Time to move on ...

[FlashDrive]

I'm loosing interest ... this hasn't happened o/night ...it's been a steady progression....but have tried to motivate myself in recent times...but I've kinda become ' bla - zay ' about the whole thing really.

Shift work ( early rises every morning ... 4.30am ) when rostered on work.... that means early to bed for me....
Absolute crap weather when I am off work ( cloud cover etc ) ...with the occasionally opportunity to go outside and enjoy a look up.

Have seriously considered selling up all my gear....... ( 95% of it at least )

NA140 / AT-65Q Quad APO / TAK76 with FT / bus loads of Premium Eyepieces / Denkmeier Bino's with Power Switch and Filter Switch....and the list goes on....2'' Diagonals ... TeleVue EB / Astro Physics MaxBrite / WO and Astro- Tech Quartz .....several 1.25 Premium Diagonals .....

T-Rex Mount with Argo - Navis .... etc...etc... and more stuff than I can list here.......

I haven't been outside or even the slightest bit motivated to do so for some time.

A recent arrival I received was on a ' waiting list ' .... it's seen the night sky just once..... Dannat would know Scope I'm talking about.

If I want to ' look up ' ....I have some very decent Binoculars ( wide field 11* fov ) to use.

I've lost it, I think .... it's like giving up and letting things go.....time to move on gracefully.

Col .... ( Flash )

[casstony]

If you just forget about observing for a while you might find fresh interest in future (or not).
Maybe sell half of your gear but keep the stuff that's hardest to replace?
Maybe try an 11" or 12" aperture to get better deep sky views?

[dannat]

i agree, maybe cull some bits but hold onto the special bit of kit -doesnt matter if you pick it up in 5 yrs or 10

[pfitzgerald]

Hi Colin

I agree with Tony and Daniel's advice - work and weather do conspire to wear down one's enthusiasm for the setting up/ packing up etc. This year in Melbourne has been one of those for me. The weekend before last was one of those few that the weather has been kind and at the right time so I was able to share the viewing experience with others (kids and adults from school) - seeing the joy on their faces and hearing the enthusiasm in their voices has been an absolute tonic for me. So hang in there Col. :-)
Paul

[Kunama]

Had to read your post a couple of times ......

I hope you don't think this will get you out of shouting a beer or two on the 24th !!!!

PM sent !

[Dave47tuc]

Happend to me in the last ten years.

My answer take a break mine was 3 odd years and cull my gear to a minumum.

You dont need lots of scopes and eyepieces take it from someone that has had over 30 scopes in 40 years and over 100 eyepieces.

No need. At my age bit over 50 :) one scope and a Bino Viewer that will do. Make it easy to view and only view when you want .

The sky is not going anywhere . Just relax and enjoy the hobby and dont get mixed up in all the gear. :thumbsup:

[FlashDrive]

The Sell Off will begin very soon.....
I will keep 1 Refractor and a few ' choice ' Eyepieces .

The rest will GO.......and there will be a lot of very nice gear... especially ' top end ' Eyepieces ...TeleVue's / Celestron Ultima ' / Orion Ultrascopics / Vixen LVW's / Vixen LV's / Meade Research Grade / Denkmeier / and early Japanese Plossls ......all of which are in ' excellent ' condition.
Some have ' boxes ' .... some don't.
Denkmeier II Binoviewer with Power Switch and Filter Switch + OCS for use with a Refractor.

Premium 2" Diagonals as mentioned before TeleVue / Astro- Physics / WO and Astro-Tech Quartz.

The Scopes and Mount most likely to go are the .......

Vixen NA140SS F/5.7
Astro-Tech AT-65Q Quad APO F/6.5
T-Rex Mount and Heavy Duty Tripod including Argo-Navis.

I'm keeping the TAK76 ......and the Hybrid TeleVue / Vixen Mount.

Col....

[omegacrux]

Sorry to hear that Col
I have changed hobbies over the years ,I was going to be a golf pro once , trouble was I'm hopeless at it
Good luck with whatever you decide to do in the future (but keep at least one scope )

David

[LewisM]

Now, that Vixen Zoom... :)

[MattT]

Shift work is a real killer...I'm at work right now. It is just a hobby after all. I found making my own scope and renovating the Gauntount more interesting than looking through it.
Go with the flow Col.

[swannies1983]

Been there, done that. With a new job, study and two young kids, I gave up both visual and imaging about 18 months ago. I've sold most of my gear, except my 8" Dob. I've only taken the scope out twice in the last 18 months. Maybe in about 5-10 years time I'll get back into it again.

[Bart]

I hear ya! :thumbsup:

Sold nearly all my gear, kept my LX90 for the occasional visual and the observatory. :)

Been more interested in riding my adventure bike and doing some camping than hiding out and being an astro nut.

Can still do 300 km and camp for the night and look up when it has been grey and cloudy all day than sitting at home praying for clear skies.

