Later all, it's been great

A couple of months ago I took 4-5 weeks off from the forum and from poker. I have taken a month or more off from poker several times over the past year and whenever I go back and play a session after a break I enjoy it for 1-2 hours max and then regret going to the casino. I don't care about the money. This is no longer how I enjoy spending my free time.

I think that poker is over for me.

I can't explain it, but the game that used to be incredibly fascinating and enjoyable for 12-20 hour sessions now, without exception, bores me every time I sit down. Low stakes, high stakes, holdem, omaha, stud...it doesn't matter. All I see around me at poker tables are people that I have no interest in being around in surroundings that have lost all interest to me. Perhaps it speaks to the greatness of the game that it held my attention for 12 years.

So, as of today I will be playing zero hands of poker for 1 year and will stop logging into this or any other poker-related forum for at least that time period. After that time I will see where I stand. I have debated this for a while and always came back to it being a waste of my talents and experience at poker to just give it up. I tried going back time after time but it's always the same.

I am now certain that I am happier without poker in my life.

I'm also happier spending less time on the interwebz.

Time to switch my focus and capture my interest elsewhere. Life is short and this has run it's course.

My life is always changing, but has done so more than usual in the past 2 years. I've moved a lot and I've lost a lot. There have been many tough decisions packed in the past 2 years -- even more-so in the past 5 months. November and December were 2 of the most stressful months of my life. It's been very tough at times, but interesting. To me, life is about journeys and experiences, both good and bad, and I've certainly had lots of those. Things are definitely looking bright and positive right now.

Now I have to figure-out how to fill the void that poker will leave. I stopped hiking in any significant manner after I put my dog to sleep 2 years ago this past February and will be starting to do some longer hikes again. I used to do lots of photography and may do that again. I want to take advantage of all the interesting areas to travel and explore locally now that I really love my location and some of the people that I have met. There are so many great places within a few hours drive and I keep finding more every week.

Remarkably, I have only met a handful of you more than once over all of this time. I have enjoyed chatting with many of you on here and consider many of you some sort of declerated friends (ehrm, sorry Philli).

Feel free to add me on Facebook. Dave Rubenstein in Huntington Beach, California. Mention who you are on here if you choose to add me.

If anyone is in LA or OC then send me a message on Facebook and maybe we can grab a meal, a beer or go see a Lakers, Ducks, Kings or Dodgers game. I'm looking forward to meeting PokerJah in July.

Time for some new adventures.

Candy Crush Saga ftw.
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Comments

  • good game
  • Dave,

    I think we all get there at some point in our lives, for various reason. You will find something else I am sure. For me it was school and to finish something that I set out to do 25 years ago, get my PhD. Now I am a principal in south Korea, never would have happened if I kept pursuing poker that's for sure. Glad I got to meet you and thank you for the support over the years at West Side.

    All the Best, and if you are ever in Korea, shoot me an email and we will get together.

    Brent
  • All the best, Dave.

    I'll echo Brent's sentiments. If you get back to Ontario, look us up.

    Peace and safe travels.
  • All the best Dave.
  • Tl; dr

    gg
  • Good idea. I think poker is great for the very minute percentage who make a 'good' living doing it. For everyone else it should be a very small part of their life. For me it's something I do with friends once or twice a year for some half serious money to make it interesting, but it is more of a social thing that I enjoy because I've known these guys since we were kids. And of course I play on the internet on rare occasions for small stakes for shits and giggles. Anything more for 99% of the people on earth and it is a complete waste of life imo. There are better things to do...and I think you are making the right decision. The internet too...what a complete waste of life it has become for everyone who is now addicted to it. For all it's 'advantages'...it isn't making people better or their lives better....it's breeding a whole new generation of social misfits (understatement of the year)
    Anyways...good luck GTA
    PS...nothing against anyone who loves and lives poker...I just think many do end up fooling themselves into thinking they enjoy it...when in actuality it is a negative in their life
  • Mob guy must be getting "close" . . .

