Just venting/complaining

[bullin82 0]

So i have come to the conclusion that skydiving is the best thing man (the race not sex) has stumbled upon and i hope to learn the most i can of the sport before im old and broken (somewhere at the age of 90 or so).

The thing is though i cant get enough of the sport i dont think ill fit in with the social group, since for me it takes time to open up to people and relax my brain when it has a goal it focuses on that and nothing else until complete then it wants to improve the efficiency and use of everything, which i then tend to alienate everyone.

Also the DZ i go to i feel welcomed but with mixed feelings like people there just tolerate me being there but i get the feeling that im more of an inconvinience to them since i am unable to spend the time i want to there.

Anyway like i sayed its just been a crappy day and i had these things on my mind and felt like i should vent them. Thanks for tolerating my bitch session.

[Icon134 0]

Just like any environment fitting in can be easy or difficult and is highly dependant on all parties involved... When I lived in the Atlanta Georgia area I traveled to several different DZs and some of them I fit in imediately whereas at, at least one dz I never really felt as though I completely fit in...

It wasn't necessarily a fault of the dropzone itself, it was a great dz and there are?were great people there it just didn't have an atmosphere (or skydiving discipline) that I could relate to...

and fwiw skydiving isn't the best thing man (the race) has come up with... but it is a lot of fun...

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

[wmw999 2,589]

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its just been a crappy day and i had these things on my mind and felt like i should vent them

I'm sorry you had a crappy day. At the dz there's a whole variety of people, and some groups are larger than others. I'm fairly quiet and not real perky, but there's a place for me there too.

Find one or two people you can just exchange pleasantries with on a regular basis. But when you ask them how they're doing, really listen and react.

It's how you get to be friends with people. Won't always work, but it does enough of the time to be satisfying for most.

And remember that what looks like a massive social group for some people isn't any better friends than a smaller, quiet group of a different type of person.

OK, enough pontificating

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[davelepka 4]

You don't have a problem, you just have a misunderstanding.

If you want to be a 'super skydiver', you'll have to interact with other jumpers. If your goal is to make the most out of your jumps, first off you need to be jumping with other people. Doing solos will severely limit your learning and progression in the sport.

Now that you're jumping with other people, you need to dirt dive your jumps, and communication is key to make sure that everyone on the jump is on the same page. Likewise, after the jump a debrief is essential to making sure that everyone knowns what went right, what went wrong, and what to do differently in the future.

You'll get nowhere keeping to yourself. If you really want to excell, start talking and make some friends at the DZ.

[bullin82 0]

I know that by not interacting with others i am dangerously shorthanding any knowledge i am able to obtain. The thing is i like the group and the DZ i jump and taking leasons at i just feel like im being more of a hinderance to them than anything. I don get to spend enough time there since every few years like now i get deployed overseas and any commonality or "friendship" i build seems to be lost by the time i get back.

Now when i get back ill have 3 months to finish my training before i enter active duty military again (i love my career) and i really fear that if i am unable to do this before ileave i will never complete training.

Im sure eventually ill find a DZ that i will relate to more but im not much of a traveler, to be honest if it wasnt for the military i would have never left WI. So i htink im just in slump right now and need to suck it up and drive on.

[turtlespeed 226]

Successful people hang around successful people.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[Misternatural 0]

>Successful people hang around successful people.

You meant "It's who you know and who you blow"

oops, sorry- it's too early in the day for that level of cynicism

Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires.
D S #3.1415

[RastaRicanAir 0]

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... since for me it takes time to open up to people and relax my brain when it has a goal it focuses on that and nothing else until complete then it wants to improve the efficiency and use of everything, which i then tend to alienate everyone.

So what's the problem? That sounds like every big way organizer I've ever met.
(Just in' guys. .........mostly)

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...
Also the DZ i go to i feel welcomed but with mixed feelings like people there just tolerate me being there but i get the feeling that im more of an inconvinience to them since i am unable to spend the time i want to there.

And no slam against your DZ, but I've learned, in my more social than aerial experience, that acceptance level, group personality and even friendliness can very widely from one DZ to another.

OrFunV/LocoBoca Rodriguez/Sonic Grieco/Muff Brother #4411
-"and ladies....messin with Robbie is venturing into territory you cant even imagine!-cuz Robbie is

[turtlespeed 226]

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And no slam against your DZ, but I've learned, in my more social than aerial experience, that acceptance level, group personality and even friendliness can very widely from one DZ to another.

Perhaps you should swat this fooker outta da plane?

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[skymama 37]

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Also the DZ i go to i feel welcomed but with mixed feelings like people there just tolerate me being there but i get the feeling that im more of an inconvinience to them since i am unable to spend the time i want to there.

Do you feel this way about yourself in other venues or just at your home dz?

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[wayneflorida 0]

The 49 jumps and still student confused me, untill I read your profile.

May I suggest you develope a plan to obtain your A license as quickly as possible. It is somewhat difficult to fit in with the social group when you can't
jump with the people. Although hanging round when the beer light comes on helps.

Also, don't worry about it. It gets easier to meet people as the months pass on and you are spending time at the DZ. It may even take a couple
years to get a notice from some sky gods, but don't
worry about it because there are plenty of others to
socialize with.

Remember 5 years from now and take notice when you see a progressing student and offer to jump with him after they get there A. Pass it foward.

Good luck and Blues

[DavidB 0]

Metaphorically, you're looking at the elephant & thinking, "I could never eat all that." Your "elephant" is flying with others for fun. The problem is your career gets in the way. In that case you need to prioritize.

"One bite at a time." That's how one eats an elephant.

Your first goal should be: Have enough money & time to complete my student jumps & earn an A-license without interruption!!!!!

Once you earn a license, THEN you can concern yourself with "making friends" and socializing.

My last personal elephant was a 1968 Dodge Dart. It took longer & cost more than I wanted, but in the end I have a nice car that's not only unique, but still very useful & easy to live with. There are precious few parts of this car I haven't rebuilt, replaced, or modified in some way. The result is a car that looks old but will hang with a modern sports car in most every category except MPG (feeding 375HP isn't cheap, but I manage about 17-20).

When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.