Chipping Journey and/or Retirement - How you doin’? (1 Viewer)

[BarrieJ3]

We see the phrase thrown around a lot.

Everyone has retirement sales, their “last” wanted thread, folks are “chipping happy” or nirvana then see that one set posted for sale…..

Just curious to see folks’ feedback and journeys.

• For those that successfully retired, how’d it go? How ya doing?
• For folks chasing that dream, how’s the process? Are you close?
• What’s the definition of “chipping retired” anyways. Just being done buying/selling? lol just not logging on and refreshing 100 times daily? Being done chipping and hosting!?
• Maybe others don’t see the point and want to lambast others attempting it.

I’ll post my journey too, but thought it would be cool to see the chipping journey others have been on and where they’re at.

 

[JeepologyOffroad]

@Rieguy

 

[BarrieJ3]

@Rieguy

I wonder. Feels like the creative juices and appreciation of good chip sets and projects will forever keep the Rieguys and JMCs from retirement. Be interesting to see their takes, current projects, why they want/see retirement as a goal in the first place, and what they think it’ll take to get there.

Similar to how FOMO and newness of things would challenge the Barries from getting there.

 

[BPTDirector]

Every time I think I’m out, they pull me back in.

 

[Rieguy]

@Rieguy

Be interesting to see their takes, current projects, why they want/see retirement as a goal in the first place, and what they think it’ll take to get there.

 

[krafticus]

I’m working on one more CPC tournament set. Once done, I’ll get a felt. Once that’s done, I’m done.

 

[JMC9389]

@JMC9389

 

[cpiaaq]

Still buying. Still building.

 

[BarrieJ3]

Maybe asking for chipping checklists would’ve been more helpful. Just wanted to hear some other journeys.

Ben’s collection well documented. I’m pretty familiar with all of the Kyle regrets (but a collage or album of all would be amazing). KGBs 40 year running game updated every week. Perthmikes Vegas run, and transition from chips to babies and watches.

There’s tons of stories/adventures out there.

How many close nagbs have their been, lol how many not close ones. I’d imagine a non 0 amount of folks aren’t “retired” until they author one of those.

How many people are retired only because they get a mint set free/cheap from the chip room each sale?

Those are obviously the tales we’re not going to hear/see public. But maybe someone we’re not familiar with has a cool journey/story and they’d share.

(I bet there’s like 20+ good stories out there just from people who retired and quit, selling out all their chips for an investment opportunity or to buy a house or to pay a hitman).

 

[JMC9389]

@JMC9389

Real talk, this is where I'm at now:

I've pretty much deduced what my ideal set breakdowns are for cash games and tournaments. Once you have those numbers in mind, it's easier to get a sense of what you're looking to buy to a point that you're content.

For inquiring minds, my "perfect" cash and tourney breakdowns:

Cash:

0.25 x 200
$1 x 200
$5 x 400
$20/$25 x 80
$100 x 20

This covers pretty much any 0.25/0.25, 0.25/0.50, or 0.50/0.50 game. Beyond that, may as well play at the casino and doesn't become fun. This will cover most meetup tables for the whole day at those stakes. I haven't run out of bank once, even in my sets with "only" 200 $5's.

Tourney:

T25 x 240
T100 x 240
T500 x 120
T1k x 200
T5k x 80
T25k x 20 (optional)

This covers two full tables (more than I have space and seating for in my game space currently) with plenty of rebuys in a T25 or T100 base format.

My tournament sets are all filled in. I'm good there. The last racks I'm after are to acquire more $5's for my noncustom cash sets, though the sets are absolutely, 100% playable with the $20's and $25's I have for my current stakes.

While it's true that I may never be truly fully "retired", there is going to be a massive downswing in terms of spending once my set breakdowns are situated. Sure, there may be another Tiger Palace or Rancho Agave buy that really gets things going, but it would take a lot at this point for me to pursue something new.

True retirement comes when I think to myself, "Who's chip cabinet would I take over my own currently?". When the answers I think of can be counted on my hands only, I'm just about there. And I'm just about at that point now.

If BCC opens up shop again and their original clay formulas are used, all bets are off. But that's not likely to happen. Most of my purchases the next few months here will be centered around new cards, samples, cut cards, other cool little trinkets, and probably a new cloth for my current table.

Meet ups are the end boss of this hobby. Making more than 1 or 2 a year is difficult and I can only swing the one's within reasonable driving distance to me, but as kids get older and time gets more flexible, that's where I see myself spending most of my time.