    Fair winds and calm seas, Dave, and enjoy the next chapter in your life.
  • self exclusion fwiw.. :) Enjoy Dave, I've thought the same thing about poker and here many times, just haven't cut the "string" yet.. I'm sure we'll cross paths again and I think we're already connected on Facebook. If I ever get to your area I would be glad to hook up for a drink... or hike...;)
  • Huh, didn't see that coming. You may never see this Dave, but I wish you the best of luck. Good to see that you can be honest with yourself after some obvious looking within.

    End of an era really. He'll be missed by a great number and not by some.

    As for the tldr comment previous made by our resident pro, I actually think you couldn't read it because someone was actually saying something honest, insightful and making goals they're actually going to follow through on. gg.
  • No, I didn't read it because I don't give a flying fuck

    Gg c ya later imo
  • gg. gl.
  • Best poster ever. Good luck in the future and I hope we see you back.
  • No more giraffes?
  • Go work on some real Giraffes,
    Finally hook up with mob chick,
    get generally californian and live it up,

    tell us next year when forum exile is over about the craziness of reality.

    You always have great stories, go make some more,

    I would say GG but it isn't over by a long shot, great session so far.

    cheers
  • Find mob chick

    make her a jew

    stop posting online

    ?? ?? ?? ?

    profit.

    glglglgl gg nh wp gl
  • costanza wrote: »
    Tl; dr
    As for the tldr comment previous made by our resident pro, I actually think you couldn't read it because someone was actually saying something honest, insightful and making goals they're actually going to follow through on. gg.
    costanza wrote: »
    No, I didn't read it because I don't give a flying fuck
    costanza wrote: »
    Find mob chick

    make her a jew

    stop posting online
    Do you have an ounce of intelligence in you? You are really trying my patience.
  • compuease wrote: »
    Do you have an ounce of intelligence in you? You are really trying my patience.

    actually Jeff, im a highly intelligent person FYI

    I was tested when I was younger.
  • costanza wrote: »
    actually Jeff, im a highly intelligent person FYI

    I was tested when I was younger.
    Must have been boxtop testing...
  • compuease wrote: »
    Must have been boxtop testing...

    Dont think im old enough to know what that is, and im not sure i want to.... :-\
  • costanza wrote: »
    Find mob chick

    make her a jew

    stop posting online

    ?? ?? ?? ?

    profit.

    glglglgl gg nh wp gl

    We've had enough. Get ready for it.
  • ready for what?
  • Does this Fed wanna be have to hijack every thread? If everyone had the discipline not to engage his posts he would simply disappear. If he says anything remotely racist. Ban him. If he gets to vulgar ban him. He eventually will simply disappear like he did as Fed only to come back as costanza. Ignore this guy!
  • Done.


    Thanks, I blocked him a long time ago but I could tell from the frequent posts it wasn't going to be good what ever he was saying. When his shit was quoted I was getting quite pissed until the ban hammer struck his pathetic/racist/stupid/decidedly-not-pro asshat. cheers


    now, yeah, find the mob chick (or a reasonable facsimile and make some history and smoothies. blend away man, blend away : )
  • I love you, bro Montana.
  • If everyone had the discipline not to engage his posts he would simply disappear.

    THIS! Easy game. Positive replies = more positive posts. Negative replies = thread derailment. And that includes referencing anyone's history of negative posts. QUIT POKING THE FUCKING BEAR! Maybe the mods could set the example.

    Great post Brent, in what should have been a great thread.
  • Well played GTA. And not just this post. I mean the entirety of your forum presence. And this post.

    In my opinion you've consistently given the best advice over the years. On a wide variety of topics, not just poker.

    The forum just lost an exceptional contributor.
  • To every good thing said here I can only add, +1. I will dearly miss your sense of humour and as a testament to it, my tagline will never be changed.

    I would also like to say your generosity in the past has been unequalled (Sunday Million One Time). Thanks again for that opportunity.

    I have thought recently about doing what you're doing here, but realize I don't have the required self discipline. No offence, but I hope you end up lacking it too...;)





    PS. Rod says you sucked at NHL '98!
  • Good luck to you sir. I hope things go well for you.

    Cheers
    piggy
  • In some ways I'm sorry to read this GTA. I ditto g2's statements about losing an excellent forum contributor.

    But - if this is what is best for you - then it is only a good thing. I wish you the best.

    Al
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