Ben book waring*** Ye Be Warned!**
Looked at this thread last night, followed up this morning and honestly I think many can relate... especially for many mediocre players like myself... some wins/ some losses... try to find the "fun" in it when on a loosing streak, on the chipping side drooling over sets we will never own and envious... but what about the player on top of his game, owns the trophies and the best chips out there...
I guess what strikes me differently with this one is that David is one of and if not the best poker player I have ever played! So in my head it's not the loosing steak lull, but more of the "I've been on top, beat the best in the game, own the best chips... so what else is there for me here when I have hit the plateau??"
I have been a "collector" of things my entire life... nothing has ever kept my attention like the chipping hobby... many know I took about a year off and worked on putting together a "better Ben" honest to God someone that lived and breathed poker chips 24/7/365... to "I don't even want to look at stupid poker chips!"
But that time away allows for the reset... and yes I was drawn back in to the local poker scene, back to chips... this hobby always finds a way to pull you back in... the part I feel like I can't relate with David is that I have NEVER felt like I mastered the gane.. obviously David never said that and maybe doesn't even feel that way (a trully humble and amazing person) but the reality is you have indeed been a very successful poker player... but also having visited your residence I feel you have been extremely successful in many facets of life.
A break is absolutely FINE David... I think the comerodery of the game, friendships built in the traveling scene of PCF will continue to draw you back as time goes on... we all miss our friends*
As far as the hobby if chipping itself excuse my ignorance but I would ask have you ever taken on a project of building unubtanium a chip at a time? I remeber your slow
TRK build and that rack of Hundos, i remeber your long hunt for PCAs. I did the same thing with my PH fracs, a chip at a time... and over all a VERY expensive rack to build.
But what about a larger and even more rare project, example I would use is that I started with 3 Trump AC chips, the Taj was the first casino I ever played in and many told me it would be impossible to build a playable set... 6 years later of turning over rocks I built this out of 3 chips!
I get that those in a different financial bracket can buy the "good stuff" ready to go and in playable quantities... but there is another level of accomplishment that comes from building one from scratch. If you chat with the veterans that have undertaken these types of builds I think maybe you might find that one part that is missing. For me it keeps "the hunt" alive... always serching for something to finish up multiple sets... it takes extreme patience, and maybe NOT what you are looking for at all. Just maybe something to consider when you do come back.
I also acknowledge that as this hobby has continued to grow with new collectors and many hunting "the good stuff" that even if everything above does somehow speak to you... it leaves wondering "ok I like this idea... but what the heck should I start hunting?" But they are out there... I know others are building Bingo Palace, Yosemites, Silver Saddle... a build that is more like fine coin collecting than chip set building... something that keeps the hunt alive.
I mean sure Tigers, Indiana Grand, Sunset Beach and others are great sets... but with the right amount of $$ they are obtainable... sure you love them like the rest of your collection, but what they lack is uniquness... your mark on the hobby where some one sees a particular set and says "ohh those are xxx's chips" that sense that you built something no one else did... all I'm saying is that may be the next step when you come back!
As far as your poker game... I am of no help there... it has been a ture Honor to share some felt time with you over the years brother! Amazing game, amazing chips and you trully inspire me to be a better player!
As always, I am around if you ever need a friend to chat with or another person to tell you about their abysmal poker playing so you can feel better about yourself! Lol
Push through and don't sell shit David! The hobby wouldn't be the same without you brother!
Forever your chippin brother,
Ben