10-08-2017, 08:24 AM
(10-08-2017, 05:42 AM)Guth_imp Wrote:(10-08-2017, 04:42 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: Guth, that was hard to read and had to even harder for you to think about and write.
I understand exactly. I had a similar disconnect with archery and bowhunting (my other major passion). For 35 years I spent as much time doing that, as I did motorcycling...maybe more. I won literally hundreds of archery tournaments. I hunted all over this country, Alaska and Canada. I was sponsored by bow companies, and arrow companies, and clothing, and call, and lure companies. I had a monthly column in the newspaper, I wrote for several national magazines and co-authored a book. I was an Associate Editor for Primitve Archer Magazine for more than two decades. I was a recognized bowyer (bow maker) and arrowsmith (arrow maker) with several inventions in those fields, and was sought out as a event speaker, and trick shooter. I also moderated an immensley popular bowhunting website. I have a trophy room that looks like the inside of a Cabelas store with closed to 100 mounted animals of a dozen different species, a couple some of the largest of their species ever taken. I have collections of bows going back to the mid 1800s, arrows same vintage, arrow heads going back to the beginning of the bronze age, first edition books. I say these things not to brag, but to illustrate just how much a part of my life that was.
Then suddenly over a very short time frame, I lost almost all interest. I had had enough. I quit all of it. Quit making bows, quit making arrows, quit writing, quit public speaking, quit even visiting the website, and except for hunting once or twice a year with my son, I no longer hunt, and haven't shot an animal in a few years. I rarely even think about it anymore. Oddly my wife and I have been cleaning up downstairs this week, packing up stuff in containers and labeling them, and talking about going to one more archery event so I can sell or give the stuff away. Anybody want to buy about 100 bows, 500 arrows, a dozen really old books, or 100 stuffed animals? PM me. I've already thrown away 200 tournament trophies. Garbage man couldn't believe it. Lol
The point is, sometimes our interests and priorities just change, whether we want them to or not. Now, I can't imagine ever giving up motorcycles or riding. Just can't. But I would never have imagined givng up archery either. But it happened. I'm not going to get rid of everything, just most of it. I'll save some stuff in case the interest comes back.
And in a long winded way, that's what I'm saying to you. Let the CB sit until you are ready to get back on it, or are darn sure, that you never want to get on it again.
And if I may ask, what does this mean for the forum?
Good question, and something I probably should have addressed in my initial post. Right now, and for the foreseeable future, I'd say that this means nothing for the forum. Were something happening that I did feel would impact the forum I'd be contacting yourself and Cormanus directly to figure out a plan of action.
I did think it worth explaining my declining participation here. While I toiled a bit with what to say, I'm not so much "worried" about things with me as much as I'm feeling a bit guilty when it comes to yourself and Cormanus. While I continue to keep the lights on around here behind the scenes, it is the participation of the two of you that ensures this forum remains a sane place of civil moto discourse that most of us enjoy. I can't thank you guys enough.
I won't be getting rid of the CB anytime soon. I truly appreciate everyones input. It's reminded me that I do have at least one other thing in my life in which my interest in tends to wax and wane a bit to the extreme: my guitar playing which has been a part of my existence now for 40 years or so with no end in site. There have been a number of extended periods of time where I just stopped playing for no particular reason at all. Only to pick it up again at some point later on. So it might be with riding.
I totally agree with your gratitude. Cormanus and Ferret make the forum happen and running it as a peaceful place. I'm thankful for it too and appreciate it.
To play the guitar or any other instrument is a life long process and very time consuming. I live as a musician and know what I'm writing about. Once you've reached a certain standard, it's no easy way to keep it or even progress from it. For some time you can lean on the things you have practiced for so long, but you have to practice again and again.... a never ending story. I try to combine it with my interest and longing to spend some time with and on my motorbikes. There is a way and it reflects somehow in the way I play music, because everything is connected with everything. As soon as I would quit riding motorbikes, I maybe will forget it after a while, but I will miss it, I do it for so long, it is so to say implanted in me.
Wisedrum