I've joined my local model engineering society

[Mo deller]

I have been thinking of this for a long time. My situation is that I am becoming something of a recluse and have been finding making any decision very difficult especially when it involves socialising and the like. I have to do something about it and decided (eventually) that this would be a move forward.
I have known of the group for a number of years and in summer regularly take the family for a ride on the steam trains in the park. They raise funds this way to give to charity and have two tracks now.
Every Tuesday they have a get together to do stuff at the park and now have a nice clubhouse there as well.
I had a good time chatting and looking round and came away with the relevant document to send off with my cash to become a member.
Was it a good idea I now ask myself. Well yes and no. I am sure I have made the right decision as it will get me out and give me something else to do and new friends to meet. As I am trying to complete my Vega i/c project and was looking for help with this I now find my head drifting towards live steam locos.
Part of me says that it is ok to dodge between projects and have a few on the go at the same time but I am worried that I will keep getting distracted and not finish anything.
I already have a Juliet loco that was started by my dad that I would love to finish so that was always going to be revived at some point.
Should I resist the temptation to get out the Juliet before I finish the vega? I want both done but everything seems to take so long and keeping up enthusiasm for one project I find very hard.

Just wondering if anyone else has trouble staying with a long project and finds they are easily distracted.

Peter

 

[Metal Butcher]

Hi Peter. Your not alone. I find my attention span to be 2 to 3 weeks.

The simple project that I'm on now is at about 4 to 5 weeks, and I'm no longer excited a bout seeing it finished up. It seems that I'm loosing interest and working on it less and less.

I couldn't imagine taking on a project that would take say 6 month's.

-MB

 

[black85vette]

Personally I don't do one project at a time. I like several so when one is waiting for parts or tools I can work on something else. Sometimes I just work on what I feel like at the moment. After all it is a hobby.
Nothing wrong in my mind with having plenty to do and not staying focused on getting one thing done. I do enough of that at WORK!

My vote is to get out and make friends. It can give you a place to share what you are working on and ask for ideas. Most everything I do is more enjoyable if others are part of it. Yes, you might get distracted from your projects but nobody is going to fuss at you about how long it took to complete a project or if it ever got done. Just have fun with the process no matter how long it takes or if it ever gets done.

 

[cfellows]

I also tend to have several projects going at one time.

Right now I am hung up on the pistons for my 4 cylinder opposed compressed air engine. I've turned them down and sized them to length. I now have to mill out the inside and drill the wrist pin holes, but just can't seem to muster the interest to get to them.

I also have a compressed air version of the Hoglett v-twin about 1/3 done, but that's been on hold for more than 6 months.

And, of course, I have to finish up the Plumbing Parts engine, but haven't touched it since I finally got it running.

I also have several tooling projects under way, but those are waiting for those rare moments when I have a little time and the interest (or need) to finish them up.

In my defense, I do have a major kitchen rennovation project underway and the spouse is keeping a certain amount of pressure applied to get that done.

Aaah, but that must be the way I like it, because I'm not really working too hard to change anything!

Chuck

 

[Maryak]

Peter,

If your comfortable with what your doing, it's right for you.

From where I sit and reading your post, more diversity is where your aiming and you've just fired the 1st shot.

As we in Oz would say, "Good Onya Cobber." :bow:

Best Regards
Bob

 

[seagar]

Simple!!!!! If it feels good , do it.

Ian(seagar)
Coffs Harbour,
Australia.

 

[ieezitin]

Peter.

Sir Isaac Newton took ten years of his early years (18-28) to invent a new math language just so he could tell and explain to other teachers and scholars what was going through his mind.

He then spent the rest of his life in a state of flux writing and exploring gods creation and putting it down in numbers what he observed.

He never really finished anything. Even today they are chewing over what he wrote. I am like you I never really completely finish anything, the best thing I have done is to quit worrying about it.

Get out and meet people life is too short.

All the best. Anthony.

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Peter,

I understand the difficulty in getting out and socializing all too well. Very difficult for me. I've been forcing myself more and more because I know that once I hit retirement it will be even more difficult to meet people. Just doing projects (complete or not) won't be enough if there's no one to share them with. Whether to learn, teach, or simply show off.

Relationships are priority. There may come a day when you can't do the things you used to...but the people will (hopefully) still be around.

As for finishing a project...I always struggle with that. But if it's important enough...it'll happen. Maybe something else became more interesting...what's wrong with that? Try to understand the reasons why...that may remove the problem. Not everyone is a finisher...some people get more enjoyment out of the travel rather than the destination. Nothing wrong with that at all.

P.S. I like to think that all of us are unfinished. It's really only a problem if you stop working at it.

Don't mean to ramble...but you touched a nerve. ;D

 

[shred]

Yea, sometimes you just have to throw your hat over the fence just so's you have to go around (or over) to get it back and see what's there.

I tend to get into and out-of projects... like the poor steamroller sitting half done by my feet... no motivation to work on it, so I'm trying some other projects. Pretty soon the competition season will come around again and that'll suck up most of my free time. When that gets to be too much I can retreat to the shop again and be re-energized (albeit out of touch with current progress, usually requiring a mistake or two to knock it all back into place)

 

[Mo deller]

Yeah I worry too much. Always have. Just need to get on and do stuff.
Thanks for all your thoughts.
Peter