A great treat and ambivalence

It was like in the midsummer at the peak of solar cycle last night. Twenty meters was fully open to the whole NA at around 13Z. I have had nice chats, literally of the best quality, with 4 old friends in a chain.

Cap W0CCA from Colorado has told me they had frost recently and it was a bit early for them to plant tomatoes. Our tomatoes were bearing fruits now, I said to him. He was envious of our weather suitable for vegetable growth. I told him to build a green house and his wife could grow vegetables even if it got frosty. His orchard of apple trees seemed to be flourishing. I have imagined of beautiful white flowers covering all the orchard. I told him to read the op-ed by the social science/liberal arts researchers I posted in this blog recently. I knew he had had an idea of liberalism and might sympathize the idea they published in the article. 

The next one was Bob W9YXX in Indiana whom I regularly but not so often meet on the air. He has been at the summer cottage possibly for social distancing. However, after 3 months of absence, he could start playing tennis with his company and has just come home from the tennis court. He told me he had not been active on the air recently. I must say so did I. Mainly, due to too few good QSOs on CW. His son, Ryan aged 42 years, was retiring in a couple of months and was starting a farming business close to his home, which he had yearned for a long time. How nice it was for Bob and his wife to have Ryan and his family so close to them! It must be challenging endeavour to start with 30 acre farm by himself. But sure worth challenging. I am sure good farming products will be demanded by people. Our mutual friend, Jim, W9VNE seemed to do well and was planning to visit Bob very soon. Bob has excused of his imperfect fist but was still a beautiful CW sender as before.

I heard a bit slow but flowing bug calling me for the next QSO. It was old Sam K4DGJ. We used to chat in '80s through '90s. He was an ophthalmologist and had common concern in medicine and so forth. He told me he had turned 79 years of age. His sending was quite the same as decades ago. 

The last one was Bernie K1SA from ME. Amazing the band was still alive at around 14Z. It has been a few years since I saw him last time. I told him I had thought of him a few days ago. There are a lot of friends whom I haven't heard for a long time. He was one of them. This QSO has sure reminded me of enjoyable chats we made around '00.

What a great treat it was for me! Too often I switch off the radio after calling CQ in vain for certain long time. Honestly speaking, I was inclined to close down ham radio in the near future. I have had a real great life in ham radio since age 13 years. CW has been my love and one of the most important things in life. I have had so many good friends all over the world through this hobby.

However, as a matter of fact, inactivity of CW and the change in the licensing system in Japan have made me less enthusiastic for radio than before.

I am still wondering what to do with it.

Seeing these great operators on the air sure makes me hesitate leaving this hobby...what shall I do?