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727glasair wrote:Yeah, 2 or 3 guys we know, have other hobbies like going out drinking late at night or playing poker and losing tons of $$$. My wife should not complain too much about MY hobbies.....could be much worse.
groundbird wrote:When I got home from plane spotting, I told my wife she had drawn her eyebrows too high.
She looked surprised.
2175301 wrote:hanging out in the bars... ,
chrisp390 wrote:Everyone has their hobby, tell her to be more open minded!
rotation18L wrote:I guess I should consider myself lucky. My wife gladly goes with me spotting, and she was never into aircraft before she met me. In fact, the other day, she saw an aircraft at altitude making a hard left turn and asked me if it was being vectored to a particular waypoint. I asked her how she knew about vectors, and she said, "I live with an avgeek!"
lightsaber wrote:rotation18L wrote:I guess I should consider myself lucky. My wife gladly goes with me spotting, and she was never into aircraft before she met me. In fact, the other day, she saw an aircraft at altitude making a hard left turn and asked me if it was being vectored to a particular waypoint. I asked her how she knew about vectors, and she said, "I live with an avgeek!"
I am officially jealous. And for the record happily divorced.
But I'm raising two awesome daughters that know Daddy is happy receiving Lego airplane models as gifts and expect daddy to be looking at planes at or near the airport.
You have to train them early!
Lightsaber
September11 wrote:Bring back all airport observation decks... So proper and ideal place for families
727glasair wrote:Hi friends! About twice a week I drive to SEA (just 20 mins drive) and watch the planes. There is a good viewing spot just 300 yards west of the Tower, in the old United Cargo parking lot, right up on the fence next to the action. I just park there for about 3 hours and closely observe landings and departures. I have binoculars and also check on Flightaware for destinations, etc. Though I have about 4500 hours PIC time, it nonetheless fascinates and entertains me to watch these planes. In an odd way, it is also relaxing or comforting to me, as it somehow makes me feel "in touch" or connected with the nation or the world. I often invite my wife to accompany me, but she is having none of it. She thinks I must have some problem in the head, that maybe I am mal-adjusted to life or reality, or have some other mental deficiency. Perhaps I do? Anyway I just tell her I like to go and watch the airplanes.....
LH707330 wrote:Ha ha I love this thread. To be fair, she probably has a point in saying you're obsessive, people in my life have told me that since I was a kid. My response is always to ask what the harm is in it, and that usually shuts them up. The other week I impulse-bought a $150 747 kit that will take me 50 hours to put together. That's pretty cheap entertainment if you ask me....
VapourTrails wrote:I hear you, as do many on this forum. I don’t watch the planes all that often unless time permits to the relaxation of it, but I know to tell no-one (family, friends, loved ones) where I am going. I tell no-one where I’ve been the last few hours. Not that I need to, but I do often do other things when I am out also, so I’ve been to the shops, out for a drive, or whatever, half true. Um, it’s not like I’ve been up to something terrible LOL. The most often answer I then get is ‘I tried to call you..’ or, (me) ‘oh,is my location services OFF? – or, the phone rings because I am expecting a call I need to take, and …where are you? Saying, that I don’t rule out trying it on someone new, just to test their reaction LOL.
It is time-out, in the way you describe. It is also an opportunity to spend time with ‘my people’ as on weekends there are often others, even families doing the same thing. It makes a change from the online world LOL. I also love the noise and the odour and the lights – normally I am not into these things and quite sensitive. I haven’t been to the major airports spotting locations where are crowds but I hope to when more time permits. It is good to use watching the planes to get away from people though too. People often sit in their cars, maybe some music going etc. Aviation can also very often be an expensive hobby and this is a less costly alternative to spending time. I like the spontaneity of it too, rather than a planned event. I get it is a fix. I call it an equalizer. I’m in the Cloud.
The people that I have taken plane-spotting, generally end up whining and complaining about the weather or where they would rather be, and ‘we’ve been here long enough- it is cold, windy, it’s started raining’ and just spoil it. It does seem odd to a lot of people; and other hobbies, just not so odd to a lot of people. I accept that. I have learnt from it and try to minimise the negative feedback because it makes me start to question it and I don’t need to. The Internet has sure made it seem easier because you realise there are so many more people like yourself! Very normal.
727glasair wrote:Hi friends! About twice a week I drive to SEA (just 20 mins drive) and watch the planes. There is a good viewing spot just 300 yards west of the Tower, in the old United Cargo parking lot, right up on the fence next to the action. I just park there for about 3 hours and closely observe landings and departures. I have binoculars and also check on Flightaware for destinations, etc.
Though I have about 4500 hours PIC time, it nonetheless fascinates and entertains me to watch these planes. In an odd way, it is also relaxing or comforting to me, as it somehow makes me feel "in touch" or connected with the nation or the world. I love seeing the Hainan 787-9 depart for Beijing or the Icelandair 757-200 arrive from Rekjakvic, or the Emerites 777-300 ER come in from Dubai, or the Fed-EX MD-11 depart for LAX.....or even just the Delta E-175 arrive from Boise.
I often invite my wife to accompany me, but she is having none of it. She thinks I must have some problem in the head, that maybe I am mal-adjusted to life or reality, or have some other mental deficiency. Perhaps I do? Anyway I just tell her I like to go and watch the airplanes.....