Well at age 75 I aim to keep my mind active. I don't have a layout right now but I plan to start one this fall, at present I have enough challenges to become mentally fatigued.
Now journalists, critics nay Sayers can express it any way they please and I really could care less except for how the effects their negativism affects others.
With regard stupid remarks from journalists I believe the following takes the Boobie prize
At the retirement of what was left of a fleet of fighter aircraft (that never should have been purchased) the journalist who covered the event stated that the aircraft was
fondly called the "
Widow maker" by those who flew them. I found this quite interesting as I knew pilots who sat at their desk jobs and were terrified they'd be called to fly them. Some were called and perished in the crash.
The name was attached after quite a few of them went in along with their pilots leaving not too few widows behind. So much for the journalists researching the material before they open their mouths and stick their foot into it.
At my age I have a choice, use my mind for challenging tasks to ward off dementia, or to vegetate and let dementia claim me until I have no idea of who I am and what my hands are for. As a board member of a local Manor I personally saw people much younger than myself in the dementia ward, it certainly left an impressive but a very unsettling memory for me.
A couple of little stories, then I'll shut up, I promise
A brother in law was a law enforcement officer. He retired healthy and without problems a few years back. Each day down to the coffee shop and tak shop with the old pals. However the old pals retired and new LEO's took their place, then he was alone. His job and family were everything to him no hobbies. The short story is now he cannot recognize who is who in his own family. It's my belief a hobby such as Model Rail could have prevented or certainly warded off the dementia for a much longer time. The man is younger than I am, I feel very sorry for my sister and the family.
We have L,E.O,'s on this forum who are very active in the hobby and I'm darn sure they won't be suffering the same fate.
I can recall back in the 60's a co worker who told us of his purchase of model engines (brass steamers none the less, and I could have got them for a pittance) I had no interest and thought I'd have a bit of fun and asked him if he wore a RR cap while running his trains. His reply " matter of fact, Yes" end of fun (he couldn't care less what anyone thought and it was all forgotten.
Well as I remember the price of those brass steamers was $20 to $30 each
and I could have had all of them, silly me eh!
SO! be proud of what you do, your hobby may just be the best medicine in the world for you. There is absolutely nothing shameful about the hobby except denying participation in it.
Cheers
Willis