When the kids leave….you down size but what about the shack!!

As I sit here in the "shack", "radio room" "man cave" it's hard to fathom downsizing also includes the radio room. So what kind of changes am I in for....? The "I love me wall" with all the paper is now going to become the "I love me book", as there is no wall space. The operating desk with 3 monitors and the rigs and "stuff" all spread out is moving to a roll top desk with much less space. My attic fan dipole ( which is down and sold) is now changing to..........well I'm not sure yet.  There is the other part of the hobby I love, the kit building. I have an Elecraft K2 on the go and as I look over my shoulder at my setup for kit building that is going to have to go. I am going to have to use the roll top for double duty. So one may wonder if I am a depressed ham.......NOT AT ALL. It's exciting times here at VE3WDM for sure and I look forward to the challenge!

You know what folks, me and my family have our health which is HUGE to me! Overall we are not doing bad at all so the real big picture is not what is going to happen to ham radio..... that will always be there just in a different way. Each night I watch the news and peoples lives change in ways I could never imagine or handle. As for me my little world it's just a change in ham radio and that is just plane old peanuts!
Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

6 Responses to “When the kids leave….you down size but what about the shack!!”

  • Gord VE3UGG:

    I feel for you Mike. I’m a recently licensed ham and luckily my XYL is pretty good about it all. I’ve taken over the “whole back room” of our modest 2+1 bedroom house (and I dare say, most of the backyard!). This actually IS our “downsized” arrangement lol. Hope all turns out well in your new place.

    73

  • Fred Bernquist AE2DX:

    For years I operated out of a utility shed ( 8ft by 10ft 6 ft high) used here in Florida as a storage shed to store lawn mower and other yard type equipment, I insulated it sheet rocked it,ran power and phone line and installed 70 ft tower along side and operated for years from that location while my 2 children were growing up, once they left the nest I moved into the main house about 100 ft away from my little shack and with the approval of the YL I moved into my sons old bedroom. Had my dream desk made by a carpenter friend ( I cant cut 2 pieces of wood the same length) built my operating desk and had to run (underground) all the antenna tower wires and rotor wires a todal distance of 140 feet to my new man cave but all was done and am very happy with the new location can be seen on http://www.qrz.com all my qsls are hung on the walls this is most defenitly a mans cave hi .

  • Richard KWØU:

    Had exactly the same situation 8 years ago. The wallpaper (except for DXCC and WAZ) went into a filing cabinet in folders arranged in chronological order, and the rig went from a big open desk to a rolltop. It was tight, but manageable. In some ways things ended up better as my outdoor dipole became an attic dipole without periodic weather and tree-related issues (it helped that we went from a river valley to a hilltop too). My XYL has been a good sport, and you’re right–health and family are what really matters.

  • Mike VE3WDM:

    Good morning Gord, I’m sure all is going to be just fine it’s just going to be a new way operating that’s all. I look at it as a challenge. The thing at the moment I miss is getting on the radio now. With all the packing and getting the house ready it’s hard to find radio time. When radio time does come it will be the KX3 and the Alexloop from the living room.
    Mike.

  • Mike VE3WDM:

    Top of the morning to your Fred, very nice desk and is that a pink mouse with the glasses on and I see you are into motorcycles as well. Sounds like a great shack and I bet it was nice to get in from the shack out in the backyard and make you move into the house.
    Mike

  • Mike VE3WDM:

    Morning Richard, for many years I operated with a fan dipole in the attic and your right there is something to be said for not having the antenna exposed to weather. I am already planning how all my gear is going to fit into the roll top desk. It really does not look that bad.
    Thanks for stopping by the blog and taking the time to comment.
    Mike

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