Author Topic: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?  (Read 40036 times)

zinethstache

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #50 on: April 28, 2015, 11:42:08 AM »
Severe back problems forced me out of my passion. I sold everything "big" off last year. I am 5 months out of the last surgery I was able to "try" and so far its a winner! However, I am not like others who have posted, 110% into FIRE planning and doubt that my hobby will be in the picture going forward. I have a pretty lucrative side gig based on this hobby, I believe I will keep it going in some fashion. I have turned off all my website products per DH who insisted they stay off until June. Right now I like the quiet, no orders, no custom requests etc. It is nice to work my day job and go home and rest. Note: the side gig is both online and has a seasonal element too, I did just make up a set of products, but had a helper willing to do the heavy lifting, else I would have declined the work.

I feel this side gig will be my part time work in FIRE so need to keep it going and keep the connections active for a couple more years when I dont really want/need to work so hard.

bzzzt

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #51 on: May 22, 2015, 10:52:11 AM »
Time for an update.

I haven't even unloaded the car this year. It still sits hibernating. I made it out to the track once to chat with all my racer friends and while I enjoyed it, I didn't miss loading everything up after the event. Occasionally, I get the itch to work on the car, but I've been focusing on other projects that need to get done. While doing them myself will/has save/d a bunch of money vs. contracting them out, it's still a bunch of work.

Lately, I wonder if I'm just a crazy workaholic because nothing I can think to do is fun, just things that need to get done. I think I've "optimized" my life to the point where it's just a bunch of tasks and even when I add in "fun" stuff it ends up being another task. Reflecting back on my life so far, the times I have been truly happy were when I was able to really focus on one thing as a priority and have the other things float. This is almost impossible with the many responsibilities I have these days (work, house, family, hobby, etc).

My spreadsheet predicts FIRE in 9 years. Right now, it seems like a life sentence, but I know it'll be past in the blink of an eye. In the mean time, I'm going to focus on trying to enjoy life experiences instead of just focusing on them as (shitty) tasks I need complete to be able to move on to the next (shitty) task.

Time to go bust out the rotary hammer to start excavating around the foundation to fix cracks, so that I can then tuck point the brick, and bust out the patio to put in a new one... Oops, almost forgot new gutters and downspouts...

MLKnits

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #52 on: May 22, 2015, 01:17:53 PM »
That sounds rough, bzzzt. Is it possible you could take a couple of days off? Take the family camping or to a lakeside motel, kind of thing? It sounds like you're in need of a break and could maybe use some time to see your family as a source of fun and joy rather than endless tasks and chores.

Alternately, maybe some "mini-breaks," like family games night or an evening walk around the neighbourhood?

Also--maybe I'm over-interpreting, but if you're having trouble finding enjoyment or happiness in the things/people that have usually brought that to you, as well as in the prospect of trying new things/friends--is it possible you might be dealing with depression? Would it be worth speaking to your doctor about it? If you think there might be a chance, getting on it early could help you find an effective treatment. You deserve to be able to enjoy life, not just fight through it.

bzzzt

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #53 on: May 23, 2015, 08:15:33 AM »
That sounds rough, bzzzt. Is it possible you could take a couple of days off? Take the family camping or to a lakeside motel, kind of thing? It sounds like you're in need of a break and could maybe use some time to see your family as a source of fun and joy rather than endless tasks and chores.

Alternately, maybe some "mini-breaks," like family games night or an evening walk around the neighbourhood?

Family is about the only thing that doesn't feel like a task, so I've got that going for me. I don't decompress easily, so "mini-breaks" and vacations just cause more anxiety (planning, execution, etc). I literally need 2-3 weeks off before I can relax, which is why FIRE sounds great.

Also--maybe I'm over-interpreting, but if you're having trouble finding enjoyment or happiness in the things/people that have usually brought that to you, as well as in the prospect of trying new things/friends--is it possible you might be dealing with depression?

It's more like I've done so many amazing things in the last decade that I got used to the "high". Hedonic adaptation. Family is pretty much the shining star these days (my son started crawling a week ago!). I feel accomplished/happy for a little while after completing a project, but that soon fades and I'm chasing the next project. I'm trying to find more joy in the little things, but it's going to take time. First world problems...

