Who R U?

Hi everyone. I've been asking myself the question for most of my 51 years. I'm a retired pension actuary. Yeah, I know, the most boring guys in the world! Well, considering I'm a residential landlord on Long Island, I've got bad and worse covered. Happy that we're married 22 years, we have three children; 12,17,19 who remind us regularly we just here to see them through life.

I re-found music and beauty in my life this past year when I retired. I am astonished how I'm captivated by the presence of music. I built a two-channel system in the living room and an 11-seat theater in the den. The two channel is Levinson/Levinson, Resolution Audio/Dunlavy/PS Audio and the theater is Citation/Citation/Proceed/Panasonic DVD/Hitachi HDTV/with theater seats.

Our family loves the presence of the music now throughout our lives.

Our older son is an electrical engineering major and is into car audio about one tick lower than my interest. His ability is a little smaller than his interest.

We live in northern Westchester County, here in NY.

Other than the expensive nature of this illness, it causes me to seek out additional cd vendors and live concerts I never realized that I needed. I am truly grateful for the added dimension and tranquility audio is/has given to me.

I also want to thank those who have taken the time and interest to help me learn the little I know in order to put the systems together. Thanks. Bill

Hey, Doug,

When reading your note, I had the following thought.

When I was a kid, there were a few Ferraris in my neighborhood. One day I was at the pizza joint and there was a 1967 275 GTB4, which in my opinion is absolutely beautiful. I remember thinking, one day... I'm going to save $14,750 and buy me a Ferrari. Well, by the early 80's, I had the $14,750. Unfortunately, Ferraris cost $80K by then! So, smart feller I am, I bought me a used BB512. Now, in 1984 it's about the fastest production car in the world. So, I drive it accordingly. Six years pass and Enzio dies. Too bad. The entire world now thinks that cars which everyone was afraid to start are artwork. People figure they should pay funny money prices for automobiles. Prior to then, I would corner my car in the 130s. Then I started to have images of my house going sideways through the corners. I wasn't afraid. I just couldn't see trashing a car that now was worth what my house was. Now, I know this is off point. But, today, I can buy my car back for less than I paid in 1984 and about 1/4 of what I sold it for.

I remember having ADS box speakers and a ADS power plate installed in the Boxer when others were having esoteric systems put in their exotic cars. At idle mine was perfectly good background music. And at 96 decibles at the top of a gear, you know... I just didn't hear the music. I could never figure out what insanity an owner of a Lambo running 400+ horsepower and 90+ decibles was thinking when he spent 5000 to have the coolest system that couldn't be heard???

While I love beautiful music and great audio, screw the music if the ponies are there! So, maybe this year a used Viper with some speakers behind my ear.

I'll go home or to a concert for music appreciation. In a car it's tire scrub that counts.

Bill