Long breaks between skydiving

[Emmie 0]

Hi all,
I am writing to see if anyone had the same experience as me, and if so, how they have dealt with it.
Here's the problem. When I first started jumping, I definitely made going to the DZ my number one priority. That pretty much lasted for a few years, until the time that I graduated college. I took a few years off between college and lawschool, and my jumping has dwindled down a bit, mainly because of money. I'm in my third year of lawschool now, and sadly have only made a single jump within the last 10 months (and it was a recurrency!)
I feel really dissapointed with myself. Skydiving was a huge part of my life for a while, and now, things like lawschool, looking for a job, triathlons (I picked this up as a cheaper hobby), etc. have basically taken over. Plus, my DZ is 3.5 hours away. Sigh...
So, how do you deal with something like that? How do you make skydiving a priority amidst a super busy hectic life?
I noticed that now that I have basically taken such a long time away from jumping, I am less happy. I have a ton of other hobbies and am never out of things to do, but none of those things give me the same happy feeling as jumping does. I went to one of my favorite dropzones for my recurrency jump, look back on that day as one of the best days of the entire summer, so I don't think that I have lost the interest. I guess I don't know what it is. I am just afraid of staying away from the sport for so long that I would loose interest, and basically loose something that I love dearly.

[Broke 0]

Life Happens. The sky will still be there

Divot your source for all things Hillbilly.
Anvil Brother 84
SCR 14192

[BIGUN 1,422]

Then get rid of the other stuff and go skydiving.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[hjumper33 0]

Thats part of what I like about base jumping. Id doesnt cost anything but gas money, I can go at night when I actually might have a little time, and one or two jumps a week is plenty to keep me going. Im sure medical and law school are pretty similar in time commitment, and its tougher and tougher for me to find a whole day to make it worthwhile going to a dz. Sadly, skydiving is falling down my priorities list, and I just hope to keep it on the list for the next few years before work allows me some kind of time off.

[bodypilot1 0]

Charley, Charley, Charley........ Someone that gets one jump in 10 months and you suggest BASE jumping?

Emmie, skydiving will still be there when you have the time and money for it.

Life Happens


Be safe
Ed

www.WestCoastWingsuits.com
www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

[JSE 1]

I don't think Charley was recomending he take up BASE, but just relating his (somewhat) similar experience and how he has handled it.

To the OP I'm also a 3L and I still jump quite a bit. It takes a lot of sacrifice but I'm proof that it is possible.

[hjumper33 0]

Indeed I was simply answering the original question of how I dealt with not being able to skydive as much due to school obligations. JSE knows that im not as frequent DZer as I once was, and I missed too many jumps at Eds last boogie because of clinic responsibilities. Just sharing the frustration. I would never advocate base jumping to anyone, its a terrible hobby. I never thought id learn so much about moon cycles in med school though

That reminds me too you law people, i have a traffic ticket i need to figure out in the next few weeks. There goes more skydiving money.

[dmetz 0]

After my first 40-50 jumps, which took a couple months, I relocated, started a new job, part-time school, and met who is now my wife. All this within the same month or two. That was the start of my layoff. I spent the next two years making 2 jumps total, both recurrency jumps as separate attempts at coming back, but it didn't happen. Skydiving was basically forced to become secondary. After a while when everything else settled and became more stable I made a reasonable committment to myself to get at least one day a month at the dz no matter what. I had to really work at budgeting time and money, but it was the only way to ensure that I kept something for myself while starting a new family...I had already sold my Harley.

To this day, my once a month is what I do. I wish I could do more, but its far better than my other options. Today, extra time at the dz is my bargaining tool for dealing with things like vacations, and new furniture.

If you're as passionate about being in the air as I am, you ought to be able to set yourself a realistic goal and hold yourself to it.

_________________________________________

"If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?"

[bozo 0]

Quote

How do you make skydiving a priority amidst a super busy hectic life?
.

Why would you want to make skydiving a priority against the rest of your life ?
Skydiving is a hobby pasttime and should be kept as that.
I made it the priority of my life for 20 years. I wish I had some of those years back.

bozo
Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars.

[BIGUN 1,422]

Quote

Why would you want to make skydiving a priority against the rest of your life ?
Skydiving is a hobby pasttime and should be kept as that.

Astoundingly wise words, Jimbo. FInd the middle between passion and life.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[airathanas 0]

I can COMPLETELY understand what you are going through. I took three years off of jumping b/c of school and I have since gotten back into it. Don't force it into your life if it doesn't fit right now. Once you are done with law school and earning good money, you'll get back into it in no time. There are more important things in your life right now. I know it doesn't feel good in the meantime though.

http://3ringnecklace.com/

[Emmie 0]

Thanks for everyone's advice. I think that finding balance is the right option, and yes, skydiving is always going to be there. I think that things will get back on track once I am done with school and move somewhere that has a dz closer by.
Oh, and since I am terrified of heights, unless I am in a plane that is, BASE is not something that I would be willing to try
I think that part of the problem is seeing people that I have started out with having thousands of jumps, and getting so much better, and me, taking such a long time getting to where I want to be. I realize it's not a competition, but since I am extremely competitive by nature (more with my own self than other people really), so it's still a little difficult.

[cocheese 0]

Everyone says "the sky will always be there".

Yea well, so will responsiblities.

Make time for doing what you love while you still have your health.

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

Everyone says "the sky will always be there".

Yea well, so will responsiblities.

Make time for doing what you love while you still have your health.

Agreed. Or, while life still gives you the the chance. Early to mid 20's, still in school, student loans not yet due, career not yet under way, not married yet, no kids yet, no mortgage yet ..now's the time, man.

Look around a few DZs some time. Look at the prevailing ages and stages of life of most of the jumpers. Mostly childless people in their late teens and 20's. Then middle-aged people whose kids are grown. A few creaky, aging professors at death's door. But married people in their 30's with still-dependent children, long work hours, big mortgages and middling incomes - those are a lot more rare at the DZ. That's no accident.

[scottjaco 0]

If you really want to be involved in the sport, you have to make the time for it. There are these things called weekends. Why not spend the weekend at your favorite DZ.

Get back in the air this weekend, just throw your shit in your car and go.

[JeffNo 0]

Don't worry. Get yourself a job in a big law firm. Then all you'll be able to think about is throwing yourself out of an airplane.