Hey all!
I recently joined the forum, after viewing it (many) times for help with repairs on my 1200. It wasn't until today that I scrolled down past the technical forums and found this one!
I'm 22 years old, and for reasons that are my own, I am straightedge. If you are unfamiliar with what that is, its worth a google search. I have never had a drinking/drug problem, and I am not involved in NA, AA, or any organization like it. I made this decision not as a result of my own self-destruction, but as a result of watching those around me destroy themselves. I first made the decision to live free of alcohol and mind-altering drugs at 15, and I've never regretted it.
College was interesting for me. I went from a kid in the punk scene, where booze and drugs were present, but 'we're all here for the band' to an environment where alcohol was the elephant in the room. I had never felt any real pressure to drink until the college parties. Without the booze, there really isn't any reason to go to a college party. You talk to some people, meet some girls, and then an hour into the night when everybody is a sloppy mess you sit there and wonder- "what can I do other than drink that will make this fun?". I eventually found a pretty awesome group of local punkers to kick it with.
I had always wanted to ride. Its in my blood. Unfortunately, motorcycling seemed all but unattainable on my meager collegiate budget. And it was.
But halfway through my sophomore year, I had an idea. Every time my roommates would go out drinking, I'd set aside a little money. I'd try to approximate the average amount one of them would spend on booze, but I'd always set something aside. The same goes for weed and other recreationals. I continued this until graduation. You all see where this is going...
After graduation, I got a shitty job doing some shitty work for shitty pay (like everyone with less than a Masters does these days). I started doing some research...
Four months after graduation, I found my Sporty. Craigslist. Decent shape, decent price. Dad (+~35yrs riding experience, several custom builds/restorations) and I got in the truck, checked her out, and brought her home the next day! He and I have been alternating between wrenching and riding for about a year now (which I totally expected to have to do, buying a 15 year old Harley). Its been a wonderful experience for both of us.
And all of this, I owe to my sobriety. Were it not for that, I wouldn't be on this forum. I wouldn't have a bike. And if that's all I have now that I wouldn't if I drank, I'd consider myself lucky.
I'm always looking for other straightedge riders! Does anybody know of a sXe MC/RC?
X's always win!
TJ
I recently joined the forum, after viewing it (many) times for help with repairs on my 1200. It wasn't until today that I scrolled down past the technical forums and found this one!
I'm 22 years old, and for reasons that are my own, I am straightedge. If you are unfamiliar with what that is, its worth a google search. I have never had a drinking/drug problem, and I am not involved in NA, AA, or any organization like it. I made this decision not as a result of my own self-destruction, but as a result of watching those around me destroy themselves. I first made the decision to live free of alcohol and mind-altering drugs at 15, and I've never regretted it.
College was interesting for me. I went from a kid in the punk scene, where booze and drugs were present, but 'we're all here for the band' to an environment where alcohol was the elephant in the room. I had never felt any real pressure to drink until the college parties. Without the booze, there really isn't any reason to go to a college party. You talk to some people, meet some girls, and then an hour into the night when everybody is a sloppy mess you sit there and wonder- "what can I do other than drink that will make this fun?". I eventually found a pretty awesome group of local punkers to kick it with.
I had always wanted to ride. Its in my blood. Unfortunately, motorcycling seemed all but unattainable on my meager collegiate budget. And it was.
But halfway through my sophomore year, I had an idea. Every time my roommates would go out drinking, I'd set aside a little money. I'd try to approximate the average amount one of them would spend on booze, but I'd always set something aside. The same goes for weed and other recreationals. I continued this until graduation. You all see where this is going...
After graduation, I got a shitty job doing some shitty work for shitty pay (like everyone with less than a Masters does these days). I started doing some research...
Four months after graduation, I found my Sporty. Craigslist. Decent shape, decent price. Dad (+~35yrs riding experience, several custom builds/restorations) and I got in the truck, checked her out, and brought her home the next day! He and I have been alternating between wrenching and riding for about a year now (which I totally expected to have to do, buying a 15 year old Harley). Its been a wonderful experience for both of us.
And all of this, I owe to my sobriety. Were it not for that, I wouldn't be on this forum. I wouldn't have a bike. And if that's all I have now that I wouldn't if I drank, I'd consider myself lucky.
I'm always looking for other straightedge riders! Does anybody know of a sXe MC/RC?
X's always win!
TJ