More interesting finds in my Lab tidy up - By Fraser

[woodchips]

My goodness! You have been spending money.

Good luck with the selling via ebay, wonder how much will actually sell? One thing I discovered is that it is far easier to buy on ebay than sell, the other person has to do the packing!

Still wonder how you managed to fit it all in a house?

[TerraHertz]

This thread is like a treadmill for the philosophical muscles. All the nice test equipment, and me with no money at all atm. It's either cultivate a detached attitude, or burst into tears. Despite already having my own 'too much stuff' problem.
Ah well, that's life.


Fraser, one thing worries me. Why are you retiring so early, if you don't mind me asking?
Hope it's not a health issue. It doesn't sound like you are retiring due to having a vault full of money.
Sorry if you've mentioned the reason before, and I missed (or forgot) it.

[Fraser]

Wilfred,

Thank you for your Sage words. eBay gives everybody interested an opportunity to own the kit that I no longer need. It also removes the problem of setting a fair selling price as you say. As a hardened buyer, rather than seller, it is actually very hard for me to set selling prices as that involves research on current values. I would rather set a minimum and let others set the value. I cannot think of anything fairer than that and I cannot then be accused of overpricing kit which is not my intention. I may have to pay fees etc but at least it takes the pressure off of me.

For those who seem surprised at the amount of kit I have accumulated..... remember I am 48 and have been working in electronics since age 7.... that is a lot of time to accumulate kit ! With regard to storage space.... it has been tight ! My bachelor pad was a three bedroom house + Garden lab, with just me in it  I married a wonderful girl and we live in a four bedroom house. Two guest bedrooms remain spotless fro guests and the 'office' has a mixture of computer, electronic and thermal camera technology in its cupboards. A double garage, Deluxe Garden Office and large garden shed provide the storage space for the kit.

Removing the excess equipment from storage has been very cathartic and I am pleased to have got on top of the situation. My lab has never looked so tidy and spacious except when first built 10 years ago !

It will also be good to recover some of the money invested in all the equipment. What I have detailed here and in other threads detailing my clear-out is only around 30% of the kit I have......a clear out was long overdue. I could be a retail outlet with all the stock I hold !

For those thinking I have ore money than sense....maybe.... but my hobby kept me sane when I had a VERY demanding and responsible job. For that it was worth every penny. I have not spent as much as some may think on the kit. I have a knack for finding amazing bargains, buying kit with faults and repairing them. I did spend a lot of money on thermal imaging but that is in more recent times when I was earning more.

Fraser

[Fraser]

TerraHertz,

Sadly my early retirement is due to health issues. I got very ill 5 years ago and after recovering was left with M.E. (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) for the last 4 years. I was working a 16 hour week due to the M.E but was burning myself out trying to achieve what others do in a 42 hour week. As already stated, I had an important specialist role so my management were willing to accept any hours that I could offer them without complaint. They were a good employer and wanted to hold on to my skill set.

I decided it was better to retire in order to concentrate on my health. Without that you have no quality of life. I am very pleased to say that after 15 months away form the 'pressure cooker' of my previous role I have seen significant improvement in my health, hence my ability to carry out the major clear-out  You could say that this is the start of a new and hopefully wonderful chapter in my life now that i know what is important. For me that is .... my wonderful Wife, Family, Health, pets, and friends, with my hobbies the lowest priority, as such are nothing without the joy created by the more important elements of life.

I may do some part time consultancy work in due course depending upon how my health continues to improve. I am in the enviable position of being retired at 48 with decent finances and able to choose if I want to do some part time consultancy work. For me that is a pretty good lifestyle.

We shall see 

Thanks for taking an interest 

Fraser

[Fraser]

More excellent advice from you Wilfred. love the idea of packing materials from shops.... I have several that  know will help on that front 

You never know, I might end up enjoying ebay selling and becoming an ebay trader 

Best Wishes and THANK YOU 

Fraser

[KJDS]

More excellent advice from you Wilfred. love the idea of packing materials from shops.... I have several that  know will help on that front 

You never know, I might end up enjoying ebay selling and becoming an ebay trader 

Best Wishes and THANK YOU 

Fraser

Having spent the last few years doing that, I can only recommend that you avoid it.

