I think I have too many hobbies

C

c-ness

New member
This was a weekend to get some things done. First, I decided to work on the fly fishing stuff. I started out by cleaning my inflatable drift boat and adding some 303. I then checked my rods and reels. Then the other assorted necessities for chasing trout. After that I figured I would inflate the dinghy, clean it, and add some 303. While the dinghy was drying I brought out the Honda 2hp and ran it in a tub of water. Checked the oil and so on. Since I was in the mood for cleaning I went down to the tomcat and gave it a wash. The trailer needs some new carpet but our Eurovan was calling. Got to get it ready for some camping. Also brought out the camper stove and cleaned it. And so on....

I'm now too tired to enjoy any of the stuff. Hopefully the weather will improve so that when I recover I can get out and enjoy. Let's see...in a couple of weeks crabbing begins, the rivers where I fish will be down enough to fish, and ...then camping.

On top of all that I have to check c-bats, ponder various boat mods, and ... Thankfully I'm semi-retired.
 
c-ness

Sounds familiar!

However, there could be further constraints coming down the road……….

I don't know how old you are or what shape you're in, but be forewarned:

Without careful and disciplined planning, you can wind up with all the toys, but no time to use them (!)

You've worked for years, saved, bought all the good cars, campers, boats, motorcycles, fishing equipment, and generally all the unnecessary accompaniments, and then you find out your declining energy level and time only allows you to barely maintain all this stuff, and you have no real time to make use of this fabulous array of splendid goodies.

You're left a slave to your treasure trove of toys!

Sound preposterous? No doubt, but time, health, and aging can suddenly catch up with you with your fingers into too many hobbies to maintain, let alone enjoy to their expected fullest. Don't ask me how I know……..! :cry

Anyone else experience this crisis of time vs. toys like this?

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Yes, that is why I am selling several remote control helicopters and all that that entails.

I want to focus on the boat and remodeling our house. (And road and mountain biking. And cooking. And growing vegetables.)

Honestly, the best decision we've made was to sell the lawn mower, edger, string trimmer, and hire a yard service for 9 months of the year. That is one hobby I am not missing!
 
I know the feeling. Try having all that to do plus still doing the full time work thing. That and w/ my career, overtime is common. Every time I walk thru the garage I look at my classic VWs. Mind you, I don't drive them...I just look at them... :roll:

Could always be worse though. We could be in such a condition that we have no hobbies or we are incapable of enjoying them! :wink:
 
Well I'm mid 60s and enjoying it. But I know that the time is short. At least I think so.. In the meantime I'm thinking of a motorcycle or another VW. Too many things to do and maybe not enough time. I'd also like some down riggers for the tomcat.
 
Joe, you hit that nail on the head (strange comment, as I've been hanging drywall all day with a screw gun...). Let's see, 16 motorcycles, at least 7 boats, only a few cars (most all aquired under the "gonna be a great ride someday" philosophy), don't forget the shootin' irons, aforementioned building project, Oh, yeah, and the business. Oh, and just passed the Ham technician test yesterday. Shouldn't forget the Alaska retreat. Anybody got a spare life I can borrow for a while? Good thing I'm only 59- got plenty of time, right? Aloha, Steve.
 
Awww common you wimps... Taint possible to have too many manly toys... Sheesh...
About a week after I retired looked around and I saw that I had at least 33 minutes a day that was now free - so I bought a farm... Now look at all the toys I get to acquire, beeg tractors, beeg combines, beeg plows, man this is heaven...
Common you slackers, man up, suck it up, hup.hup.... :mrgreen:
 
We used to talk about a number around some other forums - what's your "hull index"?

C-Dory 25 - 1
Sailing trimaran - 3
Sailing catamaran - 2
Fishing skiff (catamaran) - 2
Three kayaks - 3
Dinghy - 1
=========
Current hull index = 12.

This is the second highest hull index I can remember myself having over the last 20 years.
 
denny-o

Yes, it can work that way…………..

Until you suddenly wake up to your 70th Birthday, find you have melanoma, a half dozen other smaller health issues, and realize you're not in the robust physical condition you were not too long ago.

Age has a way of creeping up on you, one little limitation at a time, or at least it did for me.

At least the melanoma is gone/removed/clear, and now I can decide what to keep in the toy box and what to let go! :lol:

Time for some reevaluating.

Just a process we all must go through at some point, I'd guess.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
dotnmarty":14jd1xjk said:
Whenever I start lobbying for this or that, Dotty will say, "If we're lucky enough to have a 16 foot C-Dory. we're lucky enough."
Click to expand...

When we were still working, Joan would say to me, "How long do you want to work?" (I remind her of that with these "fun summer jobs".)

Now, if I'm thinking of upgrading or getting another toy, she says, "How soon do you want to go back to work?" :mrgreen:

Downsizing when we retired was gut-wrenching at first, but then became liberating. At some point, stuff does begin to own you instead of the other way around.

I am reminded of the saying: He who dies with the most toys still dies. I'm with Marty - you can make more money, or simply want less. 8) If I'm swinging on an anchor in a beautiful area, my view is just as pretty as the guy's with a 50' luxury yacht. Of course, he can make more ice for his adult beverages. :twisted:
 
JamesTXSD":htmfhgag said:
dotnmarty":htmfhgag said:
Whenever I start lobbying for this or that, Dotty will say, "If we're lucky enough to have a 16 foot C-Dory. we're lucky enough."
Click to expand...

When we were still working, Joan would say to me, "How long do you want to work?" (I remind her of that with these "fun summer jobs".)

Now, if I'm thinking of upgrading or getting another toy, she says, "How soon do you want to go back to work?" :mrgreen:

Downsizing when we retired was gut-wrenching at first, but then became liberating. At some point, stuff does begin to own you instead of the other way around.

I am reminded of the saying: He who dies with the most toys still dies. I'm with Marty - you can make more money, or simply want less. 8) If I'm swinging on an anchor in a beautiful area, my view is just as pretty as the guy's with a 50' luxury yacht. Of course, he can make more ice for his adult beverages. :twisted:
Click to expand...

Jim, I am proud to be a retirement specialist! Work is none of my business!!!
 
A common thread here--they are almost all boating/water related. For us it is the boats--and photography, which work together well. The RV is a bit separate, but always has a boat in the basement (inflatable dinghy or kayak), or is towing a boat....

I got into ham radio because of the long distance sailing...so it was related.
 
Joe,
You sure touched a heart string.

I thought I was seeing the outer edge of 70yrs with dark glasses till I had a wakeup call with a heart attack.

Now I appreciate all that God has blessed me with; my faith, my returning health, wife & family, boat(Sea Angel), photography (to keep memories alive), volunteer outreach and ham radio(to view the world outside of my home and to meet new people as I travel).

DId I mention this toy, the computer systems where I play(at editing of video stills and audio tracks and do CAD stuff). These systems are also used for writing, documentation and ham radio.

Yes, retirement is different. Toys seem to come and go as storage and interest allows. The roller blades, hockey and baseball gear are all gone. A bike has appeared and helps the health.

The big stress reliever is still the boat where I can watch nature dance around me as I just 'putter along' taking it all in with all my senses, sometimes capturing the view with a camera for later reflection.

Getting old? No! Just the vessel is changing, the soul is still growing in wonder.

Just appreciate what you can do and remove those barriers that distract and block the window to your heart.

Just call me the -
''ol' yankee guy philosopher".

Art
 
Speaking of Yankee philosophers, H. D. Thoreau had a few words to say on this topic (and they have guided El and I all our lives, and for us, it has made all the difference):

"Simplify, simplify, simplify"
 
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