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #54 on: May 23, 2015, 09:41:45 AM »
MLKnits, thank you for sharing the comic! It's exactly what I needed right now as I let some of my old hobbies/ideas about what I want die. Wonderful to view it as a process that many experience and a portal to something new and exciting.

Bzzt, you sound like me when I let my To Do lists build up to a point where they are dictating my life. I become a robot that is always doing doing doing. Must check off next project. Must optimize. This may not be the case for you, but it's helped me to delete a lot of the nonessential items from my mental and physical lists, and to have times where I don't work on anything. I'll say this weekend I'm not doing anything, and if my silly doing brain tries to say, hey what about x, I'll say nope! X can wait. Mindfulness meditation has really helped me with this (it's secular). It's wonderful to just hang out watching the wind blow through the leaves and not be thinking that there's anything else I need to be doing.

chicagomeg

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #56 on: May 23, 2015, 09:53:44 AM »
The definition of hobby is, 'an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure.'  So when it is no longer a pleasure it is no longer a hobby. 

It's perfectly normal for what starts out as fun and a hobby to become a chore or anything else you want to call it when it is no longer a pleasure.  Common sense should tell you that when that happens it's time to get a new hobby.  I've had dozens of hobbies in my lifetime.  Some short lived and some enjoyed for many years before the attraction waned.

It could be that you are simply not old enough and haven't had enough hobbies yet to know that it's no big deal when you lose interest in a hobby.  You just move on to something else for your leisure time.

That brings up another point though.  It also sounds like you may not be giving yourself enough leisure time and not know how to relax.  Needing 2-3 weeks to relax is not a sign of a well balanced lifestyle.  It may be a sign of a common problem people have but it isn't a sign of a good balance.  You should be able to 'shut down' and relax at any time as far as I'm concerned.

I actually have a little ritual that just developed over the years.  I can be busy doing chores or a renovation project around the house etc. but every day there comes a point when I say to my Wife, 'I'm done'.  When I say that, she knows there is no point trying to even talk to me about anything serious like when am I going to touch up the deck stain or whatever.  I'm done for the day and I 'turn off' all that.  It takes me about 30 seconds to go from task focused to totally relaxed.  And believe me, if there was ever an A-type person it's me. 

It's surprising how we condition ourselves to behave in a certain way.  But if we know it is in fact just conditioning (habit) then we can if we choose to, change that habit whatever it might be.  The common example used is writing.  Everyone has a natural tendency to do things with their right or left hand.  If you're 'right-handed' you will tend to write with your right hand.  But it doesn't mean you cannot write with your left hand.  If you lost your hand in an accident, you could learn to write, use a screwdriver, etc. with your left hand.  The only question is, what would it take?  The answer of course is time, practice and persistence.  The same is equally true of learning how to relax, unwind, shut down.  It's just a habit and if you want to you can change it.

But first you have to recognize it, recognize you can change it and decide to change it.  Then it's just a matter of time and persistence.  When you sit down to watch a tv program or play with the kids and suddenly remember you forgot to change that light bulb in the spare bedroom, instead of getting up and going to change it you have to tell yourself 'NO, I'll do it tomorrow.'  The first time you do that you'll probably sit there for the next half hour just itching to get up and go change it.  The second time you do something similar you'll still itch to get up and go do it.  The third time, the fourth time, the fifth time, the sixth time, etc.  But eventually, you'll think, 'No, I'll do that tomorrow' and your attention will go right back to the tv program or playing with the kids.  Eventually, you will have learned to relax and that will then be your habit.

FIRE will NOT teach you to relax or give you more leisure time.  It will simply give you more time to do whatever you do now.  If you can't 'turn off' now, you won't turn off then.  Look at all the normal 'retirees' who retire at 65 and spend all their time doing things around the house etc.  They're still working as many hours as they ever did, just not at a 'job'.  You may know some older relatives like that.  My neighbour is a perfect example.  He's up at 7am and doesn't stop doing 'something' until 7pm every day.  He can't 'shut down' and I'm sure he tells himself, 'that's just the way I am'.  It's the way he is conditioned to behave, it is not the ONLY way he can behave however much he might believe it is.

bzzzt

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #57 on: March 06, 2016, 04:23:49 PM »
Well, it's been almost a year since the original post.

Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences in the thread. Coming back and reading it from time to time helps keep me from getting back to my old ways. I've cut down my project load a ton since the original post. Partially due to being OK doing less, partially because the projects are done and I haven't let myself start working on more.

Another thing that helped was this blog post over at Frugalwoods: http://www.frugalwoods.com/2015/07/13/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-frugality/

As a self-proclaimed "perfectionist", getting the last little bit out of a project was usually where I would start to go crazy. I've started to look at the tasks/projects and figure out the things I can live with being less perfect so that everything isn't a huge time/energy black hole.

I've been fortunate enough to end a multi-year project at work with a pair of "black cloud" co-workers. Hopefully, that'll help me get back to being wildly optimistic instead of dreading talking to Doom and Gloom every day.

As far as the hobby, I pulled the car into the garage before Christmas and have slowly been working on getting it back into shape. I'm making myself treat it like an actually hobby instead of a job. If I don't feel like working on it, I don't push myself to go accomplish things "because it has to be done!" Nope, some times it sits there for a couple of weeks until I get back around to turning a wrench. When I find myself starting to get back into the groove where I'm slacking in other areas to devote more time to the hobby. Stop, it's not a hobby if you're pushing that hard.

Thanks again and hope this helps anyone else who's lost their way on remembering that hobbies are supposed to be fun!

lizzzi

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #58 on: March 07, 2016, 05:44:56 AM »
I'm tired of harp lessons. I just feel like playing simple, pretty music that feeds my soul...not constantly trying to be "better", playing stuff my teacher wants me to that I don't care about, etc. I know I won't play enough or progress if I quit lessons, but I'm burning out on it. I don't really know how to approach my teacher though. I will never find another great musician and teacher like her around here if I pack it in. I don't know how she'd take it if I just said I needed a break for a while. She is a busy professional musician, and if I take a time out I might not be able to get back into her schedule later.

big_owl

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #59 on: March 07, 2016, 07:52:05 AM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather. 

« Last Edit: March 07, 2016, 02:38:17 PM by big_owl »

wenchsenior

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #60 on: March 07, 2016, 08:03:33 AM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.

SO COOL! I haven't gotten any further with this type of thing than raising (mostly unsuccessfully) passifloras and other butterfly food-plants by the truckload almost entirely for the feeding of the fritillary et al. butterflies. However, I look forward with great anticipation to the first sphinx moths of the season. Our currant bushes juuuuust started flowering, and that is the first place I see the white-lined sphinx and the hummingbird clearwing. Shouldn't be long now!

Bertram

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #61 on: March 07, 2016, 08:36:06 AM »
Well, it's been almost a year since the original post.

Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences in the thread. Coming back and reading it from time to time helps keep me from getting back to my old ways. I've cut down my project load a ton since the original post.....

Stop, it's not a hobby if you're pushing that hard.

Thanks again and hope this helps anyone else who's lost their way on remembering that hobbies are supposed to be fun!

Hi bzzzt,

very nice of you to update your original post and tell abotu the progress you've made. Would you mind saying what (rough) age group you fall into? I am just curious, because I feel like most people fall into this trap at some point (early) in their life. For me it was in my late twenties. I had a  great hobby that I kept using as an excuse to procrastinate finishing university and starting a "regular" career. At first it was exciting and fun, they you started getting recognition from other people busy with those things, and at some point I realized I was doing it full time (just this project...), I was getting paid (this way I don't have to work...) and it was giving me the same stress that a job would. What was I doing? I was actually starting to do more stuff towards finishing university to procrastinate on my "hobby"...

It was there that I realized that the old adage "make your passion your profession and yuo won't have to work" was not at all true (for me). I learned I can become passionate about almost everything if I put enough time into it. And the "feeling" of work has nothing to do with whether or not you are passionate about a topic in general, but has everything to do with the mindset and the context of deadlines, external pressure etc. with which you approach things.

I ended up quickly finsihing university, and my hobby got back to being a hobby; and I became passioante about things that pay well and are sufficiently separate from the things I enjoy doing in my free time. This diversification of time and effort I feel brings me more consistant returns on my efforts in terms of happiness. Even if one thing is not running well, I still have the other things in life to look forward to.

