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Quote:

Originally Posted by John Dixon

Ron,

Being you earn a living from bonsai, you add a perspective I cannot relate to but want to understand. I can see how a bonsai career can vary greatly from just an enthusiast's viewpoint.

Does it really "rule" your life though? If you wanted to, could you just stop attending shows and (I think your retired) continue living on an income withuot the assistance of bonsai? I definitely see where a great amount of leeway is prudent when speaking about individuals whose source of income, dare I say career, is intricately inter-twined with bonsai.

That's the kind of feedback I need (and I think you know why I'm asking).

Best regards,

John

Rule is not really a true statement. It consumes most of my time. I am either doing bonsai or talking about it. Just about everybody that I know is into bonsai. It is really a small world that I travel in. It is a happy and fulfilling life and I am totally satisfied with it.
You are right I am retired. I was in the military from 1964 till 1993. A lot of things happened to and around me during that time. Some of it was good and some wasn't so good. That's life.
My wife says that towards the end of that career I turned into a down right nasty person. Not mean, just not a lot of fun to be around.
It was her idea for me to open my shop. She pushed real hard to get me to do it. I am glad she did. She hasn't called me nasty for a long time and we do a lot of laughing together now.
Bonsai like any other career takes a lot of commitment. You have to have a passion for it. And you have to have an understanding family.
If I had to leave bonsai a substantial portion of my income would be gone. My standard of living would definitely change. I would miss going to the shows. That would probably be what I missed the most.
But if my wife asked me to I would leave bonsai in a minute. Same if I thought my family was suffering in anyway because of my involvement with the little trees.
Guess you could say that I am a blessed man. The one thing that brings me great joy also brings that joy to my family. They like what I do. They like how I spend my time.
I hope that answers some of your questions. For me it raised a couple of questions. But I'll have to work them out all by myself.