[Brumby]

EBay is a double edged sword.  It treats sellers with disdain and buyers as saints.  The saving grace for many is the products in which they deal attract buyers with greater moral fibre.

However, with such an awareness and suitable precautions it can be a worthwhile endeavour.


As for the kit I see in your photos - I can but sigh. There are several things that I could happily add to my bench - but justification would be difficult, even for bargain prices.

It is good to hear your health has responded well to the change of direction.  Health and family are the main things of worth in life.

[nanofrog]

I am very pleased to say that after 15 months away form the 'pressure cooker' of my previous role I have seen significant improvement in my health, hence my ability to carry out the major clear-out 

Nice to hear you're doing better. Hope your health continues to improve to full recovery, and enjoy the time with your family.

Hopefully, EEVBlog & a less cluttered bench to work on will help keep you enjoyably occupied in electronics.   

[TerraHertz]

TerraHertz,

Sadly my early retirement is due to health issues. I got very ill 5 years ago and after recovering was left with M.E. (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) for the last 4 years. I was working a 16 hour week due to the M.E but was burning myself out trying to achieve what others do in a 42 hour week.

Sorry to hear that.
About chronic fatigue syndrome, I hope you are actively researching causes and treatments yourself? Not just assuming doctors will know what they are doing, and will be acting in your interests as opposed to the pharmaceutical industry's interests.
Google chronic fatigue syndrome mitochondria damage, for starters. Were you aware of the connection between CFS and mitochondrial impairment? As for potential causes of damage to mitochondria, there are many.
Then google anticholinergic medications mitochondria.   Recall the medications used when you were ill 5 years ago, and google them re known mitochondrial damage.

Plenty of surprises. Here's one surprise I came across recently: http://www.naturalnews.com/053835_OTC_medication_cognitive_impairment_anticholinergic_drugs.html

I decided it was better to retire in order to concentrate on my health. Without that you have no quality of life.

Entirely agree. Or no life at all, if you push yourself too hard.
 
I hope you fully recover.  Best to remember that doctors and the medical industry are not really interested in 'curing' anyone. Better for them to keep patients just well enough to keep paying the bills.

[CJay]

Plenty of surprises. Here's one surprise I came across recently: http://www.naturalnews.com/053835_OTC_medication_cognitive_impairment_anticholinergic_drugs.html

I've read a lot of your posts, blog and website and have an amount of respect for your knowledge in certain fields but that website needs Dave's bullshit button applying loudly and repeatedly.

[TerraHertz]

... but that website needs Dave's bullshit button applying loudly and repeatedly.

Naturalnews.com?

Care to be specific? What issues they cover do you consider to be bullshit? Considering they cover a huge range of topics, it's hard to guess what you're complaining about.  Are you proposing that mention of the site should not be permitted at all?
Of course, as with all websites one should *always* apply commonsense filtering.

[CJay]

... but that website needs Dave's bullshit button applying loudly and repeatedly.

Naturalnews.com?

Care to be specific? What issues they cover do you consider to be bullshit? Considering they cover a huge range of topics, it's hard to guess what you're complaining about.  Are you proposing that mention of the site should not be permitted at all?
Of course, as with all websites one should *always* apply commonsense filtering.

While I agree completely that common sense filter needs to be engaged, the kind of rubbish they're spouting makes me feel I wouldn't trust anything they said.

They're anti vax, electrosensitive, homeopathic loons, articles claiming links between electrosensitivity and all sorts of dreadful afflictions, diabetes, autism, cancer,  for instance.

Articles like this (and many, many others):

http://www.naturalnews.com/022926.html

which claim using halogen lights is bad for your health and fluorescents shouldn't be used because they've got mercury in them reveals how ridiculous they are.

Oh, but by some happy coincidence, they happen to sell all sorts of products that can help you mitigate the effects of today's 'toxic' environment.

I call bullshit.

[AF6LJ]

Thanks for sharing very cool Thread.