Arnold, I do not know if I am exactly addressing the issue you are referring to, but I think a thought provoking topic like yours is open game to rabbit trails. I am semi-retired, though that wasn't my plan. I'll only be 62 in a couple weeks. I never really liked the electronics field, but after 42 years I am now in a rather stress free position. The most stress is at times wondering if they will have any work for me for a few weeks. Anyway, when I am putting the engineering information into the goofy database they have us use (I still always draw a Visio drawing for the technicians just like when we used pencil and paper) It keeps my mind occupied how to portray a circuit in the software, then once I have one type down pat, it is rote for the next however many. I then get bored and start thinking about trains.
As far as favorite time for trains; any time I can get a few free minutes from doing stuff for 4 elderly relatives and my wife who has some health issues. I can forget about all that stuff when I am doing anything with the trains.
