Never Say Never Again

FloridaBoy Mar 3, 2015

  1. FloridaBoy

    FloridaBoy TrainBoard Member

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    I just learned a lesson. I spent so much time getting disenchanted with the model railroad environment around here, that I pretty much bagged it and it created such an impact I had to share it with the remaining group with whom I had respect. But the very short time away I realized how much the deepest base of the hobby appealed to me, and let nothing else bother me. I felt a little freed from my own self expectations to be a social person where a society no longer exists, or at least on my terms.

    I went to a very big and nice train show/swap meet in the south part of the county only to be met there by all of my friends over the last 30 years most of all who read my thread. wow. They too see my points in the decay and degeration in the northern part of the county but south of Ft Lauderdale, railroading is healthy, particularly with the advent of a newly reorganized and growing club, with a new set of members. i stayed at that train show for 6 hours and had the time of my life.

    First thing Sunday morning, I get out the cleaning equipment and clean and dust the layout and start running trains which now I see in a sort of new perspective, free of the negativism.

    Although I will exist differently in this arena, I plan to be active with my friends and the sole hobby shop whose soul hasn't sold out to R/C.

    I probably will not remain active on the board but read it regularly, as I have clearly defined my role and now I am a runner and not a shaker or innovator. I am just going with the flow.

    Sorry for the melodrama, the former letter and this letter are totally not expected but honestly prepared.

    Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
     
  2. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    He's BAAAAAACKKKKKKK. Awesome. Just promise to have lots of fun and don't give a rat's posterior about what other folks think.
     
  3. Eagle2

    Eagle2 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Welcome back and keep positive!
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Just make it your flow, and all will be fun.
     
  5. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Hi Ken, great to see that you apparently are inhaling and exhaling on a regular basis, and your mind is in control of your fingers. For the rest, use your time and talents running, fixing, modifying, building, destroying, expanding your railroad the way you want to, in a manner that satisfies your desires and ego, and the "Rockefeller Salute" to the rest. Welcome back, Buddy.
     
  6. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    Glad to see you are back... N-joy the hobby!
     
  7. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    Glad to see you back Mr. Boomerang
     
  8. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Welcome back! Always remember rules 1, 2 and 3:
    1. It's just a hobby--relax! We do this for fun!
    2. It's your railroad.
    3. In the event of disagreement, refer to rules 1 & 2. :)
     
  9. JMaurer1

    JMaurer1 TrainBoard Member

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    You can step out any time you like, but you can never leave...
     
  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Welcome to the Hotel Model Railroading....
     
  11. kmcsjr

    kmcsjr TrainBoard Member

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    Enjoy! It's still your hobby
     
  12. Carolina Northern

    Carolina Northern TrainBoard Member

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    Ken,

    welcome back.
    You and your insights have been missed.

    Don
     
  13. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Ken,

    Enjoy your, I repeat, YOUR hobby!!! Glad to have you back.

    Alan
     
  14. maxairedale

    maxairedale TrainBoard Member

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    Hi Ken,

    [​IMG] BACK!

    I totally understand your feelings and pain. I'm a club of 1. Nearest hobby shop that carries any trains is 65 miles away and they specialize in "O".

    Because I am a club of 1 it is easy to become distracted and disillusioned with the hobby. Admittedly I have not done anything with my layout in almost 18 months, I go out to the train building and look at the different projects I have going and think I need to do... Part of my problem is other things getting in the way, and part of it is because I don't have anyone to bounce ideas off of. By that I mean someone who comes and looks at the layout, someone who operates it with me.

    I have used TrainBoard (TB) many times in the past to ask questions and get ideas.

    I consider TB my club and all the members my friends even although we have never met.

    Gary
     
  15. data_engine

    data_engine TrainBoard Member

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    I'm one of the lucky few, I have a really good hobby shop about an hour away in Ponchatoula, LA, Electric Train Depot. All trains-no R/C! They specialize in O, but are getting more N in all the time. If you can find a good LHS, Support It!!
     
  16. Jeff Shriver

    Jeff Shriver TrainBoard Member

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    Good to see you back, I for one enjoy your posts, and I have to think other do to. Look forward to the good things in our hobby and for me
    I think of the fun this hobby brings to me. There are times that things get to me too, but it like eating liver, once its ate, you have look forward
    to desert. Think of the good things you have done, for I will bet that there are more good things the bad.
     
  17. Pete Nolan

    Pete Nolan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Always enjoyed your perspective, Ken. As the other Ken (Boxcab) has pointed out, times and interests change, and we move on. That we come back is part of the cycle.

    I'm not really back because I'm chasing this crazy dream of building ships (and soon bridges and dock facilities) with a computer, in a market-of-one style. So my three-decker railroad is still in pieces, and we're still deciding between Ohio and Alabama. I just threw a big wrench into that decision because---wait for it----it doesn't have to be either one! It could be Costa Rica, or the Jersey Islands, or Montreal, or wherever folks will let two old people live in peace.
     

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