AtomicMagpye

I totally agree, I think this is a big issue,
I love stopping strangers and starting a conversation about tattoos,
but I don't always get a friendly response.
oh well, I will always keep trying.

haha thank you @Gingerninja ! I've definately been thinking outside the box now with my new tattoo ideas, and i've got some more crazy ideas brewing.
no laser, no coverups...i just keep piling on the tattoos and it seems to be working out in my favour.  I love it. my excitement of tattooing just keeps growing and the experiences become more personal as me and my tattooists push the boundary of where you would think the concept of "bodysuit" would typically end/finish.

Just get tattoos. Don't worry about it.

You don't need to confine yourselves with style restrictions. If you're like many of us here you will find that over the coming decades your personal tastes in art and tattoos will evolve, change, broaden, expand, loosen - or however you want to view it. Museums rarely have only 1 type of art. 😉

boat was last year - a fair amount done this year though.... 
Happy New Year!

I've had tattoos for a very long time now... and it is interesting how a first tattoo choice seems to have crept down to more visible spaces as the years have passed - in olden times first tats would typically be shoulder/upper arm... This is no longer the case - with sleeves these days seemingly proceeding upwards rather than downwards.... it's madness I tell you :-).
I am getting old though - I was chatting with my tattooist chap about such things and he is getting more youngsters than ever looking for finger/hand/neck tattoos.  I would certainly consider such things but would only have the confidence to do so after my retirement.  
That said it is very true that the tattoo universe has changed substantially over the last 30 years in it's relationship with the real world - at my place of work we have a dress down Friday - the young 'uns don't seem to mind their ink out on display ....and I've heard no disparaging murmurings from the old guard.  
Me -   I wear long sleeved shirts  - but... that's just me.  It would be interesting to hear how many others have colleagues at work with no idea re the mileage of their inkage - I'm sure it's not just me (or is it :-) )?

boat was last year - a fair amount done this year though.... 
Happy New Year!

@Danlovin' yours man, especially the devil and pumpkin!
@GingerninjaI suggest we change your name to pinchusion 😉🤣
This was only my second year of getting tattooed, but I was very happy with what I got.
The beginning of 2018 was 3 sessions to get this:

Fall of 2018 was a family tribute that may not be the very best tattoo in the world, but makes me smile every time I look at it.

For the coming year, I already have an email in requesting a consult for a traditional mom/dad tribute piece.  Looking forward to that and more!

Happy New Year!
Let's see...Tomo, Dan Sinnes, Paul Dobleman, Robert Ryan, DJ Rose, Laurent, Nick Colella, Grez, Mike Rubendall, Austin Maples and Stewart Robson rounded out 2018. 2019 will be a slower year but I hope still rad. ETA: Hendricks and Bryan Kienlen!
Thanks to all of you for your support. Wishing you an amazing 2019!

boat was last year - a fair amount done this year though.... 
Happy New Year!

boat was last year - a fair amount done this year though.... 
Happy New Year!

boat was last year - a fair amount done this year though.... 
Happy New Year!

boat was last year - a fair amount done this year though.... 
Happy New Year!

2018 was my year for small tattoos,
one on Maui,
one on  Friday the 13th,
one on Halloween,
one at Black Heart in SF,
one from Carolyn at FTW in Oakland,
and one for Bob & Ziggy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

My wife actually did fall asleep during a little 1.5 hour back (shoulder blade) session. Convention setting with a bunch of noisy tvs, sound systems and machines blaring away. The resulting white noise put her out! 

"I almost fell asleep while I was getting my back done"
I feel I should contribute (sorry about that) - 
I didn't (fall asleep) - I didn't like it in an "are we done for the day" kind of way.... and yes that's for most of it (although it's only 50% obvs)
(my back not yours to be clear)
Also my lower ribs and rear thingy wotsit were ridiculous and I'm not doing that again- sorry no good with medical terms - the flesh over the liver thingy and that - 
Cheers!
Happy Christmas!
Richard
 
Also - it really isn't a good reason not to get a tattoo - the experience is where it lives.

Howdy and welcome!
I've only been tattooed on the arms so far, but have been amazed how much difference in pain there can be between the top and underside of the arm... and difference in artists.

Different people have different sensitive spots. I almost fell asleep while I was getting my back done ... above the love handles. My right leg was mostly a piece of cake, my left leg is not going as easily. As my artist says, just because it hurts isn't a good reason to not get a tattoo.

I am 55...I am very 'corporate' and customer facing. If I think it's prudent, I cover up but no one really cares. I still use discretion and my best judgement.

My awesome news...my new hearing aids will be in next week! F you brain tumor! I am so looking forward to the possibility of hearing people again. Then, I can ignore them if I want to. 🙂

done - at least for a while - 
 

See video for what happens when someone tattoos you in an RV - or in this case a car.
It's the acceleration, corners and braking that usually cause the issues.
It may be possible on a long stretch of highway - but still not usually recommended.
skip to 35 seconds in for the educational bit.
 
 

See video for what happens when someone tattoos you in an RV - or in this case a car.
It's the acceleration, corners and braking that usually cause the issues.
It may be possible on a long stretch of highway - but still not usually recommended.
skip to 35 seconds in for the educational bit.
 
 

So in the end, they emailed me saying they have to reschedule and they needed to be with family. I asked for my deposit back and they said it was no problem and to just call the shop and ask for it. I think your right atomicmagpye, the tattoo gods are telling me something lol. Luckily I got in with another artist, I was planning to go to anyways, on friday to get the same subject in a different style.

I read this article yesterday as well.
I've thought about this tattoo preservation in the past ... my organ donor card has "skin" as the exception ... 
But now I'm feeling more like when my time comes to cross, i want my tattoos cremated with my body. I'm taking them with me to the other side.
Tattoos are my spirit armour. Without being "lived in", well, tattoos are just pictures on dead skin and lose the meaning if I am not alive. Just me personally. This belief is dynamic, just like the meaning behind all my tattoos. 
cheers