[AZ-Observing] Re: Veteran Observers - Where did you find the time?
- From: "Kimball Corson" <kandj1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 12:53:35 -0700
Mike,
I sympathize and share your problem to a degree. I am older (62) and time
remains a problem and managing it, a nuisance, relative to what I would like
to be doing. I don't see any easy or obvious solutions, short of full
retirement, but the problem then is our eyes are not getting any younger,
especially if you have read a lot as I have. All systems have means times to
failure. I think the best you can do for the here and now, is plan and take
your shots and enjoy what you can when you can, keeping everything in
balance.
In the Phoenix Summer, I road bike as an offset to astronomy. If the night
is cloudy, so too is the dawn likely to be and the riding is good. I go to
bed early and rise early to ride. If the night is clear, the viewing is
better and I stay up late to observe, because the sun and heat will be on me
early, compromising my biking. Nice complementarity.
Good luck and patience,
Kimball Corson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Wiles" <mwiles@xxxxxxx>
To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 9:19 AM
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Veteran Observers - Where did you find the time?
> 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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