"Jon Isaacs" wrote in message
...
Know all of you have had this same dilemma in the past....

Too late now but in your situation, I would probably just take a scope out
for
an hour or so and then hit the sack.

jon

For future reference... me too. Some events are worth trashing yourself
over, but they are few and far between, and although it may seem so over the
course of a year, a clear sky isn't really one of them, given a lifetime. I
go all out once every season when the conditions are good at sometime during
new moon week, and then I'm good until the next season (the reason I like
having DSCs). The early spring and late summer are sublime when those
conditions are met.

As for the short sessions, I'll never forget how much I enjoyed one early
October morning in 2001, when it was in the mid-50's F (unseasonably warm).
Orion was in the southeast and Jupiter was overhead. There was a tropical
feel to the air, and the seeing was excellent. All I had out was my little
ST80, a barlow, one low and one high power eyepiece. M42 stood up well, and
although encased in the violet fringe of the F5 achromat, Jupiter looked
sweet. But more importantly was just how good it felt to be outside for the
hour before sunrise in such pleasant conditions.

Hobbies were invented because people need mini-vacations. If the conditions
aren't right, it isn't worth it. I've forced myself out enough times to know
that if it's forced, it just isn't fun. On a related note, I met my new
neighbor (I'm new to the neighborhood), he's building a 1932 Ford coupe from
the ground up using aftermarket parts. It's his hobby. He's currently got
the frame rails, wheels and suspension in place and a 350CI Chevy small
block on an engine stand. He said it was going to take him 5 years to
complete.

Relax.

Stephen Paul
Shirley, MA