 

[kk405]

@Rieguy

@JeepologyOffroad

 

[Argenchino]

Real talk, this is where I'm at now:

I've pretty much deduced what my ideal set breakdowns are for cash games and tournaments. Once you have those numbers in mind, it's easier to get a sense of what you're looking to buy to a point that you're content.

For inquiring minds, my "perfect" cash and tourney breakdowns:

Cash:

0.25 x 200
$1 x 200
$5 x 400
$20/$25 x 80
$100 x 20

This covers pretty much any 0.25/0.25, 0.25/0.50, or 0.50/0.50 game. Beyond that, may as well play at the casino and doesn't become fun. This will cover most meetup tables for the whole day at those stakes. I haven't run out of bank once, even in my sets with "only" 200 $5's.

Tourney:

T25 x 240
T100 x 240
T500 x 120
T1k x 200
T5k x 80
T25k x 20 (optional)

This covers two full tables (more than I have space and seating for in my game space currently) with plenty of rebuys in a T25 or T100 base format.

My tournament sets are all filled in. I'm good there. The last racks I'm after are to acquire more $5's for my noncustom cash sets, though the sets are absolutely, 100% playable with the $20's and $25's I have for my current stakes.

While it's true that I may never be truly fully "retired", there is going to be a massive downswing in terms of spending once my set breakdowns are situated. Sure, there may be another Tiger Palace or Rancho Agave buy that really gets things going, but it would take a lot at this point for me to pursue something new.

True retirement comes when I think to myself, "Who's chip cabinet would I take over my own currently?". When the answers I think of can be counted on my hands only, I'm just about there. And I'm just about at that point now.

If BCC opens up shop again and their original clay formulas are used, all bets are off. But that's not likely to happen. Most of my purchases the next few months here will be centered around new cards, samples, cut cards, other cool little trinkets, and probably a new cloth for my current table.

Meet ups are the end boss of this hobby. Making more than 1 or 2 a year is difficult and I can only swing the one's within reasonable driving distance to me, but as kids get older and time gets more flexible, that's where I see myself spending most of my time.

How long have you been collecting to get to this level? Would love the opportunity to admire your collection someday

 

[CraigT78]

I've never been a chipper but I've quit buying chips 7 times. Most recently I quit after buying two sets in two days. That was Wednesday of this week.

 

[JMC9389]

How long have you been collecting to get to this level? Would love the opportunity to admire your collection someday

Been at it six and a half years. A lot of trial and error the first 3 or 4 years, but it took that long to hone in on what I really like and appreciate. I don't even have most of the sets I had 5 years ago anymore.

 

[Coyote]

The wife is going to be the household's main breadwinner, quite soon.
Thankfully, she is in love with chips, so she might be buying me a nice set or two.

 

[Cratty]

No way I'm retired with playing/etc.. but for sure feel like I'm retiring on new personal sets/designs.

I've gone through a lot of semi-collecting hobbies.. board games, watches, books, etc. I've always shot off like a rocket, but hit an ending point that felt "right". I'm pretty sure I'm at the end of my journey or near it (possibly one more in the barrel). But I think I've checked off nearly every possible box at this point. We'll see!

 

[BarrieJ3]

We’ve seen successful retirements too.

Eloe came in. Daily poster. Creates a HoF custom that’s repeatedly come up since. Dope ass home game, leading group buys, as chipper as you can be, and then…poof gone.

RichMahogs, old school chipper, somewhat locally involved when I was still starting out, not a host type, more a collector/poster, but stops posting frequently, offloads trks and nagbs, and (hopefully happily!) moves on.

There’s something romantic about that style. No announcements, no retirement sales, no circumstance or divorce or house burned down.

Just 2 chippers who had a hobby and moved on, drifting on like Frodo with the elves to the lands of Aman.

 

[BarrieJ3]

Cash:

0.25 x 200
$1 x 200
$5 x 400
$20/$25 x 80
$100 x 20

This covers pretty much any 0.25/0.25, 0.25/0.50, or 0.50/0.50 game. Beyond that, may as well play at the casino and doesn't become fun. This will cover most meetup tables for the whole day at those stakes. I haven't run out of bank once, even in my sets with "only" 200 $5's.

you don’t want to future proof though? Seems strange when building sets to not add just a couple chips so that your set can cover any meetup table. Or when you move up in stakes in 5 years.

