I find myself "tuning out" anymore.....is the magic fading?

I've been in and out of this pursuit since around 1970. There have been periods of my life where I didn't even have a system set up, though I stored the gear and LPs. I don't subscribe to, or read, the audio magazines any more, though there were periods early on when I was an avid reader. And there were times when I was consumed by the hobby in the process of improving a system, doing big home theater systems in my homes using projection (starting in the early '90s). 

My current main system started pretty much from scratch in around 2006-7 and the core of that system remains in place. I set up a vintage system based around several components I owned since the early to mid '70s. 

Much of my attention in the last decade plus has been focused on jazz from the early '70s--more the spiritual or astral stuff and soul jazz rather than "straight ahead" material, though I'm a fan of Art Pepper. 

I'd say it's normal for interest to wax and wane. Most of us are gear heads and get caught up in the sonics for their own sake--to me that's a trap and the analytic part of listening for improvements (some changes are just "different," not necessarily "better") detracts from taking in the music for its own sake. That said, I have musical preferences that change over time, and it's nice when the sonics of a recording/pressing bring out the best in a recorded performance. 

Don't worry, life doesn't stay the exact same. Just give your attention to things you do enjoy. Then maybe in a while the audio thing will have more meaning again for you. 

I go through upgrade cycles. Frenetic activity... research, testing, purchasing, burning in, tweaking... then bliss. Bliss is listening without yearning for a new piece of equipment... knowledge that I have a fully optimized system on the forefront of best possible system at the state of technology / financial ability.

In the old days, I just could not wait for the new album, or coffee in the morning with a couple hours of music. Evenings, similar. No thought other than enjoyment of the music.

While I would continue to monitor Stereophile, and The Absolute Sound... but with casual interest. Years would pass. My financial condition would improve and slowly my interest in the next upgrade cycle would slowly emerge. For a year before, I would scan the magazines at a greater depth and interest. The I would begin the upgrade cycle.

Over time I have found the urge ceases me about every seven to ten years. They cycles take about two years.  In between, musical bliss.

Sounds to me like you've simply gotten off the merry go round that is CONSTANTLY being pushed in our hobby...Now instead of focusing on gear,it's time to seek out new & exciting music..At 65 y/o I am amazed at the world of new music my Pandora subscription has opened up to me..

Yep. I "finished" in 1996. Restarted now because one component decided it was no longer playing nice with the rest (50 Hz humming on one channel - only when connected to a specific pre-amp), so needed a new DAC. And now, the anxiety over 'do I need a subwoofer'? Or 'are my amp/pre/speakers/transport still good enough?' 'What about streaming?'

Enough already. I'm enjoying reading (some of) the posts on the forum, and some of the conversations, but I'm not willing to relapse into upgraditis.