Comments on The Dice of Life: Editorial: The Kübler-Ross Model and You

It seems like we share similar sentiments except I...

2009-07-17T11:37:42.678-04:00

It seems like we share similar sentiments except I don't have five kids. :P

I agree, though. In regards to my dropping away from gaming because of my daughter and lack of free time, I had a friend tell me "I just don't want you dropping everything fun in your life because of the new arrival."

At first I was taken aback. The new arrival was something I regarded as fun to begin with. Secondly, I wasn't getting rid of gaming altogether, just indefinitely until I found a way to make it work again. Thirdly, dropping gaming doesn't mean I'd drop EVERYTHING that's fun in my life.

Essentially, my outlook changed. I had new priorities. I saw my newly extended family as a hobby in itself.

Very good head on take on the diminishing of game ...

2009-07-16T10:52:29.826-04:00

Very good head on take on the diminishing of game time. I would guess that this applies to any hobby when you transition to marriage. Golfing, hunting, fishing, etc. We are just gamers instead. It is just a hobby. I doubt we feel stronger about our recreation than say, an avid golfer.

It is about priorities and investment. You married your spouse because you love them. Selflessly giving yourself to your family is not an expense, it is an investment. At least I look at it that way. My wife does not play RP games, but she does like other games such as Settlers of Catan and Carcassone. Of course she also enjoys her fill of Romantic comedies and Jane Austin as well. I find that if I make sure that her emotional tank is full, i.e., I spend time with her doing things that she likes, then she is happy to have me "hang out with the boys" occasionally in an all day gaming session. Sounds alot like "fishing trip", "day at the golf course", "poker night." You name it!

On top of that I have also gotten my kids involved. We have five!! Them plus their friends makes an instant RP group almost anytime I want.

Hey this is the writer of that there quoted commen...

2009-07-03T08:01:18.927-04:00

Hey this is the writer of that there quoted comment (Heyes). Yeah, I imagine I have some growing up to do, part of the human condition I suppose.

I'll have to go find the original comment but the ...

2009-07-02T12:10:02.958-04:00

I'll have to go find the original comment but the writer of: "slow death of your gaming life as your social life is rent into itty bitty pieces and sacrificed to your kids and spouse."
has some growing up that only time and experience will bring. That's not a slam, it's the experience of 3 decades talking. The reality is you try to hold on to those friends and imaginative exercises that make your personal happiness so special and unique.
The "recorder" of our old group did comic sketches of our adventures and alot of personal commentary. He's scanning in 30+ years of sketches and he's looking back with great amazement. Mostly: "THANK GOD I'M NOT THAT SAME PERSON". As members of our group, we laugh and point but the same is true for all of us.

Instead of meeting for beer at the VFW post every Saturday and playing bingo, we're gamers. It has to change or you become the stereotypical guy still living at home, under-employed, and constantly trying to relive someting that happened 20 years ago. Once you've realized that you can have the fun(spouse, kids, and gaming), friends, and imagination (my spouse loves a recounting of the funny bits) that makes life so much more enjoyable (see Declaration of Independence: Pursuit of Happiness - it's almost July 4th).

Find the best in what technology can offer. I keep in tough with the "old gang" from 2,000 miles away. The humor, imaginative thinking, and friendships are a gift I can enjoy whenever we get online, and it's took the last decade for the internet/tools to make it so easy...and RPTrolls willingness to do ALOT of work so I could click a button and play a game again with him.
dmb aka "The Duck" to the old gang

Very true. I still haven't made it past the Anger...

2009-07-02T09:40:57.785-04:00

Very true. I still haven't made it past the Anger phase for 4e. :-)

Yeah, dark thoughts can consume you during those t...

2009-07-02T07:53:22.734-04:00

Yeah, dark thoughts can consume you during those times. :)

The only book I thought about destroying was the 3.0 Psionics Handbook, which I had purchased 4 months prior to the release of the 3.5 Expanded Psionics Handbook, but my the ExPHB kept me calm.

Thinking about it some more, the Kübler-Ross model could apply to edition changes as well.

Heh, I kept me 3e books around for a television st...

2009-07-02T07:27:57.945-04:00

Heh, I kept me 3e books around for a television stand but they almost went in the hopper. Good job, Kris.