By Kelly A. Shue
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

As a professor teaching all over the world, Jack Wilson, Ph.D., accumulated many wonderful items that he now displays throughout his Riderwood apartment home.

Looking around Wilson’s self-proclaimed "vagabond retreat," it is instantly clear that he is not only well traveled but that everything he displays has personal meaning.

Memory lane
"When I look about my apartment and focus on an accessory or piece of furniture, I cannot help taking a walk down memory lane, reflecting on when the item was purchased, the person I might have been with at the time, or the fun I had bargaining for it," Wilson says.

Guests may notice a replica of a famous sword that Wilson bought while he lived in Madrid, Spain; wood carvings from the Republic of South Africa; batik wall hangings from Jakarta, Indonesia; or colorful benjarong ware from Thailand.

"In some ways, I think we collect or hold onto things as a sort of ‘security blanket’ to continue our connection with the past," Wilson says.

However, before moving to Riderwood, he had to carefully evaluate what was important to keep in his new home. He admits that it took some time before he opened his boxes and thought about decorating his apartment. With collections of artifacts, rugs, wall hangings, and pottery from travels to more than 70 countries, he had some decisions to make.

Decorating sense
Temporarily, Wilson hung items on the wall in his Riderwood apartment home to see how they looked with other furniture.

"As a result of this process, I made the decision to showcase what looked best in the apartment without overkill," he says. The items that he chose not to display are now in storage. From time to time, he rearranges items in his living room, either getting something out of storage or placing freshly cut flowers in a different vase or location.

When asked if his Riderwood apartment home provides enough space to display his favorite collectibles, Wilson answers with a resounding yes.