Tracklayer,
Along with what Crandell has already shared with you, I'd like to pass along a story to you that I hope will make a point.
Every June, after the end of the orchestra season, my bass trombone teacher from college would take a 3-week vacation with his family at their cottage in Maine. The cottage was off the mainland on a remote island. No electricity. No distractions. The only way to get there was via a small dingy.
The first year they went, he brought his trombone along with him because he was afraid to take so much time off. Every day it was a constant reminder for him to practice. He couldn't even really enjoy his time away and his vacation wasn't very relaxing for him. (Any orchestral player will tell you that after a long season, you're tired and you need a break.)
Well, the next year they went to Maine...my teacher left his trombone at home. He told me years later that that time away allowed him to really rest and rejuvinate. When he returned from vacation after 3 weeks, he said it was like being a kid: He was excited to pick up his trombone again and he practiced with new vigor and enthusiasm for the summer season at Blossom.
The point of the story is: Sometimes you just need to take a break from something for a while to get away from it and to take care of other things. Give it some time and come back to it at a later date when you're fresh. You might find that, after a long enough vacation, the "kid" will return and get excited once again about his previous passion.
Hope that helps...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
You've probably mulled this, but a fresh layout may get you going.
Is there anything you wish you could have done differently, or have your skills grown since you started your current one?
Maybe just doodling some new track plans, even for a smaller layout if cash outlay for new contruction is an issue.
If your line is fictional, how about a new layout depicting "further down the line"? This way, you can keep the investment in your current locos, rolling stock, detail items, etc.Maybe sit down with a notepad, and start drawing up a "history" for your railroad, with maps and all, and then you may stoke the coals a bit, giving you ideas for a "fresh canvas" to work your magic on.
This may be eye-rolling advice, but personally I just hate to see modelers (especially talented ones) get burned out.
Bringing a layout "to life" always keeps me going. Along with your "history", you can use your computer to print up mock timetables, travel advertisements, etc. What can it harm? Just the cost of copy paper? Maybe once you start thinking and playing with this, new and fresh ideas might start flowing.
Just throwing some ideas your way.
Rich
selector wrote: I agree with John...it really isn't a problem. It is part of living. Our minds ruminate and dwell on things, sometimes too intensely and too long. It would seem natural that we take a big sigh and say, "Ah, to hell with it....I'm going to repair my road bike and get reacquainted with it." I haven't run trains in nearly a week because of the demands imposed on me in the real world. We have had an ailing Mother-in-Law with us since mid-May, and she won't be leaving until the end of this month. She needs care and attention, so one of us has to be indoors. This is not what my wife and I had in mind since my retirement three summers ago. I got into trains in a big way, but now I feel the pull of sobering truths. One of them is that I can't go on spending more than I make. I'd love to have a second articulated...the Walthers P2K 2-8-8-2 is due soon, and I can get one for a very reasonable price. I won't do it on plastic, though, so,...I have to let it go. My pension is very modest, but I have spent nearly $20 on home repairs, helping two adult daughters get back on their feet when their relationships blew up, and in getting a dental implant for a broken tooth. Add to that $2k in income tax and $4k in property assessment,....you get the idea.Tracklayer, listen to your inner voice...why fight it..it's being honest with you. Take a break, focus on something else for a bit (probably something you've been avoiding or putting off), and then the spark will come back....about the time the kids return to school sounds right.-Crandell
I agree with John...it really isn't a problem. It is part of living. Our minds ruminate and dwell on things, sometimes too intensely and too long. It would seem natural that we take a big sigh and say, "Ah, to hell with it....I'm going to repair my road bike and get reacquainted with it."
I haven't run trains in nearly a week because of the demands imposed on me in the real world. We have had an ailing Mother-in-Law with us since mid-May, and she won't be leaving until the end of this month. She needs care and attention, so one of us has to be indoors. This is not what my wife and I had in mind since my retirement three summers ago. I got into trains in a big way, but now I feel the pull of sobering truths. One of them is that I can't go on spending more than I make. I'd love to have a second articulated...the Walthers P2K 2-8-8-2 is due soon, and I can get one for a very reasonable price. I won't do it on plastic, though, so,...I have to let it go. My pension is very modest, but I have spent nearly $20 on home repairs, helping two adult daughters get back on their feet when their relationships blew up, and in getting a dental implant for a broken tooth. Add to that $2k in income tax and $4k in property assessment,....you get the idea.