Just feels like having that extra coverage makes me more comfy.

 

[JMC9389]

you don’t want to future proof though? Seems strange when building sets to not add just a couple chips so that your set can cover any meetup table. Or when you move up in stakes in 5 years.

Just feels like having that extra coverage makes me more comfy.

I ordered 40-60 $100's with my CPC cash sets. That plus a rack of $20's/$25's will be plenty

 

[liftapint]

you don’t want to future proof though? Seems strange when building sets to not add just a couple chips so that your set can cover any meetup table. Or when you move up in stakes in 5 years.

Just feels like having that extra coverage makes me more comfy.

Just curious, what’s your ideal breakdown? I have been trying to settle in on this as well. Work toward the perfect breakdown for my sets (where possible).

 

[AlbinoDragon]

I have a text note on my computer titled "chipping nirvana" that contains a handful of to-do items with the chips I already have as well as the surprisingly short list of wants.

I'm totally content with my custom sets and where they are in terms of chip count and whatever future-proofing they might need. Beyond a rack of commemorative or anniversary chips for one of those here or there at some point in the future when CPC is back in production, I can't imagine there's anything else I'm going to do with those. In a case of FOMO, I was designing a final "farewell CPC" set, fearing they were going away forever, but once the sale to Mike was finalized, I put idea away as I really don't need yet another set. That doesn't mean it might not get resurrected at some point, but it's been relegated to a backup hard drive at this point.

I'm beyond happy with my PCA and Empress Paulson set. Easily my forever set and the one that will have to be pried from my cold, dead fingers. There are a couple little tweaks I'm still considering, but as time goes on, I realize those are less and less necessary and they keep getting moved further down the list in my note.

I'm still and probably always will be seeking out collectable single chips, but I'm also pleasantly surprised how little is left to fetch (or nearly impossible to fetch) in those. I was rearranging my display cases the other week and realized that I didn't have to or need to leave spaces for as many missing chips as I thought.


I can't imagine I'd ever bail out from here, even when I do reach that mystical chipping nirvana. Even though I've already left this place once, it's a strange magnetic attraction that draws someone like me back. Generally speaking, the people here are great and this is a fantastic place to spend time (and money). If for nothing else, I'm here for that and the friendships that have been built. I'm always willing to donk off several buy-ins at a meetup because that's always a better and cheaper vacation than other options.

 

[Sprouty]

Retired. Keeping the Miles Club customs and Detroit clay. Everything else has been liquidated. There's nothing else out there that I want or am willing to pay for. I may add a single here or there but that's about it. Now I'm just here to cause problems.

 

[dizzyChipper]

We’ve seen successful retirements too.

Eloe came in. Daily poster. Creates a HoF custom that’s repeatedly come up since. Dope ass home game, leading group buys, as chipper as you can be, and then…poof gone.

RichMahogs, old school chipper, somewhat locally involved when I was still starting out, not a host type, more a collector/poster, but stops posting frequently, offloads trks and nagbs, and (hopefully happily!) moves on.

There’s something romantic about that style. No announcements, no retirement sales, no circumstance or divorce or house burned down.

Just 2 chippers who had a hobby and moved on, drifting on like Frodo with the elves to the lands of Aman.

They John Elwayed it. Retired on top. No regrets. No explanation needed

 

[smashed_potato]

Never knew I was on the spectrum till Covid hit, since then it’s made looking back on my decision processes in life much more understandable. The “special interest” aspect to this hobby is obvious.

I’ve collected things my entire life.
Logo, matchbox cars, coins, Pokemon cards, snoopy dolls, vintage Mac’s, Mission Workshop bags, cycling kit, and here I am with poker chips after circling back on the poker and the community hosting can bring as I turned 40.

I’ve never stop collecting and I definitely moved on from some of those listed above but I never completely leave either. I still pick up some of the above when travelling etc.

Since my journey began I’ve put together a few sets but never saw myself as a collector. Sets are necessary for play but anything over one cash and one tourney I guess is seen as collecting. I’ve been in a sense of denial, oh I’m not a collector cause I don’t have the level of chips @ovo has lol.
I’ve seen myself slip into buying “interesting” singles, or singles for the challenge of putting a rack together chip by chip. Shameful behaviour honestly for a non collector.

