Space Forum / Amateur Astronomy / July 2008

I can understand your situation.

One can make progress in the price department by putting aside
whatever amount is reasonable on a regular basis into a "telescope
fund".  Eventually (It may take a few years.) you'll be able to get
what you want.

If I lived in a 'normal' area the drive to dark skies would kill much
of my interest as well.  With current gas prices it would simply cost
too much.  I've decided to opt out of attending the nearest starparty
this year.  My primary reason is my cost for gas.  My secondary reason
is the travel time needed.  Weather permitting, I'll hold my own
private, one-person star party at home on the same (this coming)
weekend.  I might even start tonight!!

It's easy to say that a dark sky isn't necessary to enjoy astronomy;
but for some of us that just wouldn't be true.  Nevertheless, one can
still do *some* observing without a dark sky -- primarily the sun,
moon, and planets.  I know, it's just not the same as looking up and
seeing a thousand or so stars, the Milky Way, etc. with the unaided
eye.  Plus you lose out on seeing the galaxies, nebulae, etc. at their
best.  Yep, I can see why the necessity of a long drive in order to
get to a dark site would have a crippling effect on one's astronomical
interest.

Then there's being tired after work.  That one still affects me during
much of the year -- that along with the need to get an adequate amount
of sleep in preparation for the next day of work.  I've lost countless
observing opportunities to those two factors -- and it has to be *far*
worse if one has to add time to travel to and from a dark site.  I
guess a hobby wouldn't be a hobby if it didn't take the 'back seat' in
life's list of priorities.

Sadly, that may be best for now.  I've taken major hits in my own
potential career in order to live out in the middle of nowhere (where
*any* job is a good job).  I recall when some IBM representives
visited the university I was attending.  At the time I had a 4.0 GPA
in my computer science minor.  I had written a chess-playing program
from scratch, etc.  When I walked into the room where the IBM people
were giving their recruitment talk one of my professors looked at me
and commented to them: "here's the person you want to talk to."  But
it wasn't long into their talk before I concluded that I didn't want
to work for IBM.  Not only would I have to re-locate to some urban
metropolis, but I would have to trade in my jeans and T-shirt for a
suit -- that was too much to ask of me!  I left the room without
saying a word.

I could tell similar stories concerning other work-related situations
-- like when a U.S. Navy captain (a former attack submarine skipper)
and the admiral's advisor (6th fleet) on anti-submarine warfare tried
to talk me into going to officer's school and staying in the navy.
Sometimes I wonder if it was more than coincidence that Clancy
introduced a new character named "Greer" in a chapter (in the book
"Hunt for Red October") whose title just happened to be my
birthdate . . .  Anyway, I had other job opportunities;-)

In the long run it's probably wiser to pay more attention to a career
than to personal interests.  At least that's what I'm guessing, but I
can't say for sure since I've pretty much done the opposite in my own
life.

Take care, and continue doing whatever you feel is in your own best
interest.

Bill Greer
To sketch is to see.
http://cejour.blogspot.com
http://www.rangeweb.net/~sketcher