Thinking maybe I need to thin the herd...

[Pa12]

Kermit
At 75 I can offer you a multitude of advice on a midlife crisis.
First off …,. DO NOT …,. Consider taking up with a younger woman in her early twenties of Venezuelan and Colombian descent….. it never ends well !! And the divorce gets very ugly and expensive.
2nd ….. DO NOT .. Consider having an affair with a married co worker in your office … it can be dangerous and if you have any doubts about the outcome refer back to suggestion #1
3rd….. After you fail at suggestions #1 & 2 do not attempt to drink your misery and financial loss from the divorce away … it’s expensive and you wind up having multiple affairs with like minded woman in various states of divorce with drama in their lives .

Best way to handle a mid life crisis I’ve found is to by a Harley Davidson, jump on it and travel around the country to forget your woes, re-establish yourself and have a couple of meaningless ONE NIGHT stands and ride out of town the next day.
When you’re finely about over your midlife crisis … sell your Harley and buy yourself a crazy fast car and and enjoy the rest of your life .
View attachment 103769View attachment 103765

Sound advice. Previous experience?

 

[Pa12]

Nothing wrong with buying a little red convertible. But if your married make sure the chic in the passenger seat is your wife

 

[Sideslip]

I seriously need to think about a really cool crisis! I'm open to suggestions.

When I turned 40 I told my wife: It's time for my mid-life crisis. Here are the options: "1) Buy a fast car [I have had 2 cars in 20 years]; 2) have an affair [because I am half-French and I must meet the stereotypes]; 3) start gambling [I always lose]; 4) Play golf; 5) I have been saying 'one day I will learn how to fly' since I was 10 so I will go for a trial flight. What do you think?" She still complains that my choices were too limited, she would have liked "be an exotic dancer".

Take up flying, it is more affordable in France anyways! Or learn a language or a skill. Strangely, I found that the learning part of flying in terms of the tests (engines, aeronautics and navigation) were initially hard to learn as I had forgotten how to properly study. Ever since then I am wandering around trying to learn new things, it keeps the mind active, curious and busy! Whatever you do, do what YOU want to do. Or give very limited choices to someone else .

 

[Pa12]

When I turned 40 I told my wife: It's time for my mid-life crisis. Here are the options: "1) Buy a fast car [I have had 2 cars in 20 years]; 2) have an affair [because I am half-French and I must meet the stereotypes]; 3) start gambling [I always lose]; 4) Play golf; 5) I have been saying 'one day I will learn how to fly' since I was 10 so I will go for a trial flight. What do you think?" She still complains that my choices were too limited, she would have liked "be an exotic dancer".

Take up flying, it is more affordable in France anyways! Or learn a language or a skill. Strangely, I found that the learning part of flying in terms of the tests (engines, aeronautics and navigation) were initially hard to learn as I had forgotten how to properly study. Ever since then I am wandering around trying to learn new things, it keeps the mind active, curious and busy! Whatever you do, do what YOU want to do. Or give very limited choices to someone else .

Good choice. And keep learning the technical aspects of the airplane. You’ll be a better and safer pilot for it. Mechanics make the best pilots

 

[MaydayWei]

This thread comes at a very weird time for me. I too have been thinking of this.
I think I've narrowed it down to one A2 and one G-1.
This way, I have russet and seal covered, as well as USAAF and Navy.

As such, I'm thinking of cancelling my GW and Sheeley orders. It's all about being happy with what you already have, no?
Anyhoo...
Anyone want a Schott 618 Horsehide in like new condition?
Perhaps a BNIB Platon Dubow 27798 in Seal?
Foolishly, I thought that I would need one in russet AND seal

 

[caddyd]

All cool ~ But if it feels good do it!

 

[bn1966]

My motor slimming down of the herd, down to one with 4 wheels & one with two..less stress & hopefully expense. Below is the 4X4 Panda that replaced my shiny red sports car

 

[Pa12]

That’s the first place I trimmed. Vehicles. The less I used them the more I had to fix them. When Covid hit I decided to retire a bit earlier then planned. Selling off some toys helped. 72 gmc pickup, 30 model A pickup, 76 mini, 76 ironhead, wife’s little Yamaha and my Se5a

 

[B-Man2]

Ll

That’s the first place I trimmed. Vehicles. The less I used them the more I had to fix them. When Covid hit I decided to retire a bit earlier than planned. Selling off some toys helped. 72 gmc pickup, 30 model A pickup, 76 mini, 76 ironhead, wife’s little Yamaha and my Se5a

So what’s an Se5a going for these days ?

 

[Pa12]

Ll

So what’s an Se5a going for these days ?

