>>2067620I’ve been around a lot of older modelers who are clearly on the spectrum but most of them have wives and families and grandchildren, also with a couple of “confirmed bachelors” living their best life immersed in their hobbies. They all have or had jobs, usually in some kind of engineering or technical field with a few working for the railroads or in a rail related industry. Society used to have a place for slightly eccentric men and their talents.
It’s been really sad over the past decade to see some of these guys pass on, lose spouses, slip into physical or mental frailty, have to dismantle layouts and sell off stuff, etc. but it’s also cool to see the support they get from club members.
There’s always an asshole or two in any group and it’s fun to mock boomers but most old heads are happy to see younger modelers and help you.
Btw “boomer” in old time railroad slang was a guy who never stayed at one job for long and liked to roam around, maybe with a girl in every town or a love of the bottle, a roguish cool character with lore and experience, like a hobo who worked for the railroad.
