How do I let go...the “D” word

Budrew sums it all! I agree. Although I would add that downgrading does not always mean "less quality". Have fun with this journey. Who knows by the time you're ready for the upgrade again (because you have become the new Leibowitz or Adams or Arbus or Atget or Lange or W.E. Smith or Avedon...:-) ) there will be other components that might peek your interest.

Hey Rosstaman - Congratulations on a new start...sounds like some exciting and difficult transitions. I'm sorry for the difficult part and hope the good stuff makes it worth it. So my question is not at all about stereo gear, but rather your decision to go for an MS in Photography. Are you wanting to teach or to shoot professionally? If the former, definitely go for the degree, but if the later I might suggest you may take the time to get some input from working pros in the field(s) you are interested in pursuing. Perhaps you've already done this, in which case this query is a moot point. The reason I ask is, like the rest of technology-dependent fields, the face of professional photography is changing and shifting at a very rapid pace. With the developments in digital technology, professional photography is not what it used to be five years ago. I'm not at all wanting to discourage you to pursue your dreams...I guess I'm just wondering about your expectations there. Having been a professional photographer for over twenty years I've watched with some personal disillusion at the directions my chosen field has been taking of recent. Pretty much follows the dark path the rest of our "culture" has been taking towards homoginization and cookie-cutter medicocrity. Nothing Orwell missed so many years ago.

Anyway, Brooks is indeed an excellent choice being an outstanding school. I have a BFA from R.I.T. which is also an outstanding school, but a long way from your home. There are many many outstanding and talented pro's out there who never went to photo school, and the lack of the paper was not a deterent. I cannot think of any case where the degree I earned really got me anywhere on face value, though I don't regret the four years by any means. If you have adequate skills presently you can learn a tremendous amount by hiring yourself out as a freelance assistant to other pros. A good assistant in my area (Seattle) makes $ 225/day. Down in your area it's probably a bit more. You will learn far more practical, real-world information from assisting than any school will be able to teach you, IMO.

So, I'm rambling on off-topic here. If you want any more input feel free to ping me off the list. I wish you much success following your dreams.

Marco

Now if I were you I would hold onto my gear until they try to pry it out of my cold dead fingers.

I feel your pain. Financial obligations are forcing me to sell the majority of an expensive system. I am parting with speakers and my amplifier in the hopes of raising $15,000+ to pay some pressing bills. I don't like the idea, but the looming debt is equally unattractive.

Maybe you can just go with a smaller, but still very good monitor, and retain most of what you have grown to love.

Good luck on your degree!

Sounds like you have had some major changes on in your life. Giving up something by choice rather than perceiving it as having been taken away might mean that you are indeed enjoying better days already. The fact that you describe whatever system change you are considering as the dreaded "d" word- as a downgrade, would provoke me to encourage you to reconsider the words you choose to describe change. After all, how much of your old life is being retained in your new surroundings? The old marriage and employment might be at odds with the beach and time and schooling you have included in your life in the time since the changes you described took place. I would suggest that you are simply making appropriate adjustments to the life you are very much in the process of creating. The old system was all that in the life you had- within the limitations of the environment that was created specifically for it. But now you are here-a place apart, and your ears wont lie. Perhaps all that is called upon are modifications- some way to address your systems requirements in this new environment. Nothing seems as extreme as better days when they are placed some place as distant as they are sometimes placed. You know what I mean? If an entirely new system is called upon then it need not necessarily be a lesser system. I hope you wont mind if I say I admire all the positive changes you have made in what must have been a difficult transition. Your post reads to me as from someone who has got a hold of their life and is headed in a direction that makes them happy. You are fortunate and I am happy for you.