/\ Admittedly, a bit of extra complication with the two scopes there, but both are wonderfully simple.
(note drummer’s stool
)
My main take-me-out-of-the-experiencer is when I start switching in and out filters (or, to a considerably lesser extent, barlows and/or 2"-to-1.25" adapters). Accordingly, I’ve much reduced my use of filters the past year or two, though I’m looking forward to breaking them back out for the various emission nebulae around Sagittarius, etc. when the weather improves later this summer.
My cable management strategy:
That’s for the fan on the back of the Dob, which, along with a red flashlight, comprises the sum total of my non-personal electronics. I had to add a red flashlight about a year and a half ago when I started re-incorporating paper charts for the first time since the start of the iPhone era
Sometimes I’ll additionally bring out more detailed paper charts, but for when I have to go into deep details, I actually find it smoother and more relaxing at that point to go to Stellarium on my iPad which I’ll have nearby. Similarly, I find GoSkyWatch on my iPhone more relaxing as a planisphere than my paper planisphere. Oh yeah, and I’ll also typically include use of a laser for collimation instead of strictly limiting myself to that collimation cap as I’m going for a smooth, simple experience, not necessarily the most pure non-electric/electronic one.
Sometimes just my one-hand-out-the-door 72ED is the way to go for the most equipment-invisible experience, or, as others have mentioned, binoculars. I like using my 72ED with Plossls for some reason — feels like a fun, mellow, low tech match. I especially like the 72ED for a quick ‘bright objects’ session (ex. catch a view of the Moon, or maybe Venus or a comet after sunset), while I especially like the binoculars when the sky is dark, clear and filled with stars