filing drawer at work.