I first joined UER at the tail end of its glory days, way back in 2014. Avchat was still around, traffic was high, and there were a lot of experienced active explorers around. Most of those profiles are ones I don't see posting anymore, and haven't in years. But sometimes I scroll through old threads and check them, and I see those users visited UER recently despite not posting in months or years.

Some of you just quit UER, and some of you quit urbex altogether. So this one goes out to you. For those of you who were once actively engaged in the community on UER but only lurk nowadays, why did you stop engaging? If you don't explore anymore, why did you retire? What changed?

Feel free to reflect at length if you want. In fact, please do- I'm asking because I myself have done a fair bit of reflecting and hope to find answers from yours.

Well, since you asked… I, for one, spend a fair bit of time on UER in the early AM hours. The newspaper sucks and UER makes great reading material while taking a dump before work.

I had been posting less anyway because I don’t have a computer and preparing a post here is so outrageously cumbersome that I kinda gave up on all that. I also got all giddy and excited when I first found UER and probably talked way too much anyway. But the real change came late last year.

Ever since the tragic and unexpected loss of my brother back in November, I’ve retired from pretty much everything. It’s been the most unimaginable year since and the thought of exploring without him just hurts. I still scout stuff online regularly, keep an eye out for local business closures, and occasionally take a drive to look at stuff. But to actually explore reminds me too much of our times together.

I always joke about "refreshing my credentials" when I do something UE-related once or twice per year. Or once every two years.

For the past ten years or so, professional work has gradually taken over my life. Workaholism is a bitch and after sacrificing so much for my career I'm reluctant to risk it with potentially dangerous and legally dubious activity. It doesn't always stop me, but it definitely keeps me away from high-profile stuff. Even my kind-of-but-not-quite-depression is not severe enough to stop giving a shit about that...

I have also realized that I was never much of an urban explorer anyway. Sure, we had our little "inner circle" in the early days of Finnish UE scene, but today kids half my age are zooming across Europe, exploring locations I could only dream of during my active years, and the few remaining "big names" have ventured deep underground into stuff we didn't dare to touch back in the days. I was happy with the abandoned houses, sawmills and little factories...

The exploded popularity of abandoned places in social media together with the dwindling number of locations I'm actually interested in doesn't help the issue. If it wasn't vandalized to shit already, it will be the day after it appears in social media, and I no longer have the resources to reach beyond the Instagram shockwave.

I've been thinking about starting something low-key again. Already bought some black-and-white film and secured that the high-spec scanner at work is at my disposal...

Posted by chuck barkley But to actually explore reminds me too much of our times together.

Sorry to hear about your brother. That sucks.

They say time heals all wounds, so hopefully one day exploring might remind you of good times with your brother.

RiP

I don't know if I'll ever retire from exploring but I will say that it sucks that I can't seem to find many friends who share the same interest in exploring storm drains and sewers. I would like to find new friends who share the same interests as me. I wouldn't consider myself to be someone who lurks on here, that's why I try to post some stuff on here (LOL). I plan to post pictures on here at some point but I'm in the process of taking a lot of brand new pictures, then when I get a decent amount, then I'll post them on here. I don't think I'll ever get sick of exploring storm drains and sewers because there's so many of both drains and sewers to see and to be found(LOL).

Posted by Aran I first joined UER at the tail end of its glory days, way back in 2014. Avchat was still around, traffic was high, and there were a lot of experienced active explorers around. Most of those profiles are ones I don't see posting anymore, and haven't in years. But sometimes I scroll through old threads and check them, and I see those users visited UER recently despite not posting in months or years. Some of you just quit UER, and some of you quit urbex altogether. So this one goes out to you. For those of you who were once actively engaged in the community on UER but only lurk nowadays, why did you stop engaging? If you don't explore anymore, why did you retire? What changed? Feel free to reflect at length if you want. In fact, please do- I'm asking because I myself have done a fair bit of reflecting and hope to find answers from yours.

