Regrets

[Joey Ketcham]

Ever do things in your life that you regret and wish you could go back and change?

Man am I ever feeling that now. Last year I had one hell of a setup for storm chasing. I had a laptop with GPS, I had the WX Worx system, a laptop stand for my car.

It was awesome having such information all right there at the tip of my fingers.

Of course in hopes of getting out of debt I sold everything. Now as the storm season approaches I regret selling everything and not being able to have my laptop, GPS, or radar (Wx Worx) while on the road.

I'm figuring out ways to cope with this.. any suggests? :?:

 

[David Young]

I think you're to be commended for making a sacrifice in order to get out of debt. Most people would rather complain about their bills than do something about them. Were you successful?

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Exactly, and now that I'm out of debt I want it all back... lol. It's good to be out though, I will find ways of coping without all of it - heck I did for 6+ years before I ever had a laptop.

I'll someday get a standalone GPS unit from Best Buy, I can use libraries to obtain current data and such. So I should be able to survive.

 

[John Diel]

Joey,

My family and I have worked hard to keep out of debt. It's certainly a very nice feeling when you don't have the big bills hanging over your head. Don't worry, the opportunity will arise and you will be able to gain things back.

The only "real" debt we have is our house (Payments less than most rent prices) and my wife's car (Dang near done with those payments too!). Everything else is incidental expenses (medical is the primary gimme).

Keep it up! You'll be glad you did.

 

[Bill Hamilton]

You could get a smaller laptop and USB Delorme GPS to start out with. Don't charge them on the credit cards though. Just something to get you started again.

 

[Tim Stoecklein]

Joey,

I agree with everyone else in the fact that you certainly did the right thing. It's easy to get caught up in the equipment that seem to make things easier, but that equipment is costly for sure.

I've thought about getting some GPS software, WX Works, and something to pull data to my laptop for this year, but I think I'm going to wing it with paper maps and eyeballs. I have a few other hobbies that are in need of equipment now too, and I can work this year with what I have as far as chasing goes. I am DEFINITELY NOT putting down the efforts of those with equipment when I say this, but it can be a more rewarding challenge when you get down to the bare bones. Look at it that way.

We can have a "shootout" with our cell phones, paper maps, and cameras :wink:

Tim

 

[Jason Boggs]

I'll someday get a standalone GPS unit from Best Buy

Joey, before I bought the pocket PC from you, I bought a standalone GPS unit from Best Buy and it was terrible. It had a small screen and the road detail was terrible. It was the Garmin Quest model. By the way, it also cost 550 big ones! Just thought you might want to know.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

I'll someday get a standalone GPS unit from Best Buy

Joey, before I bought the pocket PC from you, I bought a standalone GPS unit from Best Buy and it was terrible. It had a small screen and the road detail was terrible. It was the Garmin Quest model. By the way, it also cost 550 big ones! Just thought you might want to know.

Thanks Jason, forget that then. I think I'll just grab a cheap laptop and use it.

 

[Shane Adams]

Ever do things in your life that you regret and wish you could go back and change?

Man am I ever feeling that now. Last year I had one hell of a setup for storm chasing. I had a laptop with GPS, I had the WX Worx system, a laptop stand for my car.

It was awesome having such information all right there at the tip of my fingers.

Of course in hopes of getting out of debt I sold everything. Now as the storm season approaches I regret selling everything and not being able to have my laptop, GPS, or radar (Wx Worx) while on the road.

I'm figuring out ways to cope with this.. any suggests? :?:

My suggestion is to quit worrying about the toys, and get out there and chase some storms. I am truly amazed at how crippling the gadget effect is becoming on many chasers; there's a lot of people out there who'd be lost without it all. I've chased my entire career without a laptop, mapping software, or live info. The most I've ever used is a scanner and a nowcaster, and I don't always have a nowcaster. I've seen tornadoes with nothing but AM/FM radio. It's harder, granted, but it's possible.

Toys are more of a luxury than a neccesity IMO, and being so down about not having the gadgets is a very bad thing IMO. Thinking you need technology to chase storms is a seriously debilitating issue. Then again, I've never been able to afford toys, so I had no choice but to learn how to chase without them.

I don't regret that at all.

 

[Amos Magliocco]

My suggestion is to quit worrying about the toys, and get out there and chase some storms. .

I'm a serious gadget head but I agree with everything my friend Shane has said. Lacking all the various bells and whistles will only make you a better chaser and sharpen your sky-reading skills and environmental instincts. You'll see more stuff, weather-related and otherwise (think of how much time you used to spend staring at the monitor) and probably have a more relaxed chase for not worrying about what data you've forgotten to examine.