You'll get over it, there are better things to do and you wont ever forget how small we are, really.:D

[Larryp]

I went through that in the mid '90s, Col. My biggest regret was selling my 6" Starfire, because I will never get another one.
Make sure you keep your best gear-one day you will retire and probably be glad you still have it.

[FlashDrive]

Decided to START the SELL OFF now ...............

Refractors are 1st off ....see classifieds.

Col.............

[Monstar]

Just change jobs!

[FlashDrive]

Thanks for your uplifting comments guys.....
I have had 1 member suggest I ' box ' up the NA140 ....put it away and forget about it for awhile.... get it back out sometime in the future.

If it doesn't sell .....then I'll do just that..

Col.....

[MortonH]

Only just found this thread after seeing the NA140 for sale. Hope you get the bug back at some point. Defo keep anything that can't be replaced.

[sn1987a]

20"+ SDM with all the goto fruit?. It's a whole new universe :poke:

[LightningNZ]

Like Morton, I just saw your advertisements first, then tracked this thread down. All I can say is "I've been there". Nothing wrong with taking a break and who knows how long it'll be... but it's a part of you and you'll never really lose it. Do what you have to and let the passion return to you - don't chase it.

All the best,
Cam

[Steffen]

Looks like you had all the wrong gear to start with :P

Seriously though, I've been through "what am I doing here" phases several times myself, including the occasional hiatus from observing (sometimes as long as a decade). I've been through bouts of aperture fever, temptations of going into imaging, and the lure of tiny boutique refractors, and I came this -><- close to sinking lots of money into all of those.

In the end it comes down to deciding for yourself what you want out of this hobby – chasing the fashion of the day or enjoying your spare time under the stars. Sometimes you find your true passion by chasing it and sometimes it finds you by happenstance.

There is nothing wrong with taking a break. If some day you miss the look through a telescope (and I know you will) you know where to turn :thumbsup:

Cheers
Steffen.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Sorry to see you leave the hobby behind Flash. :sadeyes:

[stephenb]

I thought it was only me, Col.... After 30+ years in the hobby, I don't have the time, money, motivation or interest in the hobby. I've learnt so much from it over the years but I have other interests which have bubbles to the surface in recent years. In the last few years I've definately been a fair weather observer. Cold nights chill me to the bone. I cannot stand for long periods, plus other health issues which are compounded by standing at the 'scope. I'll keep the SDM for now but it doesn't see much action these days.

Col, don't feel any regrets for your decision.... Do what is best for you....
Cheers.
Stephen

[The Mekon]

yes, that along with the Argo Navis revived my interest, and I have been in the hobby since I was 11 years old - almost 50 years!

[LewisM]

That FC-76 of yours Col would be nice with my FC-100 and FSQ-86ED :D Don't worry, Matt and I will help with the Astro Garage Sale... we promise to give you top dollar :)

Just teasing mate :P

I don't have the time - maybe once a week, IF that. My family knows, come a couple days either side of new moon, to expect me NOT to be in the house at night. It's enough for me.

I know what it's like trying to get a hold of you, so fully understand your situation.

[rrussell1962]

A lot of these posts strike a chord with me too. For about 10 years I was working two jobs and the only telescope I had time to use was the Astroscan, the rest of my stuff sat in the spare room. Eventually I thought "what I need is just a Nexstar 8 and 3 eyepieces", easy to set up, just carry it into the garden when I want to etc. Deciding to treat my interest as a hobby to be enjoyed and not a chore to be endured on cold nights was a step in the right direction. Then an opportunity to acquire an Obsession 18 inch came along about 6 months ago...Still keeping it fairly casual though, not obsessing too much about dark skies and observing lists, basically confining myself to "Turn Left at Orion" for the time being. Oddly enough making a decision to treat the whole thing solely as an interest enabled me to realise what drew me to the hobby 40 or so years ago. If your interest is rekindled in the future the difference these days is that good gear is now very inexpensive compared to years ago, the barriers to entry, or re-entry, into the hobby are now lower than they have ever been before.

[gaa_ian]

I know where you are coming from Col & I too had a lower level of involvement for a few years while I ran a major community festival & got quite involved with Radio Broadcasting.
All that is behind me now & I keep my astronomy to the simple pleasure of sharing the night sky with others & getting them set up to enjoy those simple pleasures through my business NightSkySecrets & making sure I live by my Motto "Astronomy the fun and easy way"
As others have said, keep it simple & it is so easy to come back to it at any time.
"Keep looking up" :-)

[MortonH]

Hopefully it's not so much time to "move on" but time for a break.

[Stardrifter_WA]

I concur with that sentiment Morton. There have been times where I lost interest, particularly when I have been too busy chasing the fairer sex. :D But, I seem to always return to it, particularly if some event sparks my interest again. Although, some of my other astro stuff may go, when I downsize (which is imminent), but I will always hang to my two refractors.

