Man... After looking thru everybody's 'stuff' here [and some pretty neat look'n stuff, too] - I honestly had a flashback, to another 'life'. For me, I'd more or less started 'gathering', for-some-where-down-the-road-builds, sometime back in the 80's... Oh sure, I'd build, here-n-there, especially when working nights. As, I packed newly acquired items home, I'd throw them up into the attic space; when they'd filled up my work room and I started tripping over them...
Time passes - Life changes - Stuff happens - And your 'priorities change and/or modify [Mind you, I'd still pickup a kit here and there]. One day, I found myself retired, after 30+ yrs, I thought 'wow, now I can finally start building...'. Oh boy, was that not in the cards!
I suddenly found myself busier, then when, but afew earlier, raising three kids, by myself and working full-time.
Flashforward - The wonderful woman, now my lovely Wife, said we're finding ourselves, a new home. I went to the 'dark-place-above', AND found myself staring stupidly, at over 3000+ models... And said 'what....'.
I spent the next couple of years [about 5], unloading model, after model, after model [my Buddy, the hobbystore owner wouldn't take anymore] and the Goodwill loved me, as did some other places. I finally got the attic emptied and my 'stash' [maybe an obsession] downsized, or so I thought.
Laugh - I honestly thought, I'd be a building away... Ha, ha, on that 'retirement gig'. Now, 6 grandkids later [we won't talk great, here], and another 'move' - This time a state away. I am happily re-designing a 'new' work room [for the umpteenth time], with the 'help' of my 9 yr old Grandson, and it is absolutely fun and amazing!
Yup, downsizing was to some degree, difficult - But, at 70+, am thinking my Grandson's and I can bust out afew kits, and what we can't, they'll inherent [much to the horror of their parents... ha, ha], and life is g-o-o-d!!!
Naw, one can never be to old to enjoy and pursue an interest. And I joined the local 'modelers anonymous', and religiously attend my weekly meetings - To which, my Wife, strongly supports and applauds, my progress, in coping with my plastic addiction.
I did manage to reduce the 'original stash', to more or less 8 large moving boxes and 4-5 bins [it is amazing how many unboxed models, one can jam into a tote]. So, am figuring it's gotta be less then 400 these days...
And 'no', I'll not discuss how-many dollars I gave away. I figure, you got a limited time on this Earth and it is all 'bout those 'priorities'.
So, have fun - Welcome back, into this amazing universe, of model building - And, you, 'newbees', here; you'll find this is an absolutely wonderful group of fellow modeler's and builder's and creator's, within this site. - So welcome! - Ed
