Mike, I am retired. At 67 I'm too old to play around, my wife wouldn't let me anyway, so why not model railroading? I stated a few posts back that I work on the layout 4-6 hours a day. This is my fifth layout in this room in 6 1/2 years. So what, they last 13 months or something? I can't help it. I like to build. Some say I'm not bad at scenery at least.
On this layout I've included some small operations this time around. Mainly shuffling ore cars. I've put on the fascia and mounted the NCE panel today. When I get the track finished next week I can see how this DCC works.
I played a senior softball game today and was home by 11. Had a Snickers and put in 4.5 hours on the layout until I went to the hot tub to relax. Typical day for me.
Just a small editorial here: I'm thinking that while I may be an exceptionally fast modeler I've been around these sites long enough to have heard every reason why some folks can't or won't finish their layouts. Some are afraid to finish. Yes, afraid. "If I get it done then what do I do?" That kind of thing. Some folks simply can't work for myriads of reasons, some as esoteric as "my work is crappy, why am I even trying this hobby?" Who knows? In truth I think many of us have road blocks. Maybe even stumbling blocks. Family, money, working, other hobbies, can't wire, can't settle on an era, etc. Me? My simple motivation is one thing. If I start something at my age I don't want to leave it unfinished. Maybe I'm afraid in a way? So I just march along building for myself and others. My big problem will be when this is finished what do I do next? I love HO, but there are few layouts that can go in my half a 10'x11' bedroom. I designed this one myself and maybe I'll keep it awhile then quietly take up motocross or base jumping, something like that. As arthritis creeps into my hands and fingers this layout building is getting tougher all the time. Jim