OK. I have a challenging full time job (IT analyst with a Fortune 350 corporation), several kids, a large house, a dog, eldercare issues, sibling issues, more hobbies than I can possibly work on in any given week, alarming clutter, serious stress, and an unbreakable coffee addiction. Why have I now - without giving up any of the rest - started going to auctions to buy china and collectibles for resale?

Because it's soothing.

Really.  I'm not making this up. There's something about buying at auction and reselling on ebay that's at the same time socially useful (transferring a castoff to someone who wants it), entertaining (like movies: scenery, characters, story, suspense, conflict, resolution), and meditative (focused, analytical, mindful, compassionate.) Very Zen.