Good evening all. Is it just me or do you have to take from the trains and etc. once in a while? Here lately I just havent been in the mood to do much with the trains. Dont get me wrong Im still passionate about the hobby. Its just a different feeling twoard the hobby right now. Does anyone else get this way at times? Thanks for listening Dave[:)]
I get like that, but usually it’s forced. The force, it’s college and money is low. I just bought a locomotive yesterday, first train equipment I’ve bought in over a year. Hopefully this summer I’ll be able to do a little bit of modeling. I got pretty into baseball cards last year again, and I just can’t do anything with them so I think it’s time to sell those and save money. I have to save for a summer abroad trip in 2008.
I love the hobby, but being at college really makes it hard to do much of anything. I suppose I could have put kits together and such, but oh well.
Now with the nice weather too it’ll be especially hard to stay focused on trains when there is so much to do outside, like baseball.
Dave–believe me it happens, and it’s just human nature. A hobby like ours can involve us to an often intense degree, and when we tire, it’s just our own nature telling us to back off for a while and get a fresh perspective. I’ve had it happen many times over my involvment in the hobby, and at first I would get frustrated BY it happening, then I began to realize that it was a Good Thing.
Frankly, I think our brains are just telling us to back off for a little while and get relaxed. Let it happen, go with it, and before you know it, you’ll be in the model railroad room again with new, fresh ideas and a lot of enthusiasm.
Hobbies should be fun and relaxing. When they cease to be that to the hobbyist, then it’s time to take a little break.
Don’t worry, it’ll come back strong. And probably sooner than you think.
Tom [:)]
Oh, sure. It happens all the time. Right now, it’s springtime in New England, after a long winter followed by a cold couple of months that seemed like Winter Part II. When the nice weather hits, sometimes it’s hard to do inside things. (Great time to take your stuff outside for that final blast of Dul-Coat, though. Stink up your neighbor’s yard instead of your train room!)
Sometimes, a hobby can become a rut in itself. By backing away, you get to approach it again later with a fresh perspective. Or maybe all you need is a new idea. Go to your LHS, prowl the shelves, and pick up the monthly Walthers catalog. Pretty much guaranteed, there will be something in there that jump-starts the bug again. And best of all, it’s probably on sale.
There are a couple of things I like about this hobby. First, I can walk away for a few days or even weeks and pick up right where I left off, usually with some good ideas I hadn’t thought of.
Second, I can have any number of projects on the go, all within the hobby. The variety keeps me interested (there’s only so much ballasting one can take) and again I can pick up any of those projects at any time.
Then too, I can stop by here anytime and chat with old friends I’ve never met, and be inspired by the beautiful photographs of the craftsmanship of others. And if I choose to spend my leisure time doing other things for awhile, I know that all of these things will wait for the opportunity to welcome me back as if I’d never skipped a beat. Yes, it’s a wonderful hobby.
Chris
Thanks all ofr the great info. on walking away for awhile. Ive only been in the hobby for a couple of years. Up until lately it was all I wanted to do in my spare time. I should have realized it though. I am an auto technician by trade and some times I think if I have to work on another vehicle Ill scream. Thanks again for the encouragement. Dave