Digital Dogma

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #62 on: March 07, 2016, 02:28:29 PM »
I had gotten into target shooting for a while, then my states gun laws changed to require an 8 hour training course for a permit to purchase ammunition. So there was this day-long classroom style training course hurdle, and I'm thinking to myself if I have to spend all that time/money I may as well go get a concealed carry permit... so now I've added references from my state rep, 3 friends, finger printing at the police station, and who knows what else to the list of things "to do". That was enough to discourage me from pursuing the hobby, probably to the benefit of my hearing and the neighbor's dogs mental health. Perhaps I'll go through all the motions some day and get back into it.

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #63 on: March 07, 2016, 02:51:51 PM »
I had gotten into target shooting for a while, then my states gun laws changed to require an 8 hour training course for a permit to purchase ammunition. So there was this day-long classroom style training course hurdle, and I'm thinking to myself if I have to spend all that time/money I may as well go get a concealed carry permit... so now I've added references from my state rep, 3 friends, finger printing at the police station, and who knows what else to the list of things "to do". That was enough to discourage me from pursuing the hobby, probably to the benefit of my hearing and the neighbor's dogs mental health. Perhaps I'll go through all the motions some day and get back into it.

Do you need all this for a pellet gun?  I recently got back into pellet gun shooting because the kids are now old enough to participate.  Forgot how much fun and useful it is for maintaining the skill set which happens to be fairly perishable.  Not that it is not recoverable, but I notice I my shooting skills start to decline after just a few weeks, especially from unsupported positions.   

Digital Dogma

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #64 on: March 07, 2016, 02:58:03 PM »
I had gotten into target shooting for a while, then my states gun laws changed to require an 8 hour training course for a permit to purchase ammunition. So there was this day-long classroom style training course hurdle, and I'm thinking to myself if I have to spend all that time/money I may as well go get a concealed carry permit... so now I've added references from my state rep, 3 friends, finger printing at the police station, and who knows what else to the list of things "to do". That was enough to discourage me from pursuing the hobby, probably to the benefit of my hearing and the neighbor's dogs mental health. Perhaps I'll go through all the motions some day and get back into it.

Do you need all this for a pellet gun?  I recently got back into pellet gun shooting because the kids are now old enough to participate.  Forgot how much fun and useful it is for maintaining the skill set which happens to be fairly perishable.  Not that it is not recoverable, but I notice I my shooting skills start to decline after just a few weeks, especially from unsupported positions.
Nope! Pellets are an 18+ item you can purchase with a drivers license I believe, which brings up a valid and excellent point - I could target shoot using air power for sure to plink cans. My preferred method of target shooting was using a 12 gauge shotgun to peck off launched clay targets, which would be pretty badass if I could nail those with a pellet gun (I don't think I'm THAT good though).

Gone Fishing

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #65 on: March 07, 2016, 03:01:01 PM »
I had gotten into target shooting for a while, then my states gun laws changed to require an 8 hour training course for a permit to purchase ammunition. So there was this day-long classroom style training course hurdle, and I'm thinking to myself if I have to spend all that time/money I may as well go get a concealed carry permit... so now I've added references from my state rep, 3 friends, finger printing at the police station, and who knows what else to the list of things "to do". That was enough to discourage me from pursuing the hobby, probably to the benefit of my hearing and the neighbor's dogs mental health. Perhaps I'll go through all the motions some day and get back into it.

Do you need all this for a pellet gun?  I recently got back into pellet gun shooting because the kids are now old enough to participate.  Forgot how much fun and useful it is for maintaining the skill set which happens to be fairly perishable.  Not that it is not recoverable, but I notice I my shooting skills start to decline after just a few weeks, especially from unsupported positions.
Nope! Pellets are an 18+ item you can purchase with a drivers license I believe, which brings up a valid and excellent point - I could target shoot using air power for sure to plink cans. My preferred method of target shooting was using a 12 gauge shotgun to peck off launched clay targets, which would be pretty badass if I could nail those with a pellet gun (I don't think I'm THAT good though).

