"Mars effect" on equipment (in)decisions: RELAX

Notice how the closer Mars gets, the more people are sweating about whether they have JUST the right telescope to view it with? Should I get this, should I get that, etc. This hobby becomes a kind of disease whenever something big is going on 'up there'.

Mars is getting pretty big in the eyepiece. I'm thinking it might be time now to just go with what you've got (unless you got nuthin' then I say get something fast :-)). But don't agonize over it! We're comin' into crunch time here, maybe we should all spend a little more time viewing so we have less time to read equipment ads and stress about whether we have just the right Mars scope.

I'd like to second that statement, though I'm one of those running around trying to make a scope decision. Logically, buy the Skyview Pro 8" eq w/ mount, carry bag, laser pointer, polar finder, single axis drive and vibration pads for $600 then sell the mount and its accessories. I could even add to my four eyepiece collection. It is way cheaper than buying a C9.25 or premium Discovery dob. Of course it is logical to get it and wife will probably not kick my bum, but of course I can't decide. Way to sum it up Paul.