She who must be obeyed has had enough of commuting to Canberra from the mountains and we are selling to move to the ACT where she works.
As a consolation I have been given permission to buy either a ski chalet or motorhome
Time will tell but one thing for sure I will miss the dark sky around here, I took this pic last night from the back terrace, 30second exposure at f4.5 in the Nikon D7000 with the camera on its back on a table. Crux, coalsack, Omega Cent etc .............
I know only too well the feeling....
We had 100acres up at Heathcote, Vic - black as the Ace of Spades...
After five years in Europe, we're back and "downsizing" - smaller place in the inner Melbourne suburbs - handy to work in the City.......but......
Just as well light pollution isn't that critical for spectroscopy....
Having spent nearly $1M on my hobbies and pastimes over the last 30 years, I find my bargaining position is weak at best. The motorhome idea is one we have been considering for years, now seems like a good time as it will allow comfortable access to really dark-sky sites.
Having spent nearly $1M on my hobbies and pastimes over the last 30 years, I find my bargaining position is weak at best. The motorhome idea is one we have been considering for years, now seems like a good time as it will allow comfortable access to really dark-sky sites.
A Million buckeroonies - jeepers Matt what hobbies do you have ??
Hi Paul, its amazing how lots of little amounts add up ...... I hope my wife doesn't see this list ...... 42 cars & 4WDs including 9 Classic BMWs, 7 catamarans, 28 pairs of skis, 2 jet skis, 30 years of ski lifts& accom, 2 sea kayaks, 2 surf skis, 4 motorbikes, 8 road racing bicycles, 7 mountain bikes, $80K in camera gear .................. so far ASTRONOMY is the cheapest hobby at around $12,000 spent in the past 9 months.
Too many people spend their lives amassing a fortune for a retirement that may not come, to me its about the journey not the destination!
To be honest though, I did recoup some of those costs down the track ................ but my wife doesn't count that!!!
Being in the same situation Matt, I can commiserate. The ONLY avenue I have for astronomical pursuits now is trading (which I pretty much did before), and the hidden bank account (which get's cleared this weekend for another purchase) .
Can't complain - after working for 20 years, I decided to have a mid-life "bugger that", stopped flying, and went back to Uni (almost done! But then there is the post-grad at Swinbourne to come too). Wifey been making the money, hoarding it into buying property (that's where all my flying money went too ) and putting a lot "off shore" (helps having 2 passports).
I have access to the most simply incredible, dark as pitch site, and we OWN it.... it just takes a 12 hour flight to get there. But at least I get to use Polaris I think the VC200L (which I ended up withdrawing from sale) will end up there on an HEQ5 and live there. Father in law will build me an observatory out of birch and cedar, with a bania alongside for those frigid Siberian nights! Currently the land grows potatoes, cabbages and carrots All that will have to wait indefinitely since Baby No2 is on the way, and bringing SWMBO's mother out to help.
Hi Paul, its amazing how lots of little amounts add up ...... I hope my wife doesn't see this list ...... 42 cars & 4WDs including 9 Classic BMWs, 7 catamarans, 28 pairs of skis, 2 jet skis, 30 years of ski lifts& accom, 2 sea kayaks, 2 surf skis, 4 motorbikes, 8 road racing bicycles, 7 mountain bikes, $80K in camera gear .................. so far ASTRONOMY is the cheapest hobby at around $12,000 spent in the past 9 months.
Too many people spend their lives amassing a fortune for a retirement that may not come, to me its about the journey not the destination!
Same Matt. I want to use money, live life. Wife wants to hoard it all, invest it (wise). Being diametrically opposed makes for a perfect marriage - I would DESPISE living with someone the same as myself
Hey Lewis, the problem with the chalet is I can't drive it to Star-parties in my retirement!
I too have access to my father's block of land with a good view of Polaris, but the summers there are too light as the sun does not set and winters are -25C, bugger! and mine is not in central Siberia like yours!
$1M on hobbies!
Wish I was in that position.
Just managed to scrape together the $$$ to get a house built on my dream dark sky property at Yarraman. Should move in around September with a bit of luck.
Nearest low wattage light 90 meters away.
Mate, there's nothing like a dark sky, but if Canberra is your destination, there are far worse capital cities in Australia for light pollution. I've found that even a fair way into the suburbs, the sky isn't too bad, especially 30 degrees and up. If you move to the edge suburbs, there's a big difference already. Half an hour away, it's dark as!
Matt, you live just like my brother with the same attitude and he has a blast. 
You're enjoying life, that's a fantastic thing.