A bit anti-Mustachian, and you would still have to be pretty good to hit a clay with 1/2 a thimbleful of #9, but:

http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Gamo_Viper_Express_Air_Shotgun_Rifle/1020
« Last Edit: March 07, 2016, 03:04:14 PM by So Close »

big_owl

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #66 on: March 07, 2016, 05:11:40 PM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.

SO COOL! I haven't gotten any further with this type of thing than raising (mostly unsuccessfully) passifloras and other butterfly food-plants by the truckload almost entirely for the feeding of the fritillary et al. butterflies. However, I look forward with great anticipation to the first sphinx moths of the season. Our currant bushes juuuuust started flowering, and that is the first place I see the white-lined sphinx and the hummingbird clearwing. Shouldn't be long now!

Sphingids are a bit more of a challenge than saturnidae but still not difficult once you get ova.  Finding females is a bit more of a pain though.  Oddly enough, hyles lineata is one of the few that I haven't reared!  Sounds like you're a bit ahead of us where you are.  I hear spring peepers right now so I know we're moving along...

wenchsenior

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #67 on: March 08, 2016, 08:53:56 AM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.

SO COOL! I haven't gotten any further with this type of thing than raising (mostly unsuccessfully) passifloras and other butterfly food-plants by the truckload almost entirely for the feeding of the fritillary et al. butterflies. However, I look forward with great anticipation to the first sphinx moths of the season. Our currant bushes juuuuust started flowering, and that is the first place I see the white-lined sphinx and the hummingbird clearwing. Shouldn't be long now!

Sphingids are a bit more of a challenge than saturnidae but still not difficult once you get ova.  Finding females is a bit more of a pain though.  Oddly enough, hyles lineata is one of the few that I haven't reared!  Sounds like you're a bit ahead of us where you are.  I hear spring peepers right now so I know we're moving along...

H lineata just flew past my window, and started hitting the currant bushes and the redbud...right on time!

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #68 on: March 08, 2016, 12:47:28 PM »
This is my first time back on this forum in quite some time, and the reappearance of this post is timely for me. Cars are also one of my hobbies, and my biggest passion, though in my case it is not racing.

Since last spring I have gone from three cars to four - wrong direction! When I started shopping for the fourth I made a deal with myself that after I bought it I would sell my Fiat and, later, my Appliancemobile (when I was able to replace it with my other older car.) Then I spent so much less money than I expected on car #4 that I promptly broke the deal. But just this weekend, the discovery of more rust on my Fiat seems to have finally pushed me to decide to get rid of it. In my case, the hobby hasn't turned into a job, but my priorities have shifted. Car #4 is a car I've wanted my whole life and I am thrilled with it, and drive the hell out of it (since my life is driving-optional, it is all just-for-fun), even on occasions when I would otherwise use the Appliance. But while I still enjoy maintaining and working on my cars, I have lost interest in big projects - I would rather go on bike rides than do a body restoration, and I would rather drive car #4 than work on the Fiat. What I'd really like to do is get rid of the second garage, without having to sacrifice never street-parking anything.

bzzzt

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #69 on: March 12, 2016, 08:52:05 AM »
very nice of you to update your original post and tell abotu the progress you've made. Would you mind saying what (rough) age group you fall into? I am just curious, because I feel like most people fall into this trap at some point (early) in their life. For me it was in my late twenties. I had a  great hobby that I kept using as an excuse to procrastinate finishing university and starting a "regular" career. At first it was exciting and fun, they you started getting recognition from other people busy with those things, and at some point I realized I was doing it full time (just this project...), I was getting paid (this way I don't have to work...) and it was giving me the same stress that a job would. What was I doing? I was actually starting to do more stuff towards finishing university to procrastinate on my "hobby"...

...

I ended up quickly finsihing university, and my hobby got back to being a hobby; and I became passioante about things that pay well and are sufficiently separate from the things I enjoy doing in my free time. This diversification of time and effort I feel brings me more consistant returns on my efforts in terms of happiness. Even if one thing is not running well, I still have the other things in life to look forward to.

Early 30s right now. Luckily, I never sacrificed anything in my career for my hobby besides some overtime at a company I didn't really like working for anyway. I never cleared a profit on my hobby. The best I could do was offset some of money I spent through contingency and sponsorships. I'm fortunate in that my day job pays very well and, currently, fills the need to build things.

Good job on finding your way. I still love working on cars, but my passion for racing is no where near what it used to be and I have zero desire to have a business preparing cars anymore. I agree with diversification bringing more consistent happiness. The "high" isn't anywhere near as good, but the low isn't near as low. I can tell my Dad is disappointed that a year off didn't help me get back to my old level of enthusiasm, but he's still excited that we're working on it again.


bzzzt

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #70 on: March 12, 2016, 09:18:32 AM »
Since last spring I have gone from three cars to four - wrong direction! When I started shopping for the fourth I made a deal with myself that after I bought it I would sell my Fiat and, later, my Appliancemobile (when I was able to replace it with my other older car.) Then I spent so much less money than I expected on car #4 that I promptly broke the deal. But just this weekend, the discovery of more rust on my Fiat seems to have finally pushed me to decide to get rid of it. In my case, the hobby hasn't turned into a job, but my priorities have shifted. Car #4 is a car I've wanted my whole life and I am thrilled with it, and drive the hell out of it (since my life is driving-optional, it is all just-for-fun), even on occasions when I would otherwise use the Appliance. But while I still enjoy maintaining and working on my cars, I have lost interest in big projects - I would rather go on bike rides than do a body restoration, and I would rather drive car #4 than work on the Fiat. What I'd really like to do is get rid of the second garage, without having to sacrifice never street-parking anything.

Congrats on car #4. I looked back through your old posts, it's a classic for sure!

I think about downsizing all the time, but I still end up with too many cars (cheap beater, fun car, truck for hauling/towing).

Currently, I own:
-Diesel truck
-Wife's SUV (emergency/second tow vehicle)
-Race car
-Chassis and parts for another race car
-Two enclosed trailers
-Open trailer

My wife and I also each have take-home company cars.

We'll see what racing brings this year. If I decide it's not worth it anymore, most of it can go.

I think I'll eventually get to:

-Wife's SUV
-Track/fun car
-Cheap beater
-Open trailer

PS- I couldn't find it last year when I made the Spec Pinata comment, but I did after re-reading the threads. Always good for a laugh:
« Last Edit: March 12, 2016, 09:21:14 AM by bzzzt »

Tabaxus

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #71 on: March 12, 2016, 10:13:45 AM »
I had something kind of like this.  I was a music kid when I was growing up.  Morphed from hobby to "what I did," ending up getting my undergrad degree in music performance + music education.  So, no longer a hobby by the time I was, say, halfway through high school.

Various factors drove me to law school.  I tried to pick the instrument back up as a true hobby, a few times, but I was never able to.  Too frustrating that I'm not nearly as good as I used to be, not very much fun to just pick up and play (doesn't help that I was a classical musician, so my main instruments aren't things that are very fun to play on their own).  Tried picking up an instrument that I never really learned before (guitar), and just don't enjoy trying to learn/play it.  Very frustrating, honestly, but it is what it is. 

stlbrah

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #72 on: March 12, 2016, 10:04:28 PM »
motocross. I quit and sold everything.

It was a hassle to load everything up, and drive a long way to ride. It wasn't worth it anymore

humbleMouse

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #73 on: March 13, 2016, 12:27:57 AM »
I find that with my fulltime job I have way less creative energy to produce and record/practice music.  It is a little depressing but having time to sleep/recharge is critical to going to the job and paying the bills...

I also knew I had to curb the music habit because I think I literally am destroying my ears.  I am in my mid twenties and my ears have a constant ringing that never goes away.  I really hope it goes away now that I don't bang music 24/7 but I am not holding my breadth. 

esq

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #74 on: March 13, 2016, 10:19:49 AM »
I've raised moths as a hobby for about 28 years and every year is the same.  Start out gangbusters in April/May...by August I'm sick and tired of spending an hour a day after work with the caterpillars out in the 95deg temps and sweating.... by September they're all pupating and I'm breathing a sigh of relief.  Then by February I'm back to reading the same damn moth books I've been reading for 20 years dreaming about how I'm going to do this or that better and more efficient and dreaming of what species I'm going to hunt down during the next season. 
I did not know this hobby existed! Is it only available to owls? Thank you!

Best laugh I've had all week!  Enjoying reading about your pupae, et al, Big Owl!

I sing with a local chorale, mostly classical - Mozart, Brahms, etc.  This season we're doing 100 years of Broadway, though - exciting!  Come summer, I'm also ready for a break, but otherwise, it's not a time sucker.  With 3 hour rehearsals Monday nights and 3-4 concerts a year w/dress rehearsals I don't get burnt out.

I've always done some kind of singing - as we used to say in Sweet Adelines, "Singing:  it's cheaper than Charter Hospital".
« Last Edit: March 13, 2016, 10:28:22 AM by esq »

Guses

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #75 on: March 14, 2016, 09:42:23 AM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.


OMG KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!!!!!!



Inaya

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #76 on: March 14, 2016, 11:26:38 AM »
I was a hardcore MMORPG player during college. It was a job that I paid for the privilege of having. Highly regimented raid schedule taking up most of my time. Sitting for hours doing the same raids over and over again with people I didn't even like. 3:30 a.m. wake-up calls to stare at a screen for 3 hours with maybe 10 minutes of action IF we got the monster we were waiting for. 6-12 hours/day on weekdays, and 12-20 hours/day on weekends. It was awful, and it was unhealthy.

I did end up burning out and "retired" from the guilds that required 95% raid attendance and 24/7 availability. Our small circle of friends (who are now real-life friends as well) started our own guild, and the game became a game again. I still played an unhealthy amount, and there were still occasional 3:30 a.m. wake-up calls, but I was having fun and helping people I cared about.

wenchsenior

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #77 on: March 14, 2016, 11:33:35 AM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.


OMG KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!!!!!!

WTH?

Guses

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #78 on: March 14, 2016, 11:38:18 AM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.


OMG KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!!!!!!

WTH?

Did you look at the picture?!

That is one scary bug!

wenchsenior

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #79 on: March 14, 2016, 11:57:33 AM »
Well, yes, I looked at the picture. Man, between this and hysteria over spiders in the line-drying laundry on another thread, I have concluded there are some seriously 'delicate flowers' on this board. Considering you frequently find me doing things such as in this pic for fun, I really can't relate to you shrinking violets.

Guses

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #80 on: March 14, 2016, 12:39:03 PM »
Well, yes, I looked at the picture. Man, between this and hysteria over spiders in the line-drying laundry on another thread, I have concluded there are some seriously 'delicate flowers' on this board. Considering you frequently find me doing things such as in this pic for fun, I really can't relate to you shrinking violets.

I was being facetious in the first post, but now, because of that second picture, I have to burn my monitor!!!

I mean I can handle a large caterpillar (although this one is large enough that it might give me an inferiority complex), but A MONSTROUS SPIDER NO THANKS K BYE!!!!!

Reynold

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #81 on: March 14, 2016, 03:59:52 PM »
Only 2 that I don't see my self going back to.
1st - SCA, I "played" for about 5 years. I got tired of the expectations and drama. Not to mention the huge money suck between garb, event fees and traveling. A very un-mustachian hobby. I have no desire to ever go back but I still have friends how are involved so it wasn't a total loss :)

I have done the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism, for those unfamiliar with the acronym) for close to 2 decades now, and wouldn't call it un-mustachian, other than the fact that to really participate you need to be willing to go to events an hour or two's drive away, sometimes more, it isn't a good hobby for pure cyclists.  I get a pretty good entertainment value for my money, and it is a great place to learn self sufficiency skills, like home brewing, candle making, canning, sewing, etc.   It can cost some money if you buy everything for yourself, but most of it should last a long time since it is not used every day.  It is certainly cheaper than a car hobby. :)

When I FIRE, I actually expect to use that network to find out about places I might move for retirement, there is a pretty good density of groups throughout the U.S., and even some in Europe if I do long-term stays over there.  They are usually happy to have visitors, especially if you are good at something you can play with them with or teach them. 

wenchsenior

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #82 on: March 14, 2016, 04:35:24 PM »
Well, yes, I looked at the picture. Man, between this and hysteria over spiders in the line-drying laundry on another thread, I have concluded there are some seriously 'delicate flowers' on this board. Considering you frequently find me doing things such as in this pic for fun, I really can't relate to you shrinking violets.

