All or nothing...

[Carver 0]

Ok here goes.

I have returned to my hometown recently to change my career in an attemp to settle down a little. It was here that I did my first tandem at age 19 and it seemed fitting to go do the AFF course that I always wanted to do. So I did and I'm loving the sport.

Now I approach my 30th and all I want to do is skydive but I can't see myself earning bugger all, not skydiving as much as I'd like and never owning a house.

So I have sourced a new job in the mines earning a packet of money, and plenty of time off for skydving.

Now it's decision making time. Most of the advice I'm getting is from wuffos and I'm sure you can all imagine what there all saying...

So that leads me to my question. When was it all or nothing for you? What decisions did you make and what cool stories do you have regarding this subject.

Thanks a bucket...

Never try to skip a stage of natural progression...

[NWFlyer 2]

It's never been all or nothing for me. Skydiving is an important part of my life, but I like to balance it out with other things as well. Early on, yes, I was significantly more obsessive than I am now, but it's never been the only thing in my life.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[wildcard451 0]

I made about 500 over the past 3 years as school allowed. Now that I have recently started working, and time/money constraints prevent jumping, I will not be jumping nearly as much. Shame, but the real world calls.

As Krisanne said, balance.

[Squeak 17]

Quote

I made about 500 over the past 3 years as school allowed. Now that I have recently started working, and time/money constraints prevent jumping, I will not be jumping nearly as much. Shame, but the real world calls.

As Krisanne said, balance.

Fuck that you are a long time dead if you want to go hard then do so, if you dont then dont. Balance is fine if balance is what you are after.
I prefer being unstable

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[Carver 0]

I totally agree...balance is cool. Especially when on a skateboard.

But want I think I really wanted to hear was tales of woe from all you experienced skydivers. Like how and when skydiving turned your whole world upside down. And what you achieved to go and get it.

Never try to skip a stage of natural progression...

[meistwer 0]

Balance?...ummmm the only time I like to be balanced and stable is when I'm in free fall

About other things in my life....beer, sex and crazy parties...all that after a great day skydiving

Blue ones

[meistwer 0]

Quote

But want I think I really wanted to hear was tales of woe from all you experienced skydivers. Like how and when skydiving turned your whole world upside down. And what you achieved to go and get it.

Jumping hasn't truned my world upside down at all. It made me a better person I think, capable of overcoming my fears and be more relaxed than what I was before.
Well, thinking about it properly somehow it has turned it upside down a bit, but ifor good. It was worst before than what it is rigth now. Before I was fueled by anger and quite moddy most of the time. Nowadays I smile to almost everybody..there are still some fuckers that don't deserve it....have a more easy going approach to life, made some good friends jumping, I'm more open minded.... In general I have noticed the change in myself quite a lot, and all my friends have told me about the how different I am after I started jumping.

AND I'M ALSO NOW SO FUCKING BROKE ALL THE TIME!!!

Blue skies

[popsjumper 2]

Ok...I'm one of those who live and breathe the skydiving life but my case is a little different than most.

I jumped many years ago but didn't like it because of the (for me) complicated EPs and quit. Now,

I'm retired
I don't need to work
I don't need a life outside skydiving (been there, done that)

What got me re-started:
Retirement
Divorce
Simple EPs

The solution is simple...grow old and retire and go for it.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[yardhippie 0]

Balance is key. But for each person that balance is different.
Much of what I do centers around skydiving. Friends, activities etc.
But I also make time for my home, career, and most importantly my wife.

You have to find your own. Good luck.

Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD
"What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me
"Anything you want." ~ female skydiver
Mohoso Rodriguez #865

[TALONSKY 0]

I personally never had to choose. I did my first tandem on my 30th birthday and was hooked. A short while later I met my future wife. I worked 2 jobs to pay for skydiving and with some luck came up with a downpayment on a house. I worked 2 jobs up until I got my tandem rating and then skydiving started to pay for its self. The working 2 jobs thing had its drawbacks as some weeks I would work 80 hours but I always took atleast one weekend day for skydiving. My wife and I always had an agreement that my second job would end when I got my tandem rating. Now I do tandems 1 day a weekend with throwing a few fun jumps in and the rest of the time I spend with the family.
Kirk

[Fast 0]

I lived at home till skydiving started to pay for itself. Now all the money I make at my real job goes towards living and all the money I make skydiving lets me jump basically as much as I want.

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[darrenspooner 0]

That's easy, just do this, sit down, close your eyes, and imagine that you are up in the sky looking down on yourself having the perfect day. What would your perfect day look like? If skydiving is the first thing you'd do, or the thing you'd do most of, then make that your priority. If having a career is most important, do that. If getting hammered and waking up with a biffa in your bed the next morning is a priority, then do that.

I love skydiving. I'd skydive every day if I could. But I love my wife and kids more, so I do that first and skydive when I can.

[LastBreath 0]

I don't know if this is what your looking for but its something that skydiving changed how i look at certain things (and this was after my first jump).

I've always had a fear of speaking to crowds of people, in school i hated having to do presentations and if i was ever asked a question in front of everyone, even if i did answer it right, i went bright red.
Now I'm working full-time and working my way into management having todo presentations is going to start become the norm.

What i found during my last presentation is once i've began i start to enjoy it, what i really hate is sitting there knowing what i have todo.

Now compare this with standing by the exit of the plane knowing what i am about todo and the risks I'm taking on. WHY when standing by the exit i don't feel as nervous as i do when i'm sitting waiting to give my presentation.

Once i started to thnk like this after my first jump and the presentation that followed it i notice how much i started not to care about the crowd and just enjoyed it.

Fell the Fear, do it anyway !

[Carver 0]

My decisions have been made already. I will be going 'all or nothing' and I know that. Whats important to me is owning a house seeing more of the world. So I have to change alot of things to achieve all of this. I'm a little apprehensive and it will be hard work but worth it!

What I find interesting is how skydiving challenges us and pushes us to the fibre of our being. In and out of the sport.

Cheers for your tales all!!

Never try to skip a stage of natural progression...

[Cloudi 0]

Skydiving changed my life:

A little over 5 years ago I was a bartender and college student in a happy relationship. My career focus was on criminology.

Now, I'm finished with school (for now?), work in the industry (& love it!), have become somewhat of a post-whore on DZ.com, and am in a happy relationship with myself.

Skydiving opened many doors that I never knew existed before I took that first jump. I've learned tons about myself along the way, too.
I guess I went "all or nothing," but in a different way.

Kim
Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.