You can have it both ways--I was a lone wolf until I retired and then joined a club. I didn't accomplish much on my home layout in the three years since then, but another member and I built a 4' x6' layout that is about as complete as it is going to get. Then my partner leaves to live with his daughter in another state and I am a lone wolf N-gauger in a club with ten HO guys. Sometimes the comute to club is a pain, but the socializing is well worth it.
My layout is substantially completed. I do not consider myself as an introvert, but can withdraw from uncomfortable situations with the best of them. I have joined a club that meets and attend once per week, and have made many friends at the club and really watching group dynamics at work. I also attend shows, swap meets, auctions and make weekly visits to a couple of LHS's, and participate in a few internet forums. I am very eager to make new friends and be exposed to new ideas, techniques, philosophies and approaches. I even invite many people to run trains at my home layout, and if they show interest, I give them some trains to get started. All this has really benefitted me greatly. I am never bored, I have lots of new things to try on my new layout, I always have something in the future to look forward to, and usually seem to be at the right time and place to make a trade or negotiate a purchase. Probably if I were more introverted, I would have a lot more knowledge about this scale and hobby as my time would be more spent researching and less ka-booching. I have no ulterior motive when it comes to the social aspect, except to learn by watching and hearing rather than by reading. The hobby has been many things to me, but I consider it one of the most important aspects of my recovery from a bad health situation to my good state of health right now. Ken "Steamguy" Willaman
Introvert Here! Not by choice, but by employment. I work weekends, 4 counties away from where I live. It's all coming to an end soon because the factory closed in June. Now I will try to find a local Mon-Fri job so I can join a local club and attend some NMRA meets.
Hi Ed and also Charlie! I don't think that staying in the basement alone is the best idea, but if that's what you want to do, have at it. I LOVE sharing this hobby with others. I think that it's counter productive to the hobby to stay kooked up in the layout ALL THE TIME! But like I said, that's your choice, just not mine...
I think Brent is correct is what he's saying: keeping to yourself in this hobby means you are missing a LOT! (both in terms of learning and teaching others) Everyone in our club has ideas and skills.... getting together to share these things makes all of us better modelers. I really try to involve others (potential new members) in the hobby, for without them, I realize that our hobby may eventually die. Let's face it, some of us never saw "lionel" or "American Flyer" trains running under the Christmas tree.... we are of a different era. Harold
