Sailplane OCD Help Clinic-

[dwells]

Since I got involved with sailplanes, I look back at prior projects/hobbies and they are kind of blurred in my memory. I wake up in the morning and think about what I need to do today. No, not at work, not around the house, but instead, what to do with my planes! I'm constantly looking at fields, clouds and birds. I get home after work and start farting around with sailplane stuff until time for bed.

The cycle now seems endless. Do you have the same symptoms? Is there a cure for this madness? Any personal testimony you might be willing to share could very possibly have therapeutic value for me and others like me. I already know one response to this will from the early 70's...."just go with it dude" :D .

[schrederman]

Sorry Dude... NO cure... Your clinic will probably go broke!

JW

[GDbot]

Life even forced me to step away from my deep passion for sailplanes for about 15 years until the Song of the Sirens became to strong to resist and called me back. I would write more about it right now but the more important half just got back from baby (Vi)sitting and says we now have to go to the bar so a friend can buy us and the whole town that wants one, a drink. He is a dead man walking for a little while longer, cancer will claim him shortly.

Saillplanes are pure, the only thing besides really good music that helps me deal with this s*#t. More later..........Be Seeing You

[condor-60]

......I kinda found myself in your rut and decided to get back into the hobby after a 30-year hiatus. All these in between years were spent looking at birds in thermals,seeing a
nice open area and saying to myself that would make a grand sailplane field and just
remembering the joy of flying with buddys on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I retired a few years ago and the calling was more than I could take and decided to get back into it. My first sailplane was a Zaic Floater G-110 and on my third launch was blessed with a 48-minute thermal flight. It was not my flying skills that presented me with this
but was attributed by the nature of the Zaic glider I was flying. I looked for another Floater G-110 for nearly 5-years on the net and finally found one. When I recieved it
I made a decision not to build it as it seemed to me to be a sin to probably build the last one in existance. When I got back into the hobby I noticed the many changes that had taken place over the years. Man they got gliders out there that cost many,many thousands of dollors and made of rocket stuff that zoon around so fast
that your in and out of a thermal before you know it. I just leave these things to the hi-tech guys. As far as I am concerned DWELLS I am kinda in your same situation as I
eat,sleep and s--t sailplanes rght now as its almost a ritual.

Condor-60
grand

[peteapilot]

Who should I call first Dr. Phil or Dr. Ruth , don't bother me now I'm busy

[jaizon]

Not only will you continually look for flying fields, you will remember every one which is a real possibility anywhere within driving distance. :D If you have a gps in your car make sure to mark the spot for later reference. ;)

Often heard from the passenger seat of my car:
"Stop looking for flying fields and keep your eyes on the road!" :eek:

[scaflock]

Alas Don... I'm afraid that the cure is MUCH worse than the symptoms. I too tried to break away from the hobby only to be drawn back into it once again. I'm a relapsed sailplane junkie and I'm happy to say that I'm proud of that fact now. It could be worse! I could be addicted to something really really bad. like knitting! How would that look for a California hippy now living in Georgia!

[glidermang]

dwells:

Oh dear sir: you are a gonner now.

How would I know?

Yours, Greg

[lincoln]

It gets milder after a couple of decades, but it does not go away. And sometimes there's a resurgence. I especially get the OCD part when I'm supposed to be doing something else.

[lincoln]

P.S. I think it may have been in Dodgson's newsletter, but it went something like:
"You know you're really an rc soaring pilot when you pull back on your car's steering wheel when you make a turn." (I suppose this applies to full scale too.)

[Petem]

Dwells,
I would love to report that you might achieve a cure by moving south of the equator, but it just isn't so.
You know you have a problem when an indoor electric session in winter leaves you wondering if a few electric blankets in the middle of the gym might allow you to thermal indoors.
You must embrace the pain, Grasshopper - be one with the sailplane!
PeteM

[Hossfly72]

you might achieve a cure by moving south of the equator,


Silly pilot!! That's not a cure!! You just find yourself circling in the other direction when coring a thermal!! :D

[Resurgam]

"You know you're really an rc soaring pilot when you pull back on your car's steering wheel when you make a turn."

I always used to crash my son's rc cars because I would just pull back on the wheel whenever I got too close to the curb or whatever ...

[atmosteve]

Don, forget the clinic, the only way to surmount any worry of this OCD is to do away with the concerns, the lack of understanding from family and friends, and embrace it!

Be free!!!!!!

[GaryO]

I don't know, PeteM. I think the Aussies have a lot more clear fields than we do. When I think of all the nice fields north of Kalgoorlie, and nothing on them but gold nuggets :)

[aeajr]

I found a cure. At least I think it is a cure.

100 1 hour thermal flights and you are cured!

"going to the field honey to work on the cure. You know I do this so I will be released from this affliction."

[Thermaler]

I believe the only cure is death.
But for all I know if you were a good person you pass on to a million acres of thermal generating grass and any plane you want.
Same thing if you were a bad pesron except you battery won't hold a charge!!
My OCD has me at 60 + kits, 100 + plans and 15 sailplanes that are charge and go fly ready. Oh, and there are 5 in the works!!

More, MORE, I need more. A crackhead has nothing on me!!!
Joe

[atmosteve]

I believe the only cure is death.
Joe


^ I laughed so hard that I was almost beside myself with death. :D

Joe's first words are probably very true. Don you got the bug, your immune system will never overcome this one, It'll only remain dormant if your defense systems ever supress it. It will always be ready to strike again at a later age when you least expect it... why bother with the stress of resistance!

[dwells]

Don, forget the clinic, the only way to surmount any worry of this OCD is to do away with the concerns, the lack of understanding from family and friends, and embrace it!

Be free!!!!!!

LOL, you old hippy you :D . Kinda like sex, drugs and rock-n-roll, you just live it like a new microculture. Free love baby...yeah :D .

[dwells]

I believe the only cure is death.
But for all I know if you were a good person you pass on to a million acres of thermal generating grass and any plane you want.
Same thing if you were a bad pesron except you battery won't hold a charge!!
My OCD has me at 60 + kits, 100 + plans and 15 sailplanes that are charge and go fly ready. Oh, and there are 5 in the works!!

More, MORE, I need more. A crackhead has nothing on me!!!
Joe

Joe,

You poor, poor man. From what I read, it's too late for you. This clinic hasn't the capacity for the depth of your affliction :D . Perhaps there is still hope for me though I feel myself sliding along a thin edge to oblivion...