Keep equipement or trade?

Hey Yioryos, how are you doing? How are things in Canada?

Yes, about your ZERO question. I'd always had an affinity for audio equipment since I was a kid, but discovering Audiogon over four years ago has completely changed my approach and outlook on what is possible with 2 channel music systems.

My problem is that I have other interests to distract me as well, and I often get on these intense researching and buying kicks for short periods of time. Cars, comics, watches, woodworking, history books, blah, blah, blah. And of course, curvy, olive and brown skin women.

I am the type that would buy a state of the art system or at least the best I could afford and keep it forever. But unfortunately, I can't stay off the boards so I get the upgrade bugs.

I grow attached to people, dealers (I prefer to be a one store kind of guy if possible), environment, and equipment etc. So in the perfect world, I would simply keep all the gear even when I'm not using it (I have all my old gaming systems). But I've made a concious, although perhaps unwise decision to spend my money now. Because I know that when I get married, I will never get a chance to be the audiophile that I am now.

What is it with newly married audiophiles? I see one guy just got married so he's selling a pair od Dynaudio S5.4's that he's had for only 3 months. He's also selling McCormack amp/preamp that he's owned for less than 2 months! Why? Didn't he know he was going to get married? This isn't unusual, I've seen it before. The funny part is that many times the equipment lasts longer than the marriage.

Howie, why do you feel that when you get married your chance to be an audiophile is over?

Enjoying audio equipment isn't like drinking, smoking and sex. I gave all that up when I got married. My audiophile card is as strong as ever, even after more than 20 years of wedded bliss (an oxymoron).
Audiophile is in the blood. You can only lie to yourself for so long. I do make some aesthetic concessions to my wife, but the value of my equipment contines to grow.
Invest wisely, upgrade wisely and you'll be amazed what kind of system you'll have in 25 years. My system now is so much better than when I got married that it's not even comparable. I have more $$$ in power cords now than my whole system cost while single.

It's not that getting married makes you wealthy. It's because my OTHER expenditures have gone away. Living the high life as a single man is exciting, but can be expensive. I don't spend as much nowadays on cars, trips, socializing, etc.
That money I save by not buying the new 'Vette or taking the trips to Vegas, can be funneled into other areas like home improvements including electronic upgrades.

Getting married isn't the end of the quest, for many of us, it's a beginning.

Jmcgrogan2 and the rest of you, please go to my system page at mitch4t and look at the last photo on my page.

If you follow the capton in the photo, that will prevent the selling off of audio equipment prior to marriage.

mitch

Jmcgrogan2. Besides the financial issue of raising your kids and saving up for education and retirement, I just can't imagine myself marrying a wife that would let me have a dedicated room where I can sit for hours (even an hour or two) without being disturbed and just listen to music, while she is off doing something else. At least not for the first few years of marriage, or unless I make enough money or until after the kids are grown up. There is just no way I can be as carefree as I am now. It's something I expect. But I'm saying all this with my long-time girlfriend in mind. It is my belief that every relationship/marriage works differently.

As for people selling off their newly bought gear soon after they got married. I just see so many factors involved. It could be because he/she found that he just doesn't have the time anymore to listen and so they're unused. Or because they understimated the expenditures needed (perhaps they just moved into a new house or their wife quit the job to stay home etc.) I don't mean to sound grim because that is not my intention. But for most of us, it is going to be a new environment with new commitments and really require some real sacrifices that can at times be daunting. Perhaps I like to prepare for the worst possible scenario so it's usually better than expected. I definitely don't want to be surprised and have my marriage end badly. Honestly, I'm thinking that if you want your wife to stay home, you'll have to devote more time to her. If she has her own hobbies and life, you can do your own thing more often, but you might complain that she's never home. Always a tradeoff no?