[Tandum]

Sell it all Col, I did, get the cash in the vault and buy back when the itch reappears. I had a near new SX wheel fail at astrofest last year and it took 7 months to get it fixed. I had lots of time to add up how much cash was sitting around doing nothing for months on end. I'm just lucky no one bought my dome.

[pgc hunter]

Flash, mate, sorry to hear that you've burnt out. I can understand, I do shift work aswell, finishing work anywhere between 7-10pm after unloading pallets of 15-20kg bags of potting mix, dog food slabs/bags and drink slabs by hand, I am not exactly motivated to setup my gear, wait for it to cool, only to be confronted by poor seeing, clouds, fog and whatnot. The beer and TV seem to be a far more preferable option....

And combine that with living in a Donkey's rear end of a climate like Melbourne, I'm surprised I ever invested so much money in this hobby. I haven't been out much at all in the last year. I was just worn out from the constant crap conditions, poor seeing, working late etc. I rarely even visited the forums anymore. Infact, just a couple of weeks ago, I logged onto CN, IIS for the first time in months and reading some obs reports reignited the fire, so I set up the scope for the first time this year not 2 weeks ago. And I was rewarded with great seeing conditions on not one but TWO nights in the same week which is all it took to reignite the fire. Now, I look at Melbourne's forecasts with new found disgust LOL

Hope you don't throw in the towel for good, keep your favourite gear because you never know when the bug will bite again! Even if you do sell everything, set aside some of that cash.... just in case :P

PS. I would've bought that Vixen 140 in a Flash if I didn't need the money for boring things like setting myself up for the future etc lol

[N1]

This is one sad thread. Good decision though to keep the 76, Flash. May you continue to enjoy the odd astronomy moment, even if you have "left the hobby" (Don't worry, you will). I agree with those who consider this an interest that can and should be pursued with as much or as little commitment/equipment as you please (and not the slightest bit more), and no particular approach is more valid than another. Personally I pack up, go home & do something else the moment it stops being fun, and by doing so, pleasure in looking up has never left me for the last 30 years. Perserverance is great, but it absolutely must be part of the fun. Otherwise it's wasted time.:)

[FlashDrive]

Man, you guys are gonna have me ' cryin ' shortly .....:shrug:

I know ... it's a ' trap ' to keep me in the fold ... isn't it ;)

Flash .....

[gbeal]

LOL, nope Flasher sorry. If you're gone you're gone.. LOL.
Trap? You bet.
Seriously, I've watched this thread evolve, and feel for what your going through, in fact been there done that.
We've had a very good relationship, no doubt many others have as well with you, and that doesn't spell the end.
I am sure you'll come to your senses, and come back, it will be good to see this.
In the meantime, you need to do what you need to do.
The only positive thing I can see from all this, your sig (just checked on a sale item you had listed) is only the one scope, LOL, simple, easy to write.
See you when you return, or in between.
GB

[FlashDrive]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and ideas .....

I'll be around for a little longer ... have eyepieces to sort out....now that's going to be hard for me as a couple of them are as ' rare ' as hen's teeth ....I reckon who ever has them also...will know why.

I'm prepared to ' give ' them up .... for the right price.

One is a 2" inch Eyepiece ... the other is 1.25 inch format.
And these 2 pieces ... I have only seen ' once ' on the Internet in recent years for sale.

Edit ... to tell you the truth ... a seller on Ebay recently listed their 1.25 eyepiece ( the same as I have ) ... and that's the 2nd time I have seen this eyepiece appear in many a year ... it sold for just on $200.00 + post.

There's no great mystery to this...they are just hard to find ...people hang on to them.....and they are very,very nice eyepieces to look thru'.

Col..........

[Wavytone]

Hehe I understand completely Col.

During the "long wet" of 1989-91 I was similarly cheesed-off and got rid of the astro gear to pursue other interests.

Got back into it in 2007 - a long break - though like you the past year has been terrible.

[N1]

Flash, you do realise that once your exit is complete, you're gonna get the mother of all fine breaks? :P:P:rofl:

[FlashDrive]

... your in on it to ..aren't you... scheming with the others to keep the ' gate ' closed .. so I can't wander onto greener pastures. :D

Col.

[Pinwheel]

I know where your coming from I have a shed full of R/C aircraft & radio gear after 20 years of flying, I just went cold on it all. Now in Cob webs..Maybe time to sell them..

[TrevorW]

I know where you are coming from I sold my GSO RC 8" recently, my camera etc hasn't seen the night of day for nearly 2 years.

Imaging took my fancy but I had neither the time nor $$ to compete with the big boys and nearly everything worthwhile has been imaged far better than I could do with my meager equipment.

So now everything is gathering dust the urge might come back, how long does grease last in your mount before seizing. :thumbsup:

[Kunama]

I think we all have a "stash" of stuff that was left over when we called "time" on a hobby.
I did a minimum of 4 scuba dives each week (often up to 12 dives a week) for years and every scuba course possible, then one day I just did not feel like diving again.........
That granddaughter will keep you busy for some time to come Col. See you next week for a beer or should I say XXXX