Ariel's Grotto: More Than Just Gadgets and Gizmos?

Okay, so I've seen The Little Mermaid like, a hundred times (don't judge!). But I was watching it again last night and something struck me about Ariel's grotto. We always talk about how she collects human stuff, right? But everything she keeps seems to be either directly related to human life on land (like, forks, pipes, paintings) or things clearly representative of Eric's world. It got me thinking - is she really just collecting cool junk, or is she subconsciously trying to build a bridge to Eric before she even meets him? Like, is that grotto a little shrine to her future love, or am I just reading wayyy too much into a kids' movie? I mean, yes she is fascinated by other things but the main focus of her collections are things that would remind her of the surface and more specifically, Eric. I never picked up on it as a kid because, let's face it, I was obsessed with Flounder. Also, side note: Does anyone else find it slightly creepy that King Triton is so against humans yet he knows about all these random shipwrecks in Ariel's backyard? Like, dude, you're the king! Clean up the ocean floor! Or is that just a detail they glossed over? I love the movie but it seems like a bit of a plot hole. Anyway, discuss! Am I being overly analytical, or is there something deeper going on in that grotto than just 'look at this stuff, isn't it neat?' Let me know your thoughts!