Time to take a break...

[roveer]

So I've been lurking. Contributing to posts when I find something I can add to. But I've stopped posting my pictures. Why? Well, its gotten kind of old.

At this point, I've decided to take a break from gambling. Times are tighter, I don't have the income to keep my massive sessions going and to be honest, It's not as much fun as it used to be. I find myself more easily annoyed at the level of service (read lack there of), from my AC hosts and establishments. I'm in a bit of a slump as far as results go. Of course when I look at my W2G's I've got just as many in 2014 as prior years so I'm guessing this is just a dry spell, but things are starting to add up and there's no good reason for me at this time to keep playing the way I do. That would truly be the definition of insanity.

One of my favorite attendants came to me on Wednesday and told me he was retiring. I felt good and bad. For many years both him and his wife worked the graveyard shift as attendants. Can you imagine doing that for years and years. Now he's going to get back to some kind of normalcy and see his grand kids during the day. I wish him well. On the flip side, it was one more person that I enjoyed seeing and talking to that I will no longer see. This gave me the idea of "retiring" too. Then I got to thinking. Don't call it retiring if you don't mean it. And I will likely come back to gambling when things are different.

I've got to get some things in order. The economy of my lively hood has changed over the past several years so I have to adapt to those changes. I started using gambling as a release from life's stresses. I even started making excuses (even if only to myself) why I wanted to go gambling. The final straw was when I sat back and realized that I really didn't enjoy it as much and it was becoming it's own point of stress. That's no good.

So I'm going to take a break. Don't get me wrong. I've earned quite a bit in terms of comps for 2014 and will take advantage of everything I've earned. But until things have been put back in-line in other parts of my life I feel it's prudent to stay away from gambling for a while.

We'll see how things go in the months to come.

Wondering why I'm posting this silly tale? In the hopes that it resonates with others who might find themselves in a similar situation and where gambling in whatever form it takes for them is no longer a good thing, but a bad thing. I'm right at the tipping point, some may say I'm past the tipping point, but for me it's the right time. I'm also sharing in the hopes that this thread will initiate discussion about gambling or over gambling. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has had to deal with similar issues.

I pretty much knew from the start that there would be a beginning, middle and end to my gambling. Most of you know exactly what I'm talking about. Some never know and and eventually pay the ultimate price. I'd rather see one good result every few months even if it means I don't play nearly as much as I'd like to rather than watching things spiral into huge life changing events. Nobody wants to see that happen.

When things get "normal" again. I'll decide if and how I'd like to come back to gambling. It is something I enjoy, but not the way I'm doing it now.

I'll still be around, contributing and complaining as I always have.

Good luck to you all.

Roveer

[mendon]

Nice post Roveer.. I totally understand what you are saying.. and this sounds like a good thing to do.. wish you all the best..it has been ugly out there and it is time to find other hobbies Mendon

[BillyJoe]

I wish you all the best, Roveer. I, myself, have begun to cycle more to table games from VP, since the VP successes have not been there all that often. I still enjoy the gaming trips very much, and as with you, will exploit the comps that I have earned. Going forward, though, the table games seem to be more productive for me.

[Tedlark]

  Well said roveer. You owe the forum no apologies or explanations but, rather it is us that owe you for the contributions you have made to our lives.     Recharge your batteries and dip a toe back into the video poker water whenever you feel comfortable enough to do so. Ted

[phnxnmartini]

All the best Roveer! I have enjoyed your posts and pictures!

[doris13]

you're a smart man roveer,take a break and when you're ready to play again you will.

[jetermacaw]

Best to you Roveer, I have always enjoyed your posts and loved looking at those great pics, maybe sometime in the future we can have a drink at Harrahs.

[olds442jetaway]

Best of luck Roveer and very well said!!! Hope you will chime in many times on the posts.

[UptightTO]

I'm won't say I'll never play video poker again..because never is a long time...but like Roveer..the game was causing as much stress and I was trying to relieve playing it.

[wildman49]

Good Luck Roveer , I am going to miss them big hit photo's! Love to see hits from people, keeps you going in a dry spell knowing it still can happen. I been thinking of going back to roulette, slower pace then playing 600 hands an hour, and more relaxing.