Moving/ downsizing, donating collection, books, getting old

[Chuck]

On Tuesday, SUNY Environmental and Forestry came and took my cabinets. Perfect timing- their Cornell drawers are just stacked, and I had to get rid of these massive steel cabinets.

Today I watched my life's work leave in a Uhaul. Jason and Emily from Cornell came out and we loaded up- 78 drawers, full Schmidt boxes, books. Thousands of specimens. The world's largest collection of Papilio solstitius, the world's largest collection from Tetepare Island. Countless rare species, and plenty of species still undescribed. I did feel bad- to recover some drawers for my retention I had to tile the heck out of some of the formerly-orderly drawers. This should keep them busy a long time.

Jason asked how I felt. I replied that he was the one who said our collections are our legacy, and with going to Cornell and others my legacy will outlive me, and memories of me. As to how I feel- relieved of responsibility. It hung over my head that I still had so much bench work to do just on the Solomon Islands material (after over 20 years) and now I both cannot complete it, but don't have to. I can do something else. I don't have to worry about fire, or maintain it, or keep my office cold in the summer. I won't feel the guilt of having such rarities that most institutions don't have. Now they'll be more readily available to researchers. What started as a toddler's passion turned into the work of a fanatic, and then in some ways, just work. The burden is lifted.

I'm taking 7 drawers of favored specimens with me. I have 17 empty drawers. Let the games begin!