Boyd Have you ever turned down a good job offer that would have required you to move and move your layout or take it apart?
Have you ever turned down a good job offer that would have required you to move and move your layout or take it apart?
Of course not. Have you?
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
I don't know whether I'd relocate for a five thousand dollar raise either. There is a lot to consider, but moving a toy train layout wouldn't be one of them. As most of us know, the cost of living varies a great deal from area to area. That raise could easily be eaten up by increased housing and food costs, taxes, etc. Even within NYS, these costs vary widely.Then there is the issue of family and friends, establishing new relationships with doctors, dentists, and the like.
When I started this thread I was hoping there would be one guy or gal honestly replying saying yes,,,,, as in yes I turned down a better job that would have required me taking down my layout, moving and starting another layout all over again. That person replying yes would not necessarily be addicted but sure would be dedicated to their train layout hobby. I don't think every person offered $5000 more a year would pickup everything and move 200 or 2000 miles. But $20000 more a year,,, more likely.
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
Kind of a ridiculous argument. If you turn down a good job for your hobby, then you've got an addiction. Reality takes priority over toys, at least it should. If I got a job that was better for me, my family, and our collective circumstances, I'd hack up the layout with no regrets, and probably look forward to the new opportunity to start a new layout from a clean slate.
Model trains have given me an appreciation of 50 year old technology and manufacturing craftsmanship. Model trains has given me enjoyment in the restoration and refurbishment of toys that as a kid my family could not afford. Toy trains has taught me skills in repair and troubleshooting. Toy trains have been a common venue of entertainment for my grandchildren and me. I have developed friendships with others because of the common interest in model trains. Model trains have given me hours of relaxation and enjoyment.
Jim
Bob Keller
I have a "friend", whom I met waiting on him in a fine train store, who has made a wreck of his life.
You see, he often literally brought home trains instead of groceries.
He was a used car dealer with a bad brass habit, who would (apparently did) do anything to make a buck.
I did not know that until he was arrested on more than 100 counts of odometer fraud and I ended up helping his girlfriend (lost his wife to divorce over excessive trains) liquidate well over $50000 in HO brass (that was only part of it) to pay for his legal bills.
His children do not think much of him. The local police referred to him as "Tricky Dick" for his alleged liaisons with women of ill-repute.
Let's learn from his mistakes. A good job with health care benefits is far more important than a train layout that can be replaced or even--gasp--bettered.
John
You have your priorities turned upside down. While there are reasons for not wanting to move or accept a new job, your model railroad isn't one of them. My trains fall under entertainment and fill a few hour here and there and allow me to relax. I may not want to disassemble my railroad or even give up my house, but you have to look at the bigger picture. Do you need to work, do you like to eat. Eight years ago the economy churned, and I knew that I would be moving. A year before we actually moved, I disassembled my railroad and packed it away. Most of it is still in storage. Yet I still have railroad time, and have done somethings with my trains since we moved. Right now they aren't as important as other things. One of the reasons I read this forum is to see what other people are doing, and that too is enjoying the hobby. So don't be like Joe Bloke and let your personal life or family suffer, just because we get caught up in our own little world of trains. Being able to buy the trains and enjoy them come from my successes of what I do at work.
Having been an employee of Uncle Sam's Mercenaries, and later a nomad trying to help my offspring, I have had several layouts terminated abruptly by unexpected moves. OTOH, there were always new models to buy, dream layout track plans to design, things to build (from kits) or modify...
Now that I have undisputed title to the double garage attached to our 'last in this lifetime' house, I'm finally embarked on building - to a grand plan that has been set in stone for close to half a century. Things that had been packed in boxes are now standing on rails awaiting clearance to depart the yard for the current end of track.
Life has always been good. Now it's better.
Chuck
Oh, no. I'm very underpaid after more than 2 years with no raise, and previously being at least 10% underpaid (before the 2 years+ began).
If I received a good job offer, the layout would get hacked up in a minute.
My father built the benchwork to come apart in sections. I could save one or two particular scenes if I wished for reuse on another layout.
When Congress in D.C. passes an actual new transportation bill that provides a defined revenue stream over 5 or 6 years (as previous bills did) without the constant "stopgap" frozen spending, then and only then will some of us get better salaries.
If I have to hack up the layout, I'll have no problem with that.
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