I admit an addiction to the various data streams, partly because I think technology is cool and mostly because I love forecasting, and so if I can haul the forecasting gear around with me all the time, I do. But I'm trying to wean myself off various products and displays and radio waves this year.

I think it's legitimate to consider if all the toys actually blunt your instinct, or at least 'interfere' with your reception of the various data coming from all around you in the air and sky. I'm not being metaphysical here---imagine the broadband pipe that would be necessary to transmit all the information contained in your sensory exam of the atmosphere while standing outside. Is it smart to ignore that in favor of a 56k connection? I have begun to think it is very unwise, personally.

I'm hoping XM will eliminate the urge to constantly reconnect to the internet or find a library or that sort of thing. I figure if I can get away from the WiFi access point or the cell tower or library, and find some dusty forgotten intersection, then I'm moving in the right direction in terms of what chasing should feel like.

Don't worry about not having those things. You don't need them. Shane and others are proof that they are not necessary for success. Dust off the maps, make sure your car radio antenna is screwed in tight, maybe grab a little NOAA reciever, and follow the inflow.

 

[Mike Peregrine]

Chasing without all the stuff can be more rewarding. The only truly most important gadget to take with you is a camera, and other than that there are many other ways of gathering information. If a person truly learns to chase from visual signs first, then they will always be able to get great storms later, gadgets or not. My biggest thing when it comes to the use of all the toys is that they can be nice at times, but should never become a crutch for a person.

 

[Tony Laubach]

I've got to second, third, and forth those comments. I, too, am a toy junkie, and how many people can incorporate so many of the things they love into one hobby! While I'm still closer to the middle of the pack in terms of gadgets, I do enjoy the mix I have when chasing. This year, my most advanced piece of equipment would probably be my GPS. Outside of that, I have only a laptop and various radios. Libraries, WiFi, and cell phone are still on my list, and quite honestly, have added to my chasing experience! But as mentioned, you equipment (or lack thereof) should not be a crutch! If you enjoy your toys, then enjoy them, but don't forget, you're out there to catch a storm, not just play with your toys. If something happens, the sky still sings and as long as you can listen, you should still be able to enjoy everything about the weather minus all the electric radiation! So basically, no regrets!

 

[Glen Romine]

This is all so true. I have some gadgets, but actually rarely use them. Of course - life doesn't allow me to chase every event that comes up. But, I'd say when the lack of gadgets gets you down, occupy your time by finding directions to libraries across the parts of the country that you often chase. Libraries are an invaluable resource - and are free - for getting weather updates when you are uncertain where to be. A good nowcaster can put you in the right place - but learning to put yourself there on your own through careful map analysis is more rewarding and keeps your nowcaster from blocking your phone number. If you haven't already done so, go through Tim's chase cases - and you'll probably surprise yourself when you get through them all how well you really can do in picking a target region without using any technology as a crutch.

http://www.weathergraphics.com/edu/chase1/index.htm

Further, now when you go out chasing - you'll get to enjoy the view out the window instead of staring at a computer screen. You may actually find chasing more enjoyable without the gadgets.

Glen

 

[Jason Boggs]

I have always been a bare bones chaser. I have chased hard for 5 years now and all I have ever used are cameras, paper maps, a NOAA radio, and updates from the meteorologist from the station I chase for. This year I will be going solo 90% of the time. Instead of flipping through maps while trying to drive, I now have a pocket pc with Delorme GPS street atlas on it. This little "toy" was pretty much a must have item for this year. It will make my navigation much easier so I can focus my attention on other things. Other than that, I don't need the laptop or the high priced weather software that some chasers are carrying these days. Like Shane, I couldn't afford these high-tech toys even if I wanted them!

 

[Jeff Miller]

well

I work as a sales representative for a major computer company, but I don't chase with a laptop.. our equipment is a cell phone to keep in contact with a reputable, radar-knowledgable nowcaster when one is around, a NOAA weather radio, my car radio, and a good atlas. We may not have caught 30+ tornadoes in one season as some of the chasers with gadgets have (and I SINCERELY applaud those who have scored 30+ tornadoes without gadgetry, thats true weather instinct in the blood there), but I find it is so much more rewarding to chase without gadgetry. Ive been tempted to get into the fancy stuff, but then, as others posted above, Ive missed the show. Some of our most rewarding chases (example: May 16, 2004) were done without laptops, just choosing the target (in that case, O Neill), and sticking with it and getting there at the right time. That day netted a tornado, a gustnado, several wall clouds, breathtaking storm structure, among other things. Other chases (May 7, 2003 and June 9, 2003 in particular) stand out from the rest. Its just more rewarding to go at it with just the basics. Just my two cents