To some, a materialistically hoarding pass time such as the pen hobby can be seen as wasteful and geeky of sort, but there are certain myths and ideas that I finally realised after 5 years into this rabbit hole.

The cost of pens and inks will pile up, and they cost a lot...

This is probably the most repeated reason that fountain pen people use to draw newcomers in, and yet soon enough you'll find that it is an addiction to constantly spend just a bit more to improve the writing experience. Every time a new pen, a new notebook, or a new bottle of ink is purchased, there is a certain hit of dopamine, similar to how shopping can also become an addiction. There is nothing wrong with acquiring more pens to your collection, but to do it at a pace you are comfortable with and sensible to your financial state is the way to go.

The boredom phase will come, eventually

There is a certain point to any hobby, which the hobbyist would be a tad "full" of experience and the urge to find out more or experience more of what is available out there is fulfilled. It is not the worst feeling of all to not have the urge, but it is a blessing in disguise to be able to enjoy what you currently have, plus it can be a good practice to let go of the pens you get bored of to make room for more to come, if you have another grail pen going forward that is.

The most convenient writing instruments will not be fountain pens

Yep, you read it correctly - to bring a fountain pen with you at all times can feel cool and all, but it certainly is not the most versatile and durable writing instruments of all, hence the ballpoints which were invented later on.

A good signature at the bank also requires ballpoint inks, some might get away with permanent or document ink but chances of smudges are always there - but we still pick up our beloved fountain pens over any ballpoints anyway, am I right?

The list of things to do with fountain pens will add up

A certain projectory will occur: you bought your first pen, went all enthusiastic about it, then wrote with it all day, then got another pen, and the cycle continued. The to-do lists or bullet journal would eventually be finished, and you would be left with nothing to do beside scribbling with your pens for pages on end.

A bright idea would pop up - "alas, I shall dedicate a notebook for my favorite quote, one for my beloved novels, one for ink testing and swatches, and then one for..." These are scary cycles I say, because they would force upon you the urge to post things on social media, to praise the lord of the pens, and the gods of the swatches - some worse cases include making your own youtube channel and website just for the sole purposes of using your pens and inks more and more. cough cough

The pens you let go or lost will be like those exes you miss but may or may not get back to

Throughout the 5 years being in the pen hobby, the number of pens I've tried out and tested might hit the 150 mark, and I've certainly experienced seller/buyer's remorse all too well to say the least.

The ones I miss most are not the most expensive pens, such as the Yard'o'Led Viceroy or the Pilot Custom 823, but they are ones that had memories attached, like a Faber Castell E-Motion which were too weighty for my liking, but it was a prize I won from Appelboom's Fountain Pen Friday.

There are pens I long for but would not see myself purchasing them any time soon, such as the 146 Glacier edition in a collab post between myself and Montblanc, I do miss it daily and would one day get that pen, but it's not something to rush toward.

All in all, no matter what sorts of hobby you take part in, remember that it's not all about the materialistic boxes that you have to tick - they are all just media for you to explore your thought process, and it's quite similar to human interactions really - some are there for a while, and some are there to stay. I wish you could have a recognition or two after reading this article and love our little writing instruments a whole lot more. Thank you for reading and I'll catch you in the next one.