Thinking of "Retiring''

I think you should pack up your tools, sell your stash - except for a few kits that you 'really' want to keep - and hang it up for awhile. If you've heard about modellers taking a break, you've also heard about those that return to the hobby after a 5, 10, 20 year layoff.

If you're anything like my you should save your stuff because sooner or later you will get tired of flying and want to model more.

Don't get rid of anything, you'll regret it later.

You know yourself better then any of us do, but I would think you could find 30 min here or there to work on a kit.  I noticed in your signature you have 3 on the go.  Instead of retire why not slow down?

gunner_chris

Don't get rid of anything, you'll regret it later.

You know yourself better then any of us do, but I would think you could find 30 min here or there to work on a kit.  I noticed in your signature you have 3 on the go.  Instead of retire why not slow down?

This forum seems to breathes and eats controversy.

Save it all, it'll wait for you!

I went back to school for aviation myself, back in 07. My freshly started,1/32 Trumpy A-10 sat on my desk, collecting dust for 2 years. It waited! After $40K in flight training (single engine instrument, and muli-engine/commercial/instrument) and well over 300 resumes without a single interview, having to hunt in order to eat (literally).....it was booze or models. Couldn't afford booze (obviously) but I had a stash that cost me nothing!

Anyways, keep yer stuff and best of luck with the schooling and job search. On a possitive note, I do get to "fly" the Torro along the sides of the runway and taxiways at the local airport during the summer! Well worth the $40K debt........NOT!

Took 25+ years break and I regret for not returning to my hobby sooner... 

I echo the above.

I took a 10 year break until after i'd finished uni.  I finished up when i was about 14, so my stash was nothing special (about 6 models i think), but, often during uni, i'd look at them knowing i'd build them all one day, and now i have!

One tip - make sure your paints a sealed tight - i had to throw all mine out and start again.

Enjoy your break and come back with renewed vigour...one day....

Maybe you should reduce the stash to a select few kits that might be hard to find. Keep your tools, because they could be spendy to replace and see what happens. You may be able to re-purchase the kits down the road for a fairly close price off ebay or something. Best thing to do is keep them all, because you will probably have a change of heart.

My stash was overgrowing and actually intimidating me. Since it's been reduced a bit, I find more energy.

It's a hobby, something's that supposed to be enjoyable and alleviate stress in your life,  not create more.

If it gets to the point where it's addictive and starts to interfere with other more important priorities in your life, then it's probably time to take a break, especially if you're not enjoying it anymore.

Everyone's interests evolve over time.  Nothings says that you can't come back to modeling sometime in the future if you have the time and interest.

Good luck,

Mark

There has never been a time when I gave up modeling altogether (I am 73).  I continued to model through college, several years in AF, and then back to college, and then forty plus years in the aerospace industry.  At times my modeling sure slowed down, but it was always there to some extent.  In fact, being in that industry certainly helped my model airplane building at times.

At times modeling cannot be your main focus, but no matter what you are doing, you need some form of recreation and occasional change of pace- a way to forget the troubles of the daily rat race.  That is what modeling is for.  You just need to find and maintain the right balance.

I took a 15 year break. USAF, college, flight school, freight, airlines. When I got back into it, I took a more serious approach. Airbrush, acrylics, etc. etc. I have never regretted it. I was humbly surprised so many people still do it, in this day of gizmos, video games, and convenience.

For a while, being around real airplanes was enough, but I missed that creative feeling of building something unique. I suppose most of us are artists, of a sort. Now, when at work, I think about that unfinished kit sitting back at the bench. So, the break was good for me, but modeling was never far from my thoughts. Now it is something I look forward to. 

deafpanzer

Took 25+ years break and I regret for not returning to my hobby sooner... 

Actually 35+ for me, that being said, I will say overdoing the stash can cause some problems.

I was forced to take a break about 9 years ago, that break lasted 5 years. My biggest regret was that i was not able to store it well. My advice would be to hang onto everything, pack it away and get it stored safely and then it will be there for you when you return.

I may have to take a break later this year, it might last months, it could last a couple of years. But i am already looking at how i will store everything, especially the completed models.