It was a 7/8 scale. 27000 us

 

[Pa12]

 

[Pa12]

It was a 7/8 scale. 27000 us

That outfit in New Zealand was selling one of their se5a’s about 2 years ago. 250000us. Their stuff is historically accurate so it wouldn’t be very user friendly

 

[B-Man2]

Looks very cool …..

 

[Smithy]

As such, I'm thinking of cancelling my GW and Sheeley orders

I have a GW order which must be coming up soon but I've been seriously thinking of late if I should actually go through with it or rather ask John if he can put my deposit towards a Ukrainian charity if possible.

I've got 2 A-2s and although one from John would be streets ahead of those I have, I'm just wondering whether I need another jacket. This is just me but I'm finding myself moving away from jackets and wanting new ones - the desire is quickly disappearing for me.

As I mentioned earlier I'm practising Iaido again and I want to buy a really nice iaito for training, added to that my eldest wants a new snowboard and skateboard so I'm thinking there's better ways I can spend my money.

That aside I'm finding my love of jackets is waning. I still love the history of the men and women who used them but my desire to be constantly chasing new jackets has pretty much left me now.

This post isn't meant as anything against all those guys here who are collecting or looking forward to ordering or have jackets on order. It's just a comment on my journey in this hobby and how now I'm finding that after being obsessed with these things for years, this interest seems to be leaving me.

I still love seeing beautiful jackets and especially originals but my desire to chase after them seems to be leaving me very quickly.

 

[MaydayWei]

I've done it. I've cancelled both my Goodwear and Sheeley orders.
I have come to realise that 2 new jackets, no matter how perfect or wonderful, won't make me happy in the long run.
I'd probably obsess over them, worry about damaging them, never wear them, and eventually move them on to chase the next jacket high.
I think I've come to a bit of an end of an era in my personal jacket collection journey. Thus far, I am incredibly grateful for all the friends I have met along the way.

Borrowing a parallel quote from a watch enthusiast: I am not a collector, I am an enthusiast or an appreciator. I am very happy to learn and appreciate, but I don't think I will be partaking in the collecting aspect moving forward. I shall leave that to you guys.
On that note, Happy Easter everyone!

 

[Lord Flashheart]

Your post landed as I was writing this Wei. I think it’s a bit like that Sheryl Crow lyric “It’s wanting what you’ve got”. My interest in the history of flight and the men and women who were part of that were what brought me here. My tastes and interests in this hobby have evolved over time here but I wouldn’t want the responsibility of a historical piece I wouldn’t wear. It was, and still is, about the enthusiasm that brought me here. I’ve learnt loads, will continue to learn more I’m sure, but wearing what you like and are comfortable in is the point for me.

Happy Easter all

 

[MaydayWei]

An update, not that anyone cares LOL.
Sheeley has already done a ton of work on reliance on my word, far beyond my initial deposit.
So, we will have 1 more jacket to look forward to.

I don't want anyone to lose out on reliance on my word.
More importantly, I do not want to ruin my friendship with Sheeley; which I value as much as my friendship with every one of you here.

 

[mulceber]

I think that makes a lot of sense, Wei. You love your Navy jackets and you have a great original, iirc. Why not have a top-quality repro that you can use and abuse in ways you wouldn’t your original?

 

[A2 B3au]

This thread comes at a very weird time for me. I too have been thinking of this.
I think I've narrowed it down to one A2 and one G-1.
This way, I have russet and seal covered, as well as USAAF and Navy.

As such, I'm thinking of cancelling my GW and Sheeley orders. It's all about being happy with what you already have, no?
Anyhoo...
Anyone want a Schott 618 Horsehide in like new condition?
Perhaps a BNIB Platon Dubow 27798 in Seal?
Foolishly, I thought that I would need one in russet AND seal

What size are .. I’m a 40

 

[Smithy]

An update, not that anyone cares LOL.
Sheeley has already done a ton of work on reliance on my word, far beyond my initial deposit.
So, we will have 1 more jacket to look forward to.

I don't want anyone to lose out on reliance on my word.
More importantly, I do not want to ruin my friendship with Sheeley; which I value as much as my friendship with every one of you here.

Your last jacket purchase (Possibly? Probably? ) , well done!

It sounds like you're very much like me Mayday, you've had a blast on the journey that this hobby has given us but you've reached that point where you have all you need and now want for nothing more. I'm feeling very much the same way.

I've had a ton of fun with jackets (and blown a shitload of money on the things too) but I've realised that for me the itch has been scratched and for whatever reason, the desire to chase after jackets now has left me.

I like what I have and will wear them but that urge that I've had for years of yearning for another particular type of jacket or thinking I need something else has completely disappeared.