I have struggled with the Smith affliction since 1972 among others. As my wife puts it reguarly, she worked for guns, cars and kids college educations. I covered home, hearth and retirement per her.
There is no cure. I kicked smoking, seldom drink. I gave up chasing women, when i got married 52 years ago, so I figured I was due one vice.
She waited, in the car with kids on more then one occasion, when I stopped at a gun shop on way home from or too her mothers. (two plus hour drive). While there, I would make my Saturday run to a great facilitator shop with 4000 guns in stock. I know where she is going when we pass, me on the other hand, I have some work to do.,
I passed the need stage for handguns easily by 1980. After that it was pure want and lust. I used to take a friend with me into the gun stores or shows to talk me outta more.
Of late I have been rationalizing my horde, by make, by barrel length, caliber and duplication and who gets what down the road. Got my self down to 24 Smiths about a quarter of what I had and all others about 30% are left. I quit going to gun stores and shows for last 4 to 5 years. (My buddy passed.)
Everything was going good, then I slipped, last month, I bought, a want gun again, cause I sold my 410 o/u. Then I saw the new mtn guns 22 and 10mm and started rationizing, that I need them to round out a hole in my Smiths. Today a fellow shooter let me shoot his beretta 688 over under, on sporting clays course, more lust.
Reached a conclusion while typing this I have a problem. I need to go to range more, to shoot what I have, and stop thinking about more additions. Say 2 deletions. per addition. Oh well a man needs at least one vice, specially one my wife supports.