I retired when the new wife and I hit the road .Boy was that a trial . I would sit at the R.V. park and wonder what to do to fill my time . I finally couldn,t bear it anymore and bought a fishing tackle box that allowed me to have ,  with a custom topped folding table ,  a portable shop and viola ! something to do . I am not into shuffleboard and bowling because of physical issues .I definitely don,t like bingo and such .I can think of more constructive ways to spend time -building models  !! So except for the time after the tornadoes in 1982 turned my life upside down , I find a way . I do take breaks of a month or so sometimes ,  and use that time to improve my woodcarving and scrollsawing  skills .   tankerbuilder

T-Rex... wow can I relate!  I am going though the same thing.  I have a similar thing going on with too much time modeling and not enough time spent on work & life thing.  I have cut WAY back.  Sat at the bench last night for the 1st time in about 5 weeks.   I am happy to see that I can do that since it was really getting to be an obsession.  Getting a plastic monkey on my back.  I am not stopping building entirely... yet... but I have told my club I won't be around for a while and likely will not be attending Mosquito Con as well.  My forum presence has been scaled way back too.

But for you i would say if you don't feel you can do both there is but one choice.  Stop modelling.  At least for now.  Keep all you tools and supplies.  If the pile is too big to keep it all, pick your favorite ten kits and sell give away or donate the rest.  There will likely be a time when you may want to get back into it once life has evened out a bit.  And you don't want to have to start from scratch.

What ever you decide... hang in there brother modeler.

Coming from someone your age..i just got back into it after a 2 year haitus...sell the models, keep the tools and a few kits you'll enjoy building.

Don't sell anything,just pack it all away,you will get back to it someday

T-Rex,

You don't need to keep everything, but save the kits you really wanted when you bought them as well as tools and stuff that doesn't have a shelf life. Chances are, as several people have said, you'll feel the urge to get back into modeling sooner or later. I had to give up a lot of my stash when I moved back the US, and there are several models I wish I could get back. And there was a time when work kept me from modeling as much as I wanted to. I finished three models in the 12 years I worked in the newspaper business, but it was still something I enjoyed when I could and great stress reliever.

Cheers, Aaron

I took a several-years break when pursuing my music career and came back reinvigorated and rejuvenated, and have been in love ever since with this great hobby.

Hey, there's no hurry--I wouldn't sell any kits, but stock them somewhere dry and safe, and wait for the love to come back to you. If not you, then maybe your son....in the future, of course!

I've retired many times only to come back with regret for not keeping what I had...

I'm going to go a bit against the grain here.

I started to drop out of the hobby literally the day I turned 16. Cars and girls and whatnot. At the time, my parents had just finished building their dream retirement house out in Arizona, so when we'd go out there for Christmas, I'd build then. That lasted a few years until I met the now-wife and she started coming along. After that, I dropped out completely for about 10 years with nary a thought of modeling.

Then came kid one, and then kid two. Started craving a hobby that I could do around the house, that would let me do something with my hands, and that I could set down on relatively short notice if a kid woke up vomiting or something. I wanted to get a project car. My wife suggested modeling. I bet she regrets that now! One kit in and I was hooked.

Anyway...against the grain. Keep the basic tools. Tweezers and whatnot. Box up the paints/glues/anything with harsh chemicals. If you haven't broken into them in a year, lose 'em. Get rid of kits you know you'll be able to track down again without too much difficulty. I'd also recommend selling off any airbrushes, unless you've got something super-duper. One of the great pleasures for me coming back into the hobby was playing with a nice, shiny new airbrush. 

My answer would to be:  Fly to Thailand and hang out on the beach for awhile....find a nice girl, see the sights...

Jus put the modeling stuff away. Like many others you will problably return in time to the hobby. Or not, in which case you will problalby find something else to do in your spare time.

I used to have an aquarium, with tropical fish. Nice hobby, gave me lots of pleasure. But as time went by I could not combine all my hobbies with work, study, family etc. etc. So something had to go, I chose modelling and quited the aquarium. Just remember, it is a hobby, it is supposed to get you relaxed, not worked up.