patelldp
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2009
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It’s been quite some time since I’ve started a thread outside of the Yard Sale forum. I’ve spent a solid 20 years in this hobby, 14 of them as a HPR certified flyer since I turned 18. A lot of things have happened in my life since I started flying rockets...met my wife in High School, went to Clarkson University, started working at GE, got married, bought 2 houses, had 2 kids, and we’re expecting #3 in July! When I think of those life events, rocketry was almost always a parallel adventure...until about 2 years ago.
I like problem solving and dreaming up new ways to approach common problems. I have a hard time watching TV because my mind is always on other “problems” that need to be solved, frequently hobby or home improvement related. I tinker, and love power tools. I also think in a very Capitalist way...if I make something I need, why not make 1,000 of them for people with the same problem? This is where I got into trouble with rocketry.
Back when I stopped flying rockets, it was because I was trying too hard to make a business out of it instead of enjoying what I loved most about it...the release from responsibility. I was making a lot of motor hardware for people on my lathe which is quite time consuming. My day would start at 6:30-7am with my day job and end at 8-9pm when I was done on the lathe. This left less time for me to spend on my own rocketry goals, but forget that....it ate up the time I should have been spending with my young, growing family. While it never became a true problem, I just wasn’t thrilled with it knowing it would never supplant my “real job.” I stopped doing so much on the lathe, but I wasn’t as timely as I should have been in order fulfillment and the responsibility was always on my mind.
Becoming a “vendor” also morphs your relationships with people, namely other “vendors.” I won’t go much into this, but I didn’t find it enjoyable and I would guess others would say the same.
The above is me “getting stuff off my chest,” and not meant to incite pity. It’s my way of sharing my experiences and it could help other rocketeers approach becoming a vendor or avoid it altogether. Always be cognizant of your goals and never do something to cause you to lose the passion or negatively effect personal relationships!
So...here we are! You made it this far! Why did I start this thread? To reignite my love for rocketry...pun intended. Keeping prior issues in the past, I decided on a Wildman 3” Darkstar to utilize my AT 54/852 and 1280 cases because I liquidated all of my EX stuff last year (eliminating student loans in the process...short term debt free now!).
My 5 year old son, Ryan, and I will be building this together. In these trying times, my goal is to connect with my son, like my dad did, through engaging and constructive activities.
More to come...but everyone knows the first step...give the parts a bath.
Thanks for reading, the rest of the thread will be more on topic. I’m happy to be here.
I like problem solving and dreaming up new ways to approach common problems. I have a hard time watching TV because my mind is always on other “problems” that need to be solved, frequently hobby or home improvement related. I tinker, and love power tools. I also think in a very Capitalist way...if I make something I need, why not make 1,000 of them for people with the same problem? This is where I got into trouble with rocketry.
Back when I stopped flying rockets, it was because I was trying too hard to make a business out of it instead of enjoying what I loved most about it...the release from responsibility. I was making a lot of motor hardware for people on my lathe which is quite time consuming. My day would start at 6:30-7am with my day job and end at 8-9pm when I was done on the lathe. This left less time for me to spend on my own rocketry goals, but forget that....it ate up the time I should have been spending with my young, growing family. While it never became a true problem, I just wasn’t thrilled with it knowing it would never supplant my “real job.” I stopped doing so much on the lathe, but I wasn’t as timely as I should have been in order fulfillment and the responsibility was always on my mind.
Becoming a “vendor” also morphs your relationships with people, namely other “vendors.” I won’t go much into this, but I didn’t find it enjoyable and I would guess others would say the same.
The above is me “getting stuff off my chest,” and not meant to incite pity. It’s my way of sharing my experiences and it could help other rocketeers approach becoming a vendor or avoid it altogether. Always be cognizant of your goals and never do something to cause you to lose the passion or negatively effect personal relationships!
So...here we are! You made it this far! Why did I start this thread? To reignite my love for rocketry...pun intended. Keeping prior issues in the past, I decided on a Wildman 3” Darkstar to utilize my AT 54/852 and 1280 cases because I liquidated all of my EX stuff last year (eliminating student loans in the process...short term debt free now!).
My 5 year old son, Ryan, and I will be building this together. In these trying times, my goal is to connect with my son, like my dad did, through engaging and constructive activities.
More to come...but everyone knows the first step...give the parts a bath.
Thanks for reading, the rest of the thread will be more on topic. I’m happy to be here.