i'm dying... i was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy... basically, the left side of my heart is not pushing worth a fuck. I was given 5 years to live in 2016... therefore, i couldn't do any of this physically any longer.

which fucking sucks.
hey, you asked... lol

I haven't retired but I dont like to go alone and since moving I am not around much so I have to network etc. I am usually good for the room and gas etc It is just hard to network these days plus I like to "explore" a place like hours a lot of newer types run in and run out in like 45 minutes take "the shot" and leave that isn't worth it too me

Posted by chuck barkley Well, since you asked… I, for one, spend a fair bit of time on UER in the early AM hours. The newspaper sucks and UER makes great reading material while taking a dump before work. I had been posting less anyway because I don’t have a computer and preparing a post here is so outrageously cumbersome that I kinda gave up on all that. I also got all giddy and excited when I first found UER and probably talked way too much anyway. But the real change came late last year. Ever since the tragic and unexpected loss of my brother back in November, I’ve retired from pretty much everything. It’s been the most unimaginable year since and the thought of exploring without him just hurts. I still scout stuff online regularly, keep an eye out for local business closures, and occasionally take a drive to look at stuff. But to actually explore reminds me too much of our times together.

feel better and I hope better days are coming thanks for reaching out!!

Posted by Samurai i'm dying... i was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy... basically, the left side of my heart is not pushing worth a fuck. I was given 5 years to live in 2016... therefore, i couldn't do any of this physically any longer. which fucking sucks. hey, you asked... lol

That does suck.
This thread didn't go in the direction I was expecting.

I feel bad saying I'm about to turn 55 & still regularly exploring.

I’d imagine some people joined UER at a younger age and ended up starting a family or moving on in life. I wonder how many “lost accounts” there are. Personally, I see myself continuing to like urbex as a whole, though I definitely imagine I’d lose my interest for posting or contributing once I move onto planned projects in the future.

Just my view on it.

Posted by Doug That does suck. This thread didn't go in the direction I was expecting. I feel bad saying I'm about to turn 55 & still regularly exploring.

Good for you! Keep exploring! It's good for you and your body plus it keeps you in shape! Right now I'm 36 and I go exploring very often, so don't feel bad that you're about to turn 55(LOL). I think I'll always enjoy looking for new drains, sewers and manhole covers plus keeping myself happy by exploring those things and walking around a lot ha ha! I will say that exploring storm drains keeps me happy even though I'm often go alone.

Interesting subject. I know that a lot of discussion forums have faded away when Facebook and other 'social media' platforms came along. Although I am on facebook, its fundamental design means it can never be a data resource like a well organized discussion forum.

When it comes to the UER forum, it doesn't translate well since I've started doing YouTube videos. Nearly no responses when I post about a recent video, in spite of the recent explores being the pinnacle of my exploring career.

Doug, I've got 10 years on you and I'm still exploring too! We have to show the young ones that there is life after children. I've been blessed with good health so I want to continue as long as my body allows me. I'll have to wait and see if I will still be posting here though. Maybe an old dinosaur doesn't have a home here.

Abby Normal

Simply put: I do less reckless shit than I used to because I stand to lose more if things go south.

Posted by hoover 2 Good for you! Keep exploring! It's good for you and your body plus it keeps you in shape! Right now I'm 36 and I go exploring very often, so don't feel bad that you're about to turn 55(LOL). I think I'll always enjoy looking for new drains, sewers and manhole covers plus keeping myself happy by exploring those things and walking around a lot ha ha! I will say that exploring storm drains keeps me happy even though I'm often go alone.

I don't feel bad about turning 55, just a bit guilty after reading some of these replies.
Hopefully you'll still be doing stuff in 20 years... me? Not likely

Posted by Abby Normal When it comes to the UER forum, it doesn't translate well since I've started doing YouTube videos. Nearly no responses when I post about a recent video, in spite of the recent explores being the pinnacle of my exploring career.Abby Normal

Same with me. I post links to my new vids and if I ever bother to check where my views come from, UER usually has the lowest percentage of source views, although I get it because I'm basically spamming people by saying here's a video, click the link to see the full story.

