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RE: When does ham radio become an addiction?
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by AB2MH on August 4, 2006
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> Where it the line between being passionate about a hobby, like ham radio, and it being a addiction?
When you have to get your fix at all costs and ignore the more important things in your life such as your job, your family and your health.
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RE: When does ham radio become an addiction?
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by KA8SYX on August 5, 2006
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Hi, great question. I was actually thinking about something along the same lines, but maybe from the opposite direction. My XYL and I have a 10 month-old son, and we've been married for just over two years. This is a second marriage for us both, and neither of us had children in our firsts, so, getting older we figured that if we were going to raise a family we had better do it soon. Getting to my point, since my son was born, I can count the number of times I've been able to get on the air or build an antenna or do something "hammy" on, okay, my two hands. On the average day, I wind up online at places like eHam.net for a little while, reading about what all you other guys (and gals, too!) are doing and basically pining away about ham radio. My XYL, who I love in ways and for reasons I cannot begin to describe, sympathizes, but being totally uninterested in ham radio thinks that I am over-reacting and that I should be able to get my fix in 15 minutes a day. She doesn't understand that it can take much longer than that just to listen long enough to tell with any confidence whether the band you're trying to work will be open. For that matter, I've never had the time to actually shoot for working into a certain area or anything so calculated; I've always just taken what I could get. To make a long story short, I was going to post a new item in which to ask about how you all manage to find meaningful amounts of radio time around the constraints of family and career. I do not think I'm addicted to amateur radio simply because I jones for it all the time. I'm jonesin' for it and daydreaming about it all the time because I never get to do it. Can someone out there reassure me that parenthood will not always eat up my every waking, non-working moment? And that it is not selfish of me to ask this?
Thanks, 73, Ray KA8SYX
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When does ham radio become an addiction?
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by N0IU on August 7, 2006
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When does ham radio become an addiction?
KE4DRN wrote, "when you notice that the wife and kids have left you"
The real answer is when you DON'T notice that your wife and kids have left you!
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RE: When does ham radio become an addiction?
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by W3LK on August 7, 2006
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<< I was going to post a new item in which to ask about how you all manage to find meaningful amounts of radio time around the constraints of family and career.>>
Welcome to the world of "how do I fit everything in?"
I would love to tell you I have the ultimate solution, but I don't This is a major problem for families with small children. The ultimate solution really doesn't happen until the kids are gone and you have more time on your hands, like me. I spend many of my evenings in the shack doing my thing while my wife of 39 years does her things elsewhere in the house. We work in the same office building so we see each other almost constantly. Consequently, we don't have the "what did you do today, darling?" conversations to deal with.
The best I can tell you is to set aside one evening for yourself - the whole evening - and take that time religiously. She deals with the baby, she deals with the problems, etc. The make sure SHE has a similar evening all to herself - assuming she's not nursing the baby! :)
That's the way we have done things over the years and it has worked well for us. Of course, things interfer occasionally as the kids get older and school events intrude, but if you are willing to work at it, you CAN find the time to play radio. It DOES take the wife's cooperation. If she's not willing, then I don't know.
73,
Lon - W3LK
Baltimore, Maryland
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RE: When does ham radio become an addiction?
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by RobertKoernerExAE7G on August 8, 2006
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When you are ecstatic about getting a 200 or 300 watt soldering iron to do up PL 259s the RIGHT way--And, your wife asks you what its doing in your bed.
When sun spots are more exciting than your XYL's G-spot.
When your reaction to a solar flair bringing down the entire electric grid for the North East is that the bands will tank for a week or more.
When you look forward to the Super Bowel, cause there won't be a lot of QRM.
When you look at a full moon and wonder how much antenna gain you'd need.
When you know what the second foreign country is above ME.
When you know Antarctica is a continent.
When you know penguins range as far north as the Galapagos Islands.
When you think ceramics classes teach how to make antenna insulators.
When someone mentions post and beam construction and you envision a tower with a tribander on top.
When you are board, you tap out CQ.
When you call Dish or Directv CSRs, and you know they don't have a clue about what they are telling you.
When someone asks for directions, you pause, wondering if long or short path would be best.
When you can look at globe and be able to point to your antipode (when you know what an antipode is).
When you can name three countries completely surround by Italy.
When you know how many ports are on Pitcairn Island, what the most common last name is there, and why it is the most common last name.
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RE: When does ham radio become an addiction?
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by KI4CFS on August 12, 2006
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To have a little more fun.. Fill in the blank..
YOU MIGHT BE A HAM IF..
KI4CFS
Martin Brossman
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RE: When does ham radio become an addiction?
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by KI4CFS on August 12, 2006
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I have to mention that I would say that keeping a healthy hobby is very important to STAY a good father! You want to model for your child that their is a way to have things you can love and raise a child. For children learn more from who we are and do than what we say. So I would recommend you set a larger block each week out and enjoy the hobbie. Also 2meter and IRLP in the car may be fun for you now. Thanks for the honest question!
That addes another question: How is Ham radio healthy for a full life and support someone in being a good parent?
Ki4CFS
www.toinquire.com/ham
Martin
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RE: When does ham radio become an addiction?
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by N8QBY on August 13, 2006
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RE: When does ham radio become an addiction? When one would rather,"entertain", a contest, rather than your wife/girlfriend...or husband/boyfriend, whatever your scenerio is. Thank God I have my addictions in order. Ham radio is second or third. :o)
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RE: When does ham radio become an addiction?
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by AI2IA on August 20, 2006
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How about this: Ham radio becomes an addiction when you receive warning after warning from the FCC and still jam a repeater, or broadcast on a repeater, and persist in making repeater operation as miserable as possible for as many hams as possible, and you continue doing this until you are severly fined and your license is revoked. Sound familiar?
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RE: When does ham radio become an addiction?
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by KD8DQK on August 27, 2006
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Hello,
First of all, i'm a tech, i'm almost ready for elements 1 & 3, and I don't want any crap about it! :)
I've only been into radio for about a year, but my WYF says i'm addicted. I have no idea why she would think that, but here are some of her arguments:
1. "You wake up at 3am on your days off because you say the 'iono-whatever is right.'"
2. When it rains, walk into the back yard. The antennas are so dense they act like an umbrella.
3. My dogs are learning CW.
4. My WYF and kids know what ITU region we are in and understand the GMT offset.
I'm not hooked. I can quit anytime I want, really.
Really I can.
I just don't want to! ;)
73
KD8DQK
Buckhannon, WV
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