Various people in my family collect roosters, turtles, dolls from around the world and ukuleles. I'm probably leaving a few out, but those are the big ones. And to clarify, the roosters and turtles were never alive. We're talking about images and figurines.

Through the years I've had a few collections of my own, but I was never that dedicated to the pursuit of finding the stuff, and in time my interest in those collections sort of fell away naturally. I love having a wall of books at home, but I don't know if it's a collection as much as it is just … storage. Maybe I'll read some of those books again or lend them to somebody. Either way, I'm keeping them. But I never really collected them in the first place. I simply amassed them.

I couldn't imagine collecting wine. Amassing wine? Yes. Oh my stars, yes. But only to have a steady supply for consumption. I actually want to have an excess, too, so let's call it a steady supply that is in no danger of running dry anytime soon. But what about those stories we've all heard about or read about, the ones that feature a wine collector lamenting that if he lives to be 105 and drinks two bottles a day, he still won't get through his stash?

This is not an attack on wine collectors — or any collectors, for that matter. But if you are starting to hold bottles at home or committing yourself to expanding your holdings, I encourage you to think about your motivations. How much is enough? How much can you truly enjoy? Like as a food product, not as an object.

Years ago, when I first started keeping more wine than I could drink in a night, or a week, I liked the way it all looked. I stored it in cabinets in a cool corner of my parents' basement. I counted the bottles at times and organized them — some to age and some as just general stock, ready to be pulled and served at a moment's notice. Heading down the steps to my “cellar” was fun, especially when my family was gathered at the homestead.

But even then, I wasn't a real collector. I had a “collection” by definition, and some very nice wines were a part of that collection. But none of them was a trophy. None had been purchased at auctions or in rare wine shops or before they were bottled. None of the bottles was large format, and not one of them carried a label that would make a real wine collector lose his or her breath. I had no idea where any of my wines landed on anyone's 100-point rating scale.

They were just bottles of wine, in the good-to-really-good range, with a few that crept into “great” territory. Some of the bottles would probably keep getting better for the next several years. Others would best be drunk before my next birthday. This was an assortment of wine, and like a closet full of nice clothes, its contents were meant to be pulled out and put to use.

That is one kind of collection. Other kinds of collections might focus more on ratings, rarity, regions or sheer volume.

Some collectors outgrow a cabinet or closet and seek alternative storage space. Others start with a completely outfitted, empty cellar and fill it up. Dramatic lighting in place, the racks are empty at first, and then partially filled in and then completely filled in — every last one of them — until boxes start piling up on the floor. Those people love to go down there and just be with their wines, as I did.

Nothing wrong with it. You want to display your empty bottles as keepsakes? I love it. I will be the first one oohing at your trophies.

Just think about examining your relationship with your accumulation. Are you a gatherer of supplies for consumption, are you a white-whale hunter or are you more like a merchant betting on future gains? What kind of wine do you keep, how much of it and for what reasons? How much can you drink in your lifetime?

Just a few more questions. Are you ever attracted to a wine for anything more than how you think it will taste? In other words, would a rare bottle entice you? Or would a 99-point bottle be more attractive to you than a 96-point bottle? How diligent are you about not letting your wine turn the corner and head south? If you collect wine as an investment, is it time to cash in and get your prized bottles into the hands of people who would happily pay a premium for the privilege and pleasure of drinking them?

Nobody's right or wrong — as long as the people who collect more than they could ever drink eventually pass it along to someone who will enjoy it before it is too late. Remember: It's a drink that goes well with food. Let's make sure it finds its way to the table.

Twitter: @pour_man