The other issues with my videos not getting many views is that they can be offensive AND they're a bit crap

If you post them in the Video Forum, hardly anyone looks at them.

Posted by Abby Normal Doug, I've got 10 years on you and I'm still exploring too! We have to show the young ones that there is life after children. I've been blessed with good health so I want to continue as long as my body allows me. I'll have to wait and see if I will still be posting here though. Maybe an old dinosaur doesn't have a home here. Abby Normal

That's great to hear.
I can only hope that I have another ten years in me.

Maybe we should start an Urbex Pensioner's Support Group?

Posted by Doug Same with me. I post links to my new vids and if I ever bother to check where my views come from, UER usually has the lowest percentage of source views, although I get it because I'm basically spamming people by saying here's a video, click the link to see the full story. The other issues with my videos not getting many views is that they can be offensive AND they're a bit crap If you post them in the Video Forum, hardly anyone looks at them. That's great to hear. I can only hope that I have another ten years in me. Maybe we should start an Urbex Pensioner's Support Group?

here's a funny one for you... this whole week (8-21-23), i have been in Atlantic City NJ. A friend of mine has a yearly conference for the union and I drove her down here. She is not at the proficiency level required for New Jersey traffic. Anyways, i am walking around this place and that nose for trouble is in overdrive.
"Where does that door go?"
"What down that corridor"

you know, shut like that... alas, i can't make a hasty getaway anymore, so the curiosity gets told to shut up as I shamble up and down the Boardwalk.

and yes, Atlantic City is really rundown.

Posted by Doug Same with me. I post links to my new vids and if I ever bother to check where my views come from, UER usually has the lowest percentage of source views, although I get it because I'm basically spamming people by saying here's a video, click the link to see the full story.

I also think that the fundamental design of these forums is suited for photos and discussion. They do that very well. They also act as a long term repository for information. Facebook and other social media is "throw away" communication. It and most other social media were intentionally designed that way. From a practical standpoint though, in FB we can't go back and find a post that somebody made a couple of years ago about a location we are interested in exploring. Here it's a breeze.

Posted by Doug I can only hope that I have another ten years in me. Maybe we should start an Urbex Pensioner's Support Group?

I sure hope you do! Unfortunately age creeps up on us and eventually slows us to a stop. One thing I am amazed about with Urbex is how wide the age range is. We have members that are still in high school and folks like us that are still kicking it. It makes me happy to see explorers of all ages out finding locations both new and old, photographing and sharing, and all talking together.

Sorry to yammer on so. Stay after it my friend!

Abby Normal

I got out of the scene as a result of anxiety. I used to explore 5 places a week in my "glory days" but I haven't set foot in an abandonment (with the exception of a train on the east coast) for about 7 years. Too many "what ifs", mostly concerned about getting caught by some angry farmer I think.

The brain is a confusing thing.

I still enjoy seeing other peoples post their adventures here, and this is also where I still keep in touch with a bunch of friends I met along the way.

I haven't been here in years ( randomly was looking for a picture I remembered seeing and figured I'd sign in). Met some great people from here I'm lucky to call life long friends and we all moved on from exploring for the most part. I still explore things occasionally but it's not as much of an obsession as it used to be. I have more to lose now and have tried to find less illegal hobbies. It's still something I want to do but in a much more controlled way. I'm not interested in jumping fences and hiding from the cops anymore but if a door is wide open I might just go inside.

Posted by chuck barkley Ever since the tragic and unexpected loss of my brother back in November, I’ve retired from pretty much everything.

Damn, I'm so sorry to hear that. Hope you can heal in some way and find some peace from your grief.

I never went that much, and I am now an oldish fat dude.