One thing is sure though, these special interests do fizzle over time and become more of a healthy level hobby. I’m not exactly sure where I am in this S curve but chipping retirement seems like something people have to or want to convince themselves of.
There is a lot of creative here in this forum (can be a little under appreciated) and it would be a shame to see people completely leave because of some imaginary announcement of retirement. I do fully understand the mental bandwidth this hobby can consume so stepping back can be appropriate from time to time.

 

[Thomacetti]

FYI, chip retirement is AWSOME

It took me a while, had some false starts but now i'm on full retirement.
Owned so many chips & sets...and was able to keep the best of the best (imho).

I have some absolute banger sets but now emotional value (memories) are much more important how I value my sets.
The most important lesson I learned (and it helped with chip retirement too).... meet-up's are the END GAME in chipping.

Sharing the felt with the awsome PCF community is what it's all about.

I made so many PCF lifetime friends during my poker travels, would have completely missed out on that without the meet-ups.
No chip set in the world could leverage that...

From the bottom of my heart...thank you PCF friends for the incredible journey.

 

[Dcarl]

For inquiring minds, my "perfect" cash and tourney breakdowns:

Cash:

0.25 x 200
$1 x 200
$5 x 400
$20/$25 x 80
$100 x 20

Perfect breakdown in my opinion, id even do 300 $1's.

 

[cpac54]

 

[DrStrange]

I have gotten old. The player pool I draw from has been diminished - death, disease, marriage, divorce, jail, etc. I don't host 50+ times a year anymore. I never have more than one table.

I am out of space in the closet. SO full, I can't easily walk to the back shelfs. Don't have room for new chips. Don't get the current ones in play often enough as it is.

I am rarely tempted anymore. Last time was the sale of the Golden Nugget set. If that had languished unsold long enough . . . . well, we likely will never know.

I find myself considering parting ways with some chips should the offer be overwhelming tempting.

Still find playing poker quite enjoyable. Doubly so for meat-ups.

In the end, I don't get a vote. The grim reaper will someday retire me - maybe not so soon but inevitably.

I wouldn't bury my chips with me. -=- DrStrange

 

[cpac54]

I have gotten old. The player pool I draw from has been diminished - death, disease, marriage, divorce, jail, etc. I don't host 50+ times a year anymore. I never have more than one table.

I am out of space in the closet. SO full, I can't easily walk to the back shelfs. Don't have room for new chips. Don't get the current ones in play often enough as it is.

I am rarely tempted anymore. Last time was the sale of the Golden Nugget set. If that had languished unsold long enough . . . . well, we likely will never know.

I find myself considering parting ways with some chips should the offer be overwhelming tempting.

Still find playing poker quite enjoyable. Doubly so for meat-ups.

In the end, I don't get a vote. The grim reaper will someday retire me - maybe not so soon but inevitably.

I wouldn't bury my chips with me. -=- DrStrange

A whole walk in closet for chips?!

Sounds like we need to see some photos of that collection!

 

[FestiveKnight]

Until a few weeks ago I was certain I was basically at my nirvana point but I’m now reconsidering. But not in the typical direction.

Main cash - Money Trees
Travel/Guest Cash - Ranchos
Tournament - Taylor Swift Tinas
High Roller Tournament - CPC set (pending stamping)
HU Tournament - 15 or so unique racks
Limit - Sahara Dunes

About a year ago I started to hone in on this ^ and to feel good I’d be happy with this breakdown of sets and not feel the pull to have any more. Definitely the tug to just buy, buy, buy has faded and there’s things I love about all of these. TRK, THC, Tina, buttery bike tire THC, and then representatives of tons of other types in the HU racks.

However, recently with a new job and the wife and I honing in on trying to buy a house in the next 18 months or so, I’m reconsidering a lot of the collectibles that I have money tied up in. It’s hard not to look at my shelf of chips and weigh each set against a portion of down payment. Haven’t completely decided yet but considering going down to

Cash - CPC (thankfully not stamped yet, maybe do addon down the road cause breakdown would be a bit wonky cause meant for tourney)
Tournament - TS Tinas. Also use for HU
Limit - Sahara Dunes

I’m fortunate my lovely wife hasn’t put any pressure on me to sell and I’ve made clear how much the chips are all worth so it’s something I’ll keep thinking about and we’ll see if anything hits the chopping block. Probably before selling off a set I love there’s a bunch of old projects and crap that I need to find homes for. Not all even to recoup much cost but just to clean up the chipping inventory