Tracklayer, listen to your inner voice...why fight it..it's being honest with you. Take a break, focus on something else for a bit (probably something you've been avoiding or putting off), and then the spark will come back....about the time the kids return to school sounds right.
-Crandell
You just want to see me have to get out there in the hot sun and do yard work and repairs on the house. That's okay. I'll remember that Crandell... ()
ereimer wrote:you do know there is more to this hobby than buying things , right ?
Yes ereimer, I realize there's more to the hobby than buying things. The problem is, my layout is complete, and all that's left to keep me interested is buying an occasional item. The thing is, I have so much stuff now that it would be just plain wasteful if I did buy anything else, know what I mean...
Tracklayer
Interesting discission here,
There have definately been slow periods for me, but I've never really 'lost' interest. Twenty years and counting.
My periods of low hobby funds never bother me, because my enjoyment is in the hobby, not the aquiring of stuff. Some things are "free", some cost money.
As far as the money part, yes, my monthy hobby budget goes up and down...some months nothing, other months $500. I don't think I could build a layout in a cardboard box (after forclosure!), so obviously, priorities are in order. Sometimes there is a surplus, so after putting extra in the savings, yes, I can splurge a little.
One reason I don't mind spending $ is that everything I buy, I almost immediately build it. I also keep tight on my era/road/locale, keeping me from splurging on something I'll never really use. I like to keep my kit shelf empty, and no matter what I have spent $ on, I rarely experience buyers remorse. Another thing is that I work VERY hard for my $ (6 days a week, 9-15 hr days) so when I DO drop some cash on something, I'm CERTAIN that I need that item to furthur my vision I have for my layout. Also, I will usually build my kits SLOWLY,ensuring the best workmanship I can give...I see that as getting the best "return" on my "investment" that I can.I have very little to no "stock". If I buy it, I build it.
And there are always things to do on the layout. There have been times I've gone months without purchasing more than a copy of MR or Trains. Never even phased me, I found a site on the web that you can download car card templates and print for free. So it was 3 weeks of cutting and taping card and holders. Never noticed that I didn't have money to spend.
And no, I'm not rich. Just an average Joe. Money comes and money goes, it's just another "tool" for me to continue my vision.
I see folks who buy buy buy, and I don't see much improvment in their skills. Every kit I buy, I tell myself it's going to be BETTER than the last, BECAUSE I spent my hard-earned money on it.
There are so many facets to this hobby. In fact, it's thorugh lack of funds that I got so involved in operations. Months of research. Implementing operations at home and the club has opened up a whole other world, one that used to be intimidating to me.
I dont know about the enjoy part.
When I go inside a hobby shop or buy online, I have already taken care of ALL of the other necessary item on our monthly budget, including allocating money to savings, allowance and making decisions with the spouse on major planned expenses for the month ahead.
The hobby shop is the very last and bottom budget item in our home for the year.
If you know that all things financial is going to be Taken care of.. there should be no issues spending a few dollars on trains... as long you stay away from those hungry credit cards and thier assoicated interest rates.
If I happen to have the 350 dollars on hand free and clear to go onto that new engine, let's enjoy the experience. If I only have 10 dollars to spend on a single Blue Box... I enjoy that experience too.
Therefore I say your un-happiness must have root causes elsewhere.
Tracklayer wrote:I've gotten to where I no longer enjoy spending money on train related items. ... Anyone else out there having this problem?
I can't honestly say I have ever "enjoyed" spending money to support my addiction to miniferroequinology. After all, did E.Scrooge "enjoy" spending money to eat?
Actual expenditures have run up and down like a yo-yo, depending on such things as family priorities, pay scale, combat (not many hobby shops in combat zones)... These days, with an empty nest, a reasonable retirement income and no other financial burdens I can afford to buy what I want - only to discover that most of what I want has already found its way onto my roster or into my store of layout-building supplies.
