FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Veteran Observers - Where did you find the time?

[Michael Wiles <mwiles@xxxxxxx>]

So I have a dilemma.  Like all on this mailing list, I have an intense passion 
and love for the night sky and find great pleasure in visual observing.  Yet, 
because of the demands of daily life, I have a very difficult time getting out 
to dark sites with the rest of you for an observing session.  I know that many 
on this list are a few years more advanced than I am (no disrespect intended), 
and seem to have more time to get out to a dark site than I do (presumably).

I'm happily married with three young children and all of the demands that such 
an arrangement places on my free time.  In addition, my chosen profession 
requires me to spend a lot of time at client sites in other states and away 
from home.  My question is - how did some of you elder members handle the 
situation when you were in my situation?

I have a significant investment in equipment for deep sky observing, but 
sacrificing an entire day to go to a dark site with other club members is a 
precious commodity that I rarely have time to indulge.  I get no grief from my 
family, in fact my wife gets frustrated with me when I cancel an observing trip 
at the last moment because of other events in my life.  I've had to make do 
with observing from my backyard - which isn't necessarily a bad thing I've 
found when conducting limiting magnitude tests (I can see mag 5.6 stars from my 
backyard).  

I've considered selling the equipment and waiting for a time down the road when 
I can afford the investment of time to observe all the wonders of the universe 
that have captivated me all these years.  However, when push comes to shove, I 
just can't bring myself to do it.  My youngest child is 6, and as my business 
grows I expect that the travel requirements of my daily life will lessen over 
time - probably about 10 years out for both of them.

Any advice from anyone on the list would be greatly appreciated on how I deal 
with the situation until I'm able to devote more time to this wonderful hobby.  

It's also entirely conceivable that I'm just ranting - and if that's the case - 
thanks for listening. :-)

Mike

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