Thinking about taking a break from skydiving.

[UntamedDOG 0]

I've been thinking about taking some time off from the sport of skydiving. There has been a little something missing the last few times I've jumped.

I don't think I will ever get sick of the actual act of skydiving, it's just the hassles and money it takes to pursue it.

So far I’ve come up with a lot of CONS lately and not to many POSITIVES.

Any POSITIVE suggestions would be appreciated because I have a lot of NEGATIVES
Right now.

-It gets really hot in California during the summer.

-I visit DZ's alone so I have to spend a lot of energy being this outgoing nice guy so people will want to jump with me. Each visit I have to repeat this process because it's a different group of skydivers each time.

-I don't get the life affirming sensation I did when I had 40 jumps.
"Ohh Yes!! I've survived yet another skydive!!"
Big whoop!

-The fact that I live in Los Angeles means that it's at least 90 min. drive each direction to any DZ.
3 hours roundtrip in your car to freefall just a few minutes.

-Gas is getting expensive, $40 bucks in GAS roundtrip.

-Jump tickets are getting expensive. They used to be $16 dollars at Perris. Now they are $21.

-Repacks are $70 bucks at Perris!

-Just tired of the same old shit. It just isn't getting any better.

-Tired of the carnage.

Sorry to sound so negative! I wish I could find something as fun as skydiving. Something a bit more accessible would be nice though!

Maybe these are some of the reasons skydivers are said to only spend 2-3 years in the sport. Maybe my time is just up?

[Travman 6]

Maybe you need some new goals in the sport, try Birdman or something like that. But in the end if you are questioning why you keep jumping maybe you do need a break.

[Frenchy68 0]

Jump with me next time I'm in Perris. Laughing your ass off at my god given abilities should open new skydiving doors to you.

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[Dazzle 0]

Change your discipline, get a team together and try some 4 way

[freeflir29 0]

Quote

Maybe these are some of the reasons skydivers are said to only spend 2-3 years in the sport. Maybe my time is just up?

I've been in the sport for 6 years now. Over the last 2 my jumping has been somewhat limited. About 200 jumps in the last 2 years. Now I'm on a work enforced lay off for about 3 1/2 months. No skydiving in Baghdad. Funny thing is.........I don't really miss it. As far as the "Rush" I get 10 times that just driving down the street in the "Red" zone. The people I miss.........it'll be nice to go home in August and hang out with all my friends again. I think some people just over do it. Skydiving becomes their ENTIRE life. I think it's easy to get burned out like that. Just find some other things to do. Find something else important to you.

[daniel_owen_uk 0]

Do some free coaching? Maybe seeing some "young" blood out there doing that 40th jump will revive your excitement?

__________________

BOOM Headshot

[airdvr 210]

I think you should take a break too after your post about wanting to see someone go in. Need to take the rest of your life off...please.

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1637798;#1637798

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[UntamedDOG 0]

Quote

I think you should take a break too after your post about wanting to see someone go in. Need to take the rest of your life off...please.

Next time be a little more creative when trying to sabatoge one of my threads.

[UntamedDOG 0]

Quote

Maybe seeing some "young" blood out there doing that 40th jump will revive your excitement?

Ya, thanks for the advice everyone. I guess I'm starting to look at skydiving the same way I view skiing.

When I was younger, I would ski every weekend and I did this for a couple of years, got really good and now I only ski once or twice a year.

Maybe thats what skydiving is becoming. It's just too damn expensive to do every weekend with the costs of fuel the way they are.

If you want to keep those friends that you work so hard to make at the DZ, you pretty much have to be there every weekend or you feel like a tourist.

At the point I'm at, I really need to be jumping a lot more often to see any progression in my skills.

I think I'm just going to focus on work for the time being and jump again when the temperature in Cali gets back down to the 70's!

Thanks again,
UntamedDOG

[airdvr 210]

Quote

Next time be a little more creative when trying to sabatoge one of my threads

No need to be creative. You handled that one fine all by yourself.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[Maxx 1]

Look for new goals in jumping.. Create a freefly team and train compulsarys or participate in a 4-way team and try to get really good at it, try flying birdman, try CRW, try accuracy with your normal canopy...

There is so much more in this sport than just driving to various DZs at the weekend and make some jumps!

In your other post you state that you want to see someone going in and in this post you say:

Quote

-Tired of the carnage.

So whats the point? Try to become one with yourself first and then go on..

Feet up!
Max

[skybytch 273]

Hmmm... positives...

- It's cooler at altitude than it is on the ground.

- Learn to freefly, get a wingsuit, do hopnpops - all can be done solo. Or jump with an LO - there's a bunch at SoCal dz's.

- Losing that "I survived" feeling is a mark of growing up in the sport.

- Bring a tent and spend the night at the dz. Might make the round trip time more worthwhile. Might also help you meet more people.

- Buy a motorcycle; will bring down the cost of that round trip.

- Life is expensive. Tell your boss you need a cost of living raise.

- Ask around, there are riggers in SoCal that charge less than $70.

- Do something different, get out of the "same old shit" rut.

- Can't help with the carnage thing... if ya jump ya gotta be able to deal with it.

Nothing wrong with taking a break. Most people who've been in the sport longer than the 2-3 years you mention have done it at least once.

Don't sell your gear just yet if you don't need the cash; wait and see if you still feel the same way after a year of not jumping.

[livendive 8]

Quote

Jump with me next time I'm in Perris. Laughing your ass off at my god given abilities should open new skydiving doors to you.