Would you believe that, for the last few months, my major hobby spending has purchased screws - and (in some cases) their matching nuts and washers?
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
jwar wrote:Tracklayer...I dont see any problem whatsoever..Any hobby is funded by disposable income..to do otherwise in my personal openion is foolishness, as to put a hobby before other necissitys in life to the point of it (the hobby) controlling all aspects in one's life, to me is a few bricks short of a full load. Life is a matter of prioritys, I personaly enjoy putting God and family first and all the rest seems to flow therafter..To enjoy all aspects of life is the true JOY. Take Care....John
tangerine-jack wrote: Tracklayer wrote: Here lately I've gotten to where I no longer enjoy spending money on train related items... The last time I got like this I put everything away and didn't touch it again for about ten years or so. Every time I see a loco or rolling stock that looks interesting, an alarm goes off in my head and brings me back to reality. I guess there's so many other things I want and need to take care of that I can't relax and enjoy myself until everything else has been tended to.Anyone else out there having this problem?.Tracklayer What you need is a garden railway. I'm not trying to be funny, get yourself a G scale starter set and relight the fire.
Tracklayer wrote: Here lately I've gotten to where I no longer enjoy spending money on train related items... The last time I got like this I put everything away and didn't touch it again for about ten years or so. Every time I see a loco or rolling stock that looks interesting, an alarm goes off in my head and brings me back to reality. I guess there's so many other things I want and need to take care of that I can't relax and enjoy myself until everything else has been tended to.Anyone else out there having this problem?.Tracklayer
Here lately I've gotten to where I no longer enjoy spending money on train related items... The last time I got like this I put everything away and didn't touch it again for about ten years or so. Every time I see a loco or rolling stock that looks interesting, an alarm goes off in my head and brings me back to reality. I guess there's so many other things I want and need to take care of that I can't relax and enjoy myself until everything else has been tended to.
Anyone else out there having this problem?.
What you need is a garden railway. I'm not trying to be funny, get yourself a G scale starter set and relight the fire.
True. To get the juices flowing again you should try other aspects of the hobby such as a new theme, era, prototype, freelance, setting, etc. - or even a different scale or gauge. I used to do On30 but eventually got so burnt out and frustrated with it that I didn't work on it or purchase anything related to it for months. I finially tried Large Scale narrow gauge and the juices started flowing like a volcano. Since I now model in LS indoors, my enthusiasm for model railroading has risen over 100% and my frustration level has sunk to a new low. I still purchase very few train related items because there's plenty to do with what I have and the beauty of LS is that you can utilize many common household items or items from arts and craft stores for your modeling.
Why do some people feel they have to be spending money or have the latest loco, DCC system, etc. to enjoy the hobby? Unless you have a layout with an infinite amount of area, how many locos, kits, structures, etc do you need? I find there is plenty of stuff to keep me busy without the need to buy any more items than I already have - and there's always scratch building or improvements you can make for a minimal cost.
Tracklayer wrote: Here lately I've gotten to where I no longer enjoy spending money on train related items... The last time I got like this I put everything away and didn't touch it again for about ten years or so...Anyone else out there having this problem?.Tracklayer
Here lately I've gotten to where I no longer enjoy spending money on train related items... The last time I got like this I put everything away and didn't touch it again for about ten years or so...
Oh Gawd Yes! I've been going through this the last several months and yes it is disheartening as i realize the money time and effort that has gone into this venture is too much to give up on.
I've made wo kits this month in hopes to respark some interest...
Maybe a "Niagara" might be the jolt I need! Hah just joking. Maybe it's the fact the layout is so frought with mistakes I know I should start over again but that would put me back several years.
I share your pain. Really
Fergie
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
Tracklayer, you sound normal to me. I've been in the hobby around 3 years now and I have 13 locomotives. Now what in the heck do I need with 13 locomotives! That 13th one is coming in Monday, a Spectrum 2-8-0, and it's going to be the last one I purchase this year. It's time I got on to working on scenery and let everyone else buy the engines for a while. Oh, and it is easy to get burned out every now and then on the hobby as a whole. When I feel that coming on I lock the trainroom door for a few days and do something else.
Jarrell
Tracklayer,I don't know how to put this in nice polite words..So,here goes.
