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Tonight I did a monumental thing.

I emailed a newer, local next-gen #typewriter repair person to open up the conversation about rehoming most of my stock of machines.

This is the stuff of legend, honestly!

All typewriter collectors want to hear from old people who have collected so many machines that they don't know what to do with them.

I've been the lucky recipient of a barn find, myself.

Since the pandemic started, though ,and especially since my loss of my relationship, for many, many reasons, I haven't had the time or energy for such a hobby.

Machines have simply languished in my possession, and that's not fair to the world. These machines need to get out and into the hands of people who want to use them.

We shall see if this young, enthusiastic repair person gets back in contact with me. I have a sneaking suspicion that they are also neurodivergent.

I don't have any desire for a bulk rehoming of machines. In fact, I suggested a gradual transfer of machines over the next few years so that they can afford to take on the stock and keep their business going.

I will end up taking an incredibly deep loss financially, but the whole point of collecting in the first place was to keep machines out of key cutters' hands and out of the hands of people on Pinterest who would just want to paint them white and stick cacti in them.

The last time I went to a national gathering of typewriter enthusiasts was 2019. I long for those days, but the entire group has splintered. Unfortunately, we let politics enter the arena. We broke our own damn rules.

I also long for less stock and more space to do other things. It's time for my sister and me to start cleaning out my dad's art studio and make some progress on repairing the building. That will include getting rid of most of his cameras -- and most of my typewriters. I'm OK with that!

Were I a less scrupulous person, I would basically just advertise a "barn sale" to other collectors, first come with a truck, first served. But I really want to encourage a younger generation to get into the art of repairing and preserving machines. If I can supply stock to this young repair person over the next few years, it will be an honor.

I promised that if we do meet up, I will demonstrate the secret typewriter handshake. It is a thing!