Frenchy speaks true. I've jumped with very few people that have such a natural ability to make me laugh in freefall.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[jumpwally 0]

Find a small DZ and do it different. Tons of options available...get up off the train tracks and be happy you are alive.......................................................

smile, be nice, enjoy life
FB # - 1083

[rmsmith 1]

Skydiving is very expensive, which means a high level of employment. I have to support a family too, so there's no kicking-back anytime soon. In college I lived real cheap, and I was on the California Central Coast near the ocean, almost heaven! If I didn't have any responsibilities, I'd dump this house, and I'd buy me a small quiet place somewhere between Big Sur and San Simeon. Then I'd clean up my DUI dry suit, and I'd buy me a new boogie board and ...

[Duckwater 0]

Quote

-Gas is getting expensive, $40 bucks in GAS roundtrip.

-Jump tickets are getting expensive. They used to be $16 dollars at Perris. Now they are $21.

-Repacks are $70 bucks at Perris!

-Just tired of the same old shit. It just isn't getting any better.

-Tired of the carnage.

You forgot one more bullet point:


-My pussy hurts

--

[justaflygirl 0]

Quote

I've been thinking about taking some time off from the sport of skydiving. There has been a little something missing the last few times I've jumped.

I don't think I will ever get sick of the actual act of skydiving, it's just the hassles and money it takes to pursue it.

So far I’ve come up with a lot of CONS lately and not to many POSITIVES.

Any POSITIVE suggestions would be appreciated because I have a lot of NEGATIVES
Right now.

-It gets really hot in California during the summer.

-I visit DZ's alone so I have to spend a lot of energy being this outgoing nice guy so people will want to jump with me. Each visit I have to repeat this process because it's a different group of skydivers each time.

-I don't get the life affirming sensation I did when I had 40 jumps.
"Ohh Yes!! I've survived yet another skydive!!"
Big whoop!

-The fact that I live in Los Angeles means that it's at least 90 min. drive each direction to any DZ.
3 hours roundtrip in your car to freefall just a few minutes.

-Gas is getting expensive, $40 bucks in GAS roundtrip.

-Jump tickets are getting expensive. They used to be $16 dollars at Perris. Now they are $21.

-Repacks are $70 bucks at Perris!

-Just tired of the same old shit. It just isn't getting any better.

-Tired of the carnage.

Sorry to sound so negative! I wish I could find something as fun as skydiving. Something a bit more accessible would be nice though!

Maybe these are some of the reasons skydivers are said to only spend 2-3 years in the sport. Maybe my time is just up?

Move to Florida, Gas is cheaper, so are jumps and repacks, and the same "MAIN" group is always at zhills, and we are a fun loving bunch of people....

[gmittar 0]

Quote

Quote

-Gas is getting expensive, $40 bucks in GAS roundtrip.

-Jump tickets are getting expensive. They used to be $16 dollars at Perris. Now they are $21.

-Repacks are $70 bucks at Perris!

-Just tired of the same old shit. It just isn't getting any better.

-Tired of the carnage.

You forgot one more bullet point:


-My pussy hurts

--

Nice, real nice... What's wrong with you anyway?

While I don't agree with any of your desires stated in other threads, if you think you should take a break, then you should take a break.

|>.<|
Seriously, W.T.F. mate?

[UntamedDOG 0]

Quote

-My pussy hurts

In deed, It will stop when I remove the cotex.

Anyway, thanks for your PM's and replies.
I don't think I'm going to quit. I just needed to vent. This sport gets the better of me sometimes.

The emotional complications in skydiving are as meandering as the filthy lucre that the sport is incumbent on.

I want to skydive right now. I just don't want to deal with the whole fervent aspect of it all.

Thanks again!
UntamedDOG

[RkyMtnHigh 0]

Give yourself a break. There isn't anything wrong with sitting it out a little while and allowing yourself time to prioritize.

We're not going anywhere, neither is the sky

I went thru a similar mode about a month ago when we lost Gus, Freddie, and then William's incident...it was just a lot to deal with and sort out. However, I went back and sat out several jumps but went on Freddie's sunset ash dive which confirmed how much I love jumping and how much my lost loved ones would want me to continue...but they would also certainly understand if I decided to stop altogether. Go with your gut...it won't lie.

_________________________________________

[luckky 0]

I want to skydive right now. I just don't want to deal with the whole fervent aspect of it all.
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travel,,go BOOGIE!!,,jump with the newbies,,just because__________________________________________________

If there are no trials in life,how will u know what is really imprtortant
liv2luv
luv2liv,,,SUMMOOO 1

lucky

[skybill 22]

Hi DOG,
So, take some time off,.. go fishing!!! WTH (What The Hell) I've been in the sport for 40+ yrs and a couple of times, (Viet Nam 68') and (Viet Nam 70') just to name a few curtailed my skydiving activities much to my chagrin!! But I put up with it and beared it!! On the other hand, you might need some time off just to figure out what's happening!! No problem. Either hang on to your gear or enough money to get new gear when you come back. (If you have a good rig, do the proper storage thing and stash it!!) Time off is O.K., it gives you a good perspective on where you are going!! You don't have to "Quit" skydiving, just take a few months off!! See how the other half lives and be glad you are a "SKYDIVER!!!!!!".........I AM!!!!!
P.S. So maybe take a couple of weeks off. Just one day, show up and make a solo jump, last out of the plane from high up. Salute the pilot , fall out and just dig it! Don't have to turn any points or impress any body!! Just you and the earth!!
It is O.K. to take some time off. You will be back!

SCR-2034, SCS-680

III%,
Deli-out