Is it time to just quit?

In most of my hobbies I have to consciously fight the impulse to let it become about buying more stuff. I've dabbled in a fair amount of stuff and in none of them has there ever been a point at which you couldn't spend more money. In other words, it can become a treadmill. I hate that.

My track car has very few modifications. I've spent money on safety gear and things that wear out like tires and brakes, but that's it.

I have not bought any new camera gear in about 3 years.

I actually like when I get to that point. I become not only satisfied with what I have, but proficient with it as well.

Doesn't mean I'll never buy anything else to improve performance or experience....but that's not what its going to be all about.

As far as forums, well, I have a few that I frequent regarding my hobbies. I find what draws me back is not just expertise or constant discussions about gear, but the people. If people are reasonably civil and intelligent I like hearing the breadth of experience and preference. I might not agree with or believe everything I hear but if it broadens my perspective and horizon then it seems worthwhile to me.

People here have helped me set up my system and get into this hobby a lot more but one of the best outcomes has been exposure to more music just by hearing people's preferences.

Last night I got into the moving things around rut. Moved listening position around a bit. Each time it was like "oh, that's better" but after a couple or more moves I realized it was just different. Primarily the sound stage, nothing else changed really. Then I thought about charting the sound stage on paper for each position. But then, after moving back to my original position I realized that none of the changes improved my enjoyment of the music even though they did change the sound stage. That's when I knew I was listening to my system and not the music.

So I sat back, in the original position (which I had deemed to be best just a month ago), closed my eyes, sipped some coffee and enjoyed the music. The system vanished and it was great.

I used to belong to a large Nikon gear based web site. I was a moderator for years and very active. Once I acquired the higher level gear and skill set that suit my purposes I found that I no longer participated as much.

At first my thinking is that I just don’t need advice on gear and basic technique any longer.

But that is self centered thinking since the other half of the equation in forums like this is helping others and not just myself. Admittedly, I am still not super active on that (excellent) site.....but I probably should be simply to pass on what knowledge I have that might be helpful to someone else....as others did for me.

My point is, we should probably try to enjoy helping others as part of our own enjoyment here and other sites....and avenues of life. If I’m preaching here, I’m preaching to myself. I can’t be much help to anybody here at this point. Maybe at some point. But Elizabeth, you can be and have been a help to people here.

@onhwy61 : Seafaring didn't work out too well for Ishmael unless floating on a coffin is considered therapy. ;-).

Yes, Ishmael was an adrenaline junky. And maybe there is something to that. 

I drive a car on a racetrack about every other month. Been doing it for years and there are still times on the grid my stomach will be in knots. Goes away as soon as I get on track. Feels euphoric when session is over. Unless I crash. Which I've done once. That's not euphoric.

Elizabeth, don't know you or your situation but maybe something to interrupt the inertia? I'm a big proponent of telling my patients to exercise even though I abhor exercise just for exercise sake. But it is said to release endorphins which can produce, even over time, feelings of wellbeing. Just makes me tired and sore.