I think you do have to carve out the time an make it a priority…easier said than done.
Of all the events, the timing of the Southern just works with my schedule. By the time June comes around I am in boat mode and while I will shoot clays locally on occasion in the summer I am really not the Parker addict I am in the winter/spring.
I am usually traveling from the Northeast. I’ll take Thursday and Friday off then work a full day on Wednesday and drive at least half the way that night. Show up around 10ish on Thursday morning. I will leave around 1 or 2 on Saturday and drive straight home, I will get in late, but have all day Sunday with my family.
That gives me time to:
- Shoot each of the 3 days I am there(usually with friends)
- Go to the Parker Banquet Dinner on Friday night
- Pick up and drop off guns that need work
- Check out guns that I never get to see(ask questions and learn)
- Catch up with people on the forum and others
- Leave looking forward to next year
A great experience for just taking 2 days off work!
On the original question about having money to buy Parkers. I have found that a Parker doesn’t have to be a high grade gun to make me smile. It is easy for me to fall in love with just about any hammer gun. I like twist and stub twist barrels. I don’t believe you need a lot of money to find a lower grade gun your proud of and use a lot.
I don’t like a gun that is so nice I am afraid to use it. Both in grade and/or condition. I have had those, used them once or twice and then sold them 3-5 years later because they were just sitting in the safe. I do have a few higher grades that I cherish and use that I planned/budgeted for and I would call most of them keepers. Though I think I would surprise a lot of folks if I listed the few guns in my collection that would be the last to go.
So to the OP I think this “addiction” can be reasonable if you find out what works for you and get creative when you need to.
Threaded Mode