Not observing is really hard.

[Emperor!Takahashi!]

A year ago, I moved to London. In many ways, living here has been lovely. But it has come with a deep sense of loss because I left behind relatively dark skies, and I have only been able to observe a few times in the past year. Partially, this is due to the exceedingly cloudy weather that many here have commented on over the past several months. However, for me, relentless work-related stress has tired me to an extent that I've never before experienced, leaving me without an ounce of energy to enjoy the clear nights. Also, I live in a flat complex that makes observing an exhausting ordeal. There's a rooftop that I can access, but only after passing through five heavy doors that require two keys, plus taking a lift, plus carrying everything up two flights of stairs. Even with a light setup, two trips are necessary to move the equipment safely. All of that, and then the rooftop "closes" at midnight.

I've missed the night sky more than I've ever missed a place on Earth.

I have a job interview coming up that could result in me moving to a place where stargazing again becomes a central part of my life. Just the possibility has me wildly elated... so much so that I took possession of a new Takahashi OTA, and two more are coming soon 🤣 So, please send me good vibes... if not for my sake, at least for the poor Takahashis that deserve a steady diet of starlight.

I don't think I'm alone in feeling that this isn't just a "hobby" for me. For all of us who feel this way, may we enjoy the profound gift of clear, dark skies.

[bosun21]

Good luck with your job interview.

[Elp]

I think for a lot of us it makes for a fine escape and it's good when you can get out and observe/image but for the majority of us it is just that, a hobby and other factors in our lives at the time take priority. The sky will always be there (hopefully).

Whether you stay put or move elsewhere, perhaps look at your equipment and make it easier to "transport". For the setups I'm more likely to use I've made sure from the start that each one fits into one bag/backpack (and perhaps a CF tripod in hand, usually my cables/computer controller bag is modular so I can take out of one and put into another bag), easily carriable on back (even though they can be heavy, far easier than hand hauling and leaves my hands free).

[josefk]

Good luck with the interview @Emperor!Takahashi!! all the best...

[inedible_hulk]

🍀 Good luck @Emperor!Takahashi! 🍀

[ST_Steve]

Such a shame that you aren’t able to observe as I find this to be one of the best things to offset the stresses of daily life.

The levels of stress you describe certainly need to be addressed.

Wishing you all the best for your upcoming interview.

[jjohnson3803]

Good luck with the interview!  If I could move to darker skies, I certainly would.  Unfortunately, that's not in the cards anytime soon, so I count the days until I can get to a dark site for an evening.

.

[robbie c]

Good luck hope it goes well for you 

[Nikolai De Silva]

Good luck @Emperor!Takahashi!! We are moving to darker skies in the next weeks. We are now under poluted skies and I am loving to move out! Hope that you'll get the job where you can make the sky a part of your life.

Good luck with your interview! 👍

Nikolai. 

[Nicola Fletcher]

Wishing you the very best of luck with your interview @Emperor!Takahashi!!

I also used to work in London in a stressful job. While I loved London, I also didn’t really observe there although I had the benefit of weekend trips back home to the dark skies at my family home. Getting out for some quiet time under the stars is very important to me, and I hope you find a fulfilling job that gets you back under dark skies.

[Emperor!Takahashi!]

I sincerely thank everyone for the incredibly kind wishes and the supportive "likes." They truly meant a lot to me.

And I'm so pleased to share an update: I got the job! 

🎇🌜🌛🌟

Soon, I'll say goodbye to London, England and hello to Cork, Ireland. I've already connected with a few fellow stargazers in Ireland thanks to SGL 🤩

Thank you, again, everyone,

Emperor Takahashi

Edited July 3 by Emperor!Takahashi!

[Norris Adams]

Well done indeed!

Good luck with the house hunting...I'm guessing wide vistas and minimal urban lighting will be on the wish list!

Norris

[Tony Acorn]

Work / life balance is so important to your health.

Now into my fourth quarter century, I find it amazing how many people seem to suffer from stress. In my working life, starting as a Marine Engineer, we worked 4 on, 8 off (if we were very lucky) 7 daya a week for up to 10 1/2 months at a time. When, towards the end of my career, I was working with German companies doing installations and commissioning systems around the world, 12 hour days 6 days a week were common-place.

The UK has seen a continual decline in overall productivity and output for many years so I wonder just where all the effort people are expending is actually going? Something has clearly gone wrong.

I do hope that you find peace and balance in Cork Emporer!Takahashi! and that it doesn't turn out to be another blind alley. At least you will have a cleaner environment than London (if Cork is still the city it was last time I was there). Congratulations and enjoy it.

Tony
 

 

 

[josefk]

Excellent development @Emperor!Takahashi! i bet you're stoked 👍

[Saganite]

I have only just seen this thread and  I am pleased for you.  I moved from a town to a village eleven years ago and the Bortle four sky has made a huge difference to my enjoyment.

Keep posting from your new location...

[Rob]

Good to hear indeed!. Good luck with it all

[JeremyS]

Congratulations @Emperor!Takahashi!!

[dweller25]

Congrats and best wishes for the new job/home/lifestyle 👍🙂

[Gonariu]

Congratulations on the new job. I agree with what you said for astronomical observation from a city. Until the age of 36 I lived in Cagliari which, with its hinterland (a whole series of smaller towns attached) must have had around 300,000 inhabitants. For about twenty years I have lived on the outskirts of a small town of 1800 inhabitants in central Sardinia and it is something else.

[JAC51]

And  another 👍

Ireland is beautiful 

And I hope some clearer sky's for all of us.