As Clint Eastwood said as "Dirty Harry" in Magnum Force.."A man has to know his limitations".This is especially true for hobbies..Some modelers has NO CONTROL and buy things they have no need for and it ends up on his work bench shelf a long with tons of kits that will never get built while others must be the first kid on the block to own the latest locomotives,cars,buildings,DCC throttle,newest power pack with DC sound control buttons etc.
Why is it thus? To be honest I never could figure why a modeler will rush out and buy a(say) Big Boy when he models CR on a 4x8 foot layout and isn't a member of a club.Many modelers rationalize it as a investment for the his/her basement size "dream" layout that may never come to past.
The question I ask myself is I may want a certain model but,do I need it? 90% of the time the answer is NO because, to be frank,I have no need for that model other then "candy" to please me since a given engine or car may not fit my C&HV,HR or NS collection.I could stop buying models today and have enough to last till my dying day.I suspect that is true with all modelers including you.
Now..The way I see it you may be suffering burn out from buying stuff you can't use and may not have a need for.Maybe you look closer at all the unbuilt kits and unfinished projects and feel overwhem..I don't know.
So,IMHO its best to set limitations by sitting your layout in a given era and buying only the items needed to reach that goal including era specific locomotives and cars and by pass the models you don't need..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Loather,
Just as others said, my interest will drop off from time to time.
Many years ago when the kids were young,, I was just starting my constuction business and work was hit or miss, "Money" was a great issue. I didn't have to hide those impulse purchases, just had some self control. Involved projects of repairing used/ broken equipment and reworking and super detailing of the few Athearn BB locos was my main interest. Basically that's all I could afford at the time.
There's so much more to the hobby that it's not alway nec. to have to spend big $$ (It does help though). Lately $$$ isn't an issue. I don't go out and spend thousands on every latest release, but I can comfortably buy what I desire within reason. Even now, i will find my interest will still take the rollercoaster ride.
The past few months have been an exception, though. I lost my wife on March 29th, I haven't touched any trains and the latest projects are still in the same spot on the workbench. I do the scenery at my club. I hope to get that desire to finish those spots waiting for scenery. Your heart needs to be into it for that spectacular work. Can't see myself just slopping it together. I look at scenery as an artform. So much of the hobby is is creativity, a personal touch. What works for one may not apply to you.
The same has happened to 8500HPGASTURBINE when he lost his son 2 1/2 months ago. He was so distraught was going to throw out or give all the train away. Help from many of us here has helped him reconsider. Michael, my prayers are still with you and Kim.
So if you need to take a break, do so. Maybe do research, railfan or just stop altogether until the interest sparks your motivation again. It will never go away. Maybe only a touch of burnout.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
R. T. POTEET wrote: Tracklayer wrote: Here lately I've gotten to where I no longer enjoy spending money on train related items... The last time I got like this I put everything away and didn't touch it again for about ten years or so. Every time I see a loco or rolling stock that looks interesting, an alarm goes off in my head and brings me back to reality. I guess there's so many other things I want and need to take care of that I can't relax and enjoy myself until everything else has been tended to.Anyone else out there having this problem?.TracklayerTracklayer, I know that this is heresy but my first love in life is not trains - it is History; I eat History - I sleep History - I drink History; a lot of my love of trains came from my indulging in railroad History.In my buying/spending habits I tend to run between miser and spendthrift - and there are times when I loose complete interest period quote and a report as ole' Johnny Dollar use to say. I have never vacated the hobby for ten years as you indicate you have done - a couple of months will usually result in a rekindling of my interest - but I can sure get a lot of History read in that couple of months.It may not be particularly easy but neither is it particularly difficult to burn out on this hobby; I have seen a lot of good modelers go off to other pursuits. I don't think that is going to happen to me but I have found it necessary to keep an escape route open. You need to do that; find another interest to occupy your time when boredom or anxiety sets in; get away from it and allow things to settle down a bit.
I very much appreciate your advice R. T. POTEET, and I actually do have other hobbies and interests. It's just that there's so many other things I've been putting off the last few years that I now feel really guilty when I spend money on model railroad items rather than the things I should be spending it on...
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet