I have resigned from being Tech Admin at StormTrack. I have been on staff there either as a mod or Tech Admin for ages in Internet time. I won’t go in to all the reasons why on a public forum, but it’s mostly to reduce some work load on me. StormTrack became a large time sink for me, there were many times I spent entire days over there handling something. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate charity work, but quite frankly it was cutting in to my paying work and stressing me out beyond belief. I have always had a rule that paying work came first, and I am getting back to that. No doubt things will continue on just fine without me there, I just won’t be stressing over it any more. I expect my contributions there now to be drastically cut back.
In fact, I may cut back drastically on the storm chasing all together. I have mixed feelings about that, and I will continue to evaluate things when we approach next spring. I expect I will still chase locally for the TV station. How much I chase beyond that is what is in question.
A lot of factors in regards to that. One of which is just the growing costs to keep doing it, most notably fuel costs. Assuming it’s going to keep going up or stay near what it is now, even one chase day locally can cost over $100 in fuel. Couple that with all the stress of dealing with some of the B.S. that goes on within the chase community, the ever increasing numbers of chasers to deal with on the road (some days there are approaching 200 chase vehicles around storms), and the fact I am not getting any younger and those very long trips really wear me out, it’s just frankly taken a lot of the fun out of it.
As a result, I am losing interest in something I have always enjoyed. I guess part of that is that elements of it I really enjoyed are hard to come by these days. Like the solitude out on a country road while you watch the storm, or being able to share what your doing or what you captured with others on the Internet without having to worry about getting slammed for something you did, or because you had a successful day, had an amber lightbar on your vehicle while you did it, or god forbid, you committed the most unholy of chaser sins and made some money off of it to help recover expenses.
The storm chasing world is full of these (mostly ridiculous) issues and more on almost a daily basis. I miss the days I could post a pic or a video, without worrying about having to do some sort of damage control because someone wanted to attack you, but rather receive wonderful comments back on what you shared. Sure the nice folks and comments are still there, but the negative stuff sure takes away the fun of it. I am working on trying to ignore and purge that sort of stuff from my life.
The silliness of it all is that the majority of it would just go away if folks would just practice “live and let live”, go out and chase and enjoy themselves, and stop trying to worry about and police what everyone else is doing. I absolutely do not know how they even have the time to worry about whether Chaser A had a lightbar on that day, or Chaser B sold some video, or Chaser C had too many antennas. I really don’t.
When I am out chasing I have my hands full during the chase and am totally focused it. About the only time I really ever notice all the other chasers is during the big chaser convergences, and even then I am paying too much attention to the storm and how to navigate the traffic to even notice who the heck had what piece of equipment on their vehicle.
I really didn’t intend on this post turning into a rant so I will stop there and move to another note, and along the same lines of redistributing my attentions, I want to spend more time further developing and expanding Dryline Hosting and some other Internet Marketing stuff I have been getting in to. With continued positive work on that, I can certainly improve my overall life situation dramatically over the next year or two. Storm chasing the last few years has gotten in the way of that. Mostly because I lived and breathed it nearly to the exclusion of all else.
I think perhaps it’s time to move storm chasing into much more of just the “hobby” category and enjoy a lot more of life than condensed water vapor. I am starting to work on getting myself back in shape. I love hiking and have tons of hiking trails I want to conquer, but need to get in shape for that first. I love the exploration of hiking. I also realized a while back I haven’t taken a real vacation since 2000. Eight years. There are tons of fun things I would like to go and see and do, that never will if I continue the storm chasing on the level I have been. There is also the remodeling of my current house that certainly would be accelerated if I drastically cut back on the chasing.
So yeah, storm chasing has been a passion for most of my life. I don’t think I would ever stop completely, but I do think I need to severely moderate it, and most definitely need to remove myself from some elements of it for my own stress reduction and peace of mind. I think maybe I am starting to realize now why many of the more veteran storm chasers my age and older have withdrawn from the storm chasing “community” as a whole. I think I will just stick with the parts that are fun about it, and remove myself from the parts that aren’t. I have to, because continuing to allow all the negative stuff into my head is changing me as a person, and I don’t like who I am changing in to, so it has to reverse.
“Like the solitude out on a country road while you watch the storm” – <– one can never put a value on the little moments in life. Watching a sunset, being on the back porch and watching the distant lightning, feeling that first warm breeze of spring. This is what is important in life.
When something fun becomes a chore then one has to pause and ask ourselves “what are we doing and why are we doing it.”
I would imagine that everyone, (chasers and others) who read this post, will at some point nod their head in agreement. We all have that desire to just “be alone with the storm”.
Thank you for all of your hard work in making StormTrack a place where chasers can come and talk weather. Sure…there are times that a lot of us don’t agree with something a mod says or does – and there are moments when we get caught up in “drama” discussions and later think better. It isn’t just StormTrack, but it is all of the internet and forums that have these problems.
Enjoy some solitude and thanks again for all the dedicated (thankless) work.
Beau
I think there’s a pretty big movement to head back to our roots and forget all this chaos. A couple weeks ago I was in the middle of nowhere, by myself, trying to get some lightning photos. It was dead quiet and the stars were out behind the storm, and I thought – “now I remember … this is what it’s all about!”
You’ll enjoy life and chasing more with an outlook like this. I go for long stretches of the year without even looking at the forums, using them only in the spring, basically. In fact, it’s just about time to move on, myself.
A person has to fight the battles worth fighting. And focus on the things that are going to actually get you somewhere. Otherwise, you’d better believe that you can end up giving and giving and pretty soon realize there isn’t much left for yourself.
Work hard and do it up right. You’ll feel the self-esteem and accomplishment in no time. Thanks again for the hard work –
David,
It was good to see at least a few people on ST acknowlege your hard work and sacrifice. I knew it was taking a huge toll on you for awhile and as a friend, glad you made the decision to scale it all back. Not trying to be a happy coach here, but sometimes too much of a good thing ends up being bad…like booze. 😉
Next year with my schedule being more flexible, hopefully, I can team up with you on more chases not only to cut the fuel costs, but to make it a helluva lot more fun and entertaining. The Memorial Day weekend excursion we had was a total blast and what stormchasing should be about. My gut ached for a few days afterwards from the laugh riots!! On top of that, we got to see some amazing stuff including the crazy dust event in KS and a wierd tornado near Pratt…and my first ever major hail core punch! 😉 I still want to see the video from that one. LOL!!
You and I have talked at great length on many occassions about the negative portion of the chaser community. You summed up quite nicely. ‘Nuff said.
Don’t forget the Second Annual SDS Therpay Session coming up in August sometime and of course, some camping excursions to Lake Alan Henry this fall!! Maybe you can help me install some amber lightbars on my vehicle as well before next season. 🙂
Well, David, I can’t help but say I feel the same way. You can tell by reading my blog over the past couple of years just how much my passion has faded. Used to I would post pictures and chase accounts. Now all I do is bitch about the stupid things that happen in the community. I too am never going to get chasing out of my blood and have moved from a chasing when I have time mentality rather than making time for chasing.
Things have changed community-wide and while evolution is part of life, it’s made chasing less interesting for me. Posting video and pictures and getting kudos or making friends through sharing the experiences caught on tape was fun. Now the video is criticized, stolen or otherwise.
Thanks to i-reporters and Andy Fable’s stunt that was brought to light last week, media is less interested in our video now too. Without an audience, I have no reason to shoot storms.
MP mentions getting back to the roots of chasing and I agree. I would love to have an opportunity to have a memory brought back from the early years and can’t help but think if I did have that memory, I would feel different about things. I haven’t had that middle of nowhere feeling in a long, long time though. Wish I would.
This is a long winded comment to say you aren’t alone in feeling like it’s time to put chasing on the back-burner. Fortunately for all of us who feel this way, it’s the end of the season and we have plenty of time to think things through. In contradiction, I’m positive I will be just as excited about next season as I have been about every season before it by the time March 09 rolls around.
When we are tired and under stress our immune systems work very poorly. That’s why I’m glad to see you make this decision.
David, I stayed away from ST due to some wise advice from friends out there. I appreciated the advice and have held tight to it. I have talked with you from time to time about your ultimate decision, and I know it is the best thing for you, based on those discussions alone… it was a long time coming. Congrats on your new chapter. I am personally excited for you, as you shift your scope to something new and interesting, growing your business, exploring greater passions. I commend you. Good luck in those pursuits.
I also commend you on getting back to your roots, doing what you love, the way you love it and leaving all the mess out of it. I think you will receive a great deal of satisfaction in that. I am happy for you, David. You seem to have a new lease on life. Time to shine.
A heartfelt Thank You David for your many years of keeping us safe with your knowledge and for your genuine concern! I understand your desire to scale back your volunteer time and such…sometimes a person needs to step back and look at the important things in life. I know I threw myself into the rebuilding efforts of Hallam and it wasn’t until last year that I finally resigned from all of the committees. After I resigned I realized how it had consumed my life. Now that I’ve had a break, I’m ready to dive back in…but this time I’ll keep it in check and limit my responsibilities.
Your efforts, along with most of the other long time storm chasers, is very much appreciated by many people such as myself! I value your opinion and cannot say thank you enough for your continued contact to alert me to “rough weather”. Don’t think that’s going to stop, you can’t get away from the “Hey David, How’s it looking for us up here….” emails! 🙂
If your travels ever bring you up our way we’d love to have you stop in. Beer’s always cold at my house! 🙂
Enjoy and have fun. You deserve it!
Laura
Thanks for posting this entry David. I had felt the same way but never could put it into words. I quoted you on my last entry as you put it into perfect perspective.
Thanks,
Rick
David,
You and I had differences while you were a moderator, but I know you did the job to the best of your ability and I respect you, mod or no. Recognizing that you need to move on is an important decision, as is lessening the role chasing has in your life.
Hopefully, you’ll never stop. I know I haven’t chased for long, but I know it’s here to stay for me, even though my own future will lessen the time and money I have to spend on it and might even take me down a path where I end up far away from storms on the prairies. I’m guessing the same goes for you and all other chasers who do it for the love of it – although it can be mitigated, it can never really go away.
David,
I know excatly how your feeling. I am glad to see you taking a break from the chaos. I am also getting a bit worn out about the whole “community” status thing. I miss the “old days” when you and I 1st started chasing bare bones. No internet or GPS. Just a radio, camera, and our intuition. I will say I enjoyed this year more than I have in years do to 1 fact. I was able to chase with my friends. When I and Steve carpooled and when you and he and I and Jeff chased together it was non-stop laughs. Through in Dennis and it was hysteria. It was more than storms. it was buddies enjoying it all. The “West Texas Posse” has to ride on. I am sure we will have plenty of chances. Maybe another Rita event (oh brother). I am glad we have had the chance to share all these times with many more to come. Cant wait for the SDS party and the fishing trip to Alan Henry. Have Graham get that damn boat ready!!
I don’t blame you buddy. Thanks for your hard work and I am sure we will still have a few chases here and there. I hear ya though, I am tired of the people, I would rather go lightning chasing in the middle of BFE than deal with 200 people around a tornado…….who are just going to turn around that evening and bitch and moan about something. Envy is a bitch and its gotten the better of the chase community.
Take some time for yourself, god knows you deserve it.
-gb
I know the feeling. Kinda started it this year where most of the chasing was/is local to the tv station and just for fun when outside of the DMA. I think next year the plan here is just to string when I feel like it and if I get something worthwhile. A few years ago, a chasing mentor of mine, Scott Woelm, made the choice to become totally reclusive. At the time I couldn’t figure out why. I do now. I’m ready to put the “whatever it takes” attitude to rest. As you pointed out, there is a lot more to life. I guess my personal identity as a chaser isn’t such a big deal anymore. The passion for admiring the sky is as strong as every, but the priorities are rapidly shifting. In regards to Woelm’s decision, his highlights video still shows up in my mailbox about every other year. It still contains great chase footage and images and is always one of the most detailed productions of it’s kind but…over the years it has grown to include more of his interests outside of chasing. Does it mean he is loosing his interest and passion for chasing? Not at all. It shows there is more to life than living just for the next chase day. Maybe it is a look into the future?