T-Minus 3 days to 30th Birthday

It's happening. It's really actually genuinely almost here. I'm going to be 30 years old on Saturday. And what am I doing with myself? Well, I'm acting like I'm 15 buying sports cards and comic books. Funny how that works. Couldn't afford to do anything fun when I was a kid, so now I'm making up for lost time. I'm having a good time of it actually.

 So what do I have planned on my 30th? Beer. Maybe scotch. Cigars. Family. Some crying. Some laughing. Sports. A bit of horseracing. And more beer.

 I'm a big fan of milestones. Most people don't put much stock into such things. But I always look at those kinds of things as starting points. Or ending points. Either way, a milestone is a great time to make changes all at once. There's a finality to the decisions made at that time. Again, not everybody is like that. But I am. I REALLY am. I've had several questions answered in my career field this week (all favorable, I'm very blessed). I have no looming questions looming in the home department (very happily married still and my kids seem to humor me and love me all the same).

So I guess it comes down to making changes in how I spend my free time:  how I entertain myself.

My first question to myself:  I have two blogs.  Do I really want to continue writing so often in my free time? Am I getting something out of this that makes this all worth while?

My answer:  I had a tough time on this one.  Granted, I like to write.  For me, the actual writing part is very easy.  I don't have to think about it, I can just do it.  My problem has been finding quality time to make a quality product.  And calling it a product is kind of silly because products are sold.  I just do this for the kicks.  But what I get out of it isn't quantifiable.  I love to be connected to this community.  And I don't think that I'm going to give it up.  Obsessive Rec has taken up more of my time, but this is going to be a priority now as well.

My second question:  How can I make this blog relevant in any way?  

The answer:  Let's face it.  Blogging is semi-narcissistic.  We like to have our opinions validated.  Hell, most bloggers would feel happy just to have their opinions SEEN.  It's tough to start out blogging and building a readership base.  And once the readership base is there, it's harder still to get people to engage.  So that can't be the motivating factor in blogging.  If you're only blogging to be seen, frustration will come quick and you'll end up just walking away.  I've learned that my blogging experience is best served by connecting all of my interests with each other.  Connecting this site to the Obsessive Rec site which is connected to my youtube account keeps me feeling motivated.  Some days, when the inspiration, or the response, is slow on this site, I can check my youtube page and I literally get 5 emails or responses from England for every Everton video I make.  It's not about the validation, it's about keeping it varied enough that you'll always feel free to do something.  For too long I felt hemmed in by having only this blog to focus on.  Now I have three unique and very different ways to connect with people and have conversations about things that matter to me.

But that doesn't answer the question.  How will I keep this site in particular relevant?  Well, I think first and foremost I have to up the posts.  I've got to get back to five posts a week.  And that means also that I'll have to bust new product again, and be a more active ebay seller.  And I'll have to get back to what makes a sports card blog fun - building sets.

Final question:  If I'm going to build a set, what can I afford to build, and what product will it be?

The answer:  I'm going to have to lower my standards a bit and buy a product that has sticker autos to be able to afford this.  It's just that simple.  I've already decided on building Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey- and probably Series 2.  But I'm sure it'll have sticker autos.  And I guess for a box that's around 50-60 bucks, that's something I'm going to have to live with.  Granted, I'd never buy a box into the $300's that has sticker autos (here's looking at you Panini with your every sport NT formula).  I'll simply have to amend my approach to sticker autos.  If I'm building a set within a certain price point, I'll have to make a concession for stickers.  If I'm building a player collection, however, I'll have to stick to my on-card only policy.

So there you have it.  I'm almost 30 and I'm planning on making some changes to the way I go about this hobby of mine.  Maybe by the time I'm 40 I'll be over it and can pass it all on to my kids.  But for now, full speed ahead.