Member III
Go ahead and start studying...But I have a feeling I'm going to be compelled to go deeper down the rabbit hole after checking out ARRL Field Day for the first time in June. Contesting seems like it'd be really fun.
I enjoy contests and DX because the exchange is short, I am not a "rag chew" type. I don't care how your last doc appointment went, that you have to go to the store today, that Bob down the road put up a new antenna, that you just took your dog outside for his daily BM and it's sunny and 75 in CA.....
I will exchange pleasantries with a DX station and thank them for answering me but there are typically other people waiting to make that contact so the QSOs are generally short.
Luckily ham radio offers a little something for everyone, even the gumpy old farts... no offense @old_man