I was being facetious in the first post, but now, because of that second picture, I have to burn my monitor!!!

I mean I can handle a large caterpillar (although this one is large enough that it might give me an inferiority complex), but A MONSTROUS SPIDER NO THANKS K BYE!!!!!

Heh. I bet I could convert you to liking tarantulas with enough time. They are so awesome! And just look at how excited I am! My sheer enthusiasm for all things biologically geeky might eventually wear you down LOL.

big_owl

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #83 on: March 14, 2016, 05:40:28 PM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.


OMG KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!!!!!!

Here's the adult...watch out, it might flap you to death :)
« Last Edit: March 14, 2016, 05:42:08 PM by big_owl »

lifejoy

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #84 on: March 14, 2016, 05:53:24 PM »
Sounds like too much of a good thing. Take a break maybe?

wenchsenior

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #85 on: March 14, 2016, 06:15:04 PM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.



OMG KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!!!!!!

Here's the adult...watch out, it might flap you to death :)

WOW!!!!  That is SPECTACULAR!!!  :cue incoherent noises of admiration and excitement:

Papa Mustache

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #86 on: March 14, 2016, 06:57:53 PM »
This is my first time back on this forum in quite some time, and the reappearance of this post is timely for me. Cars are also one of my hobbies, and my biggest passion, though in my case it is not racing.

Since last spring I have gone from three cars to four - wrong direction! When I started shopping for the fourth I made a deal with myself that after I bought it I would sell my Fiat and, later, my Appliancemobile (when I was able to replace it with my other older car.) Then I spent so much less money than I expected on car #4 that I promptly broke the deal. But just this weekend, the discovery of more rust on my Fiat seems to have finally pushed me to decide to get rid of it. In my case, the hobby hasn't turned into a job, but my priorities have shifted. Car #4 is a car I've wanted my whole life and I am thrilled with it, and drive the hell out of it (since my life is driving-optional, it is all just-for-fun), even on occasions when I would otherwise use the Appliance. But while I still enjoy maintaining and working on my cars, I have lost interest in big projects - I would rather go on bike rides than do a body restoration, and I would rather drive car #4 than work on the Fiat. What I'd really like to do is get rid of the second garage, without having to sacrifice never street-parking anything.

What kind of Fiat? New or old? Have driven many Fiats and there are 6-8 I would love to own. Have owned a vintage 500 (and want another) and a 131.

Friar

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #87 on: March 15, 2016, 01:17:51 PM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.


OMG KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!!!!!!

Here's the adult...watch out, it might flap you to death :)

First of all, I got a good chuckle out of "flap you to death".

Secondly, wow. My personal experience of moths are the house(?) moths that line my ceiling during the summer if I leave the window open and light on. I never knew they could be so beautiful.

Guses

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #88 on: March 15, 2016, 01:23:35 PM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.


OMG KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!!!!!!

Here's the adult...watch out, it might flap you to death :)

I never knew that something so horrible could turn into something so cute!

I've downgraded my statement to:

OMG, IT'S so CUTE!!! LET ME SMOTHER IT GENTLY WITH A PILLOW BEFORE IT TRIES TO FLY IN MY MOUTH!!!

realworldblues

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #89 on: March 15, 2016, 01:30:37 PM »
Something that helped me was realizing that I don't have to rush through hobbies just to accomplish something or get better at them. Sure those are two of the greatest parts of having hobbies, but you also need to remember that it should just feel good to do them. Playing a musical instrument can quickly turn into just practicing scales or memorizing stuff; but the feeling of playing a song is the best part of the hobby! I'm sure there are many aspects of working on cars that you love that aren't about the end result. Perhaps with your car hobby you need to not focus on what you need to accomplish next, rather just enjoy the little things that make you happy while working on cars?

If that doesn't work, taking a break is definitely the best advice here. No matter how fun a hobby is, you can get burnt out if you do it when you don't want to.

Spiffsome

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #90 on: March 15, 2016, 05:25:42 PM »
I joined a hobby club, and then got nominated to run it. That'll turn your hobby into a job real quick. :)

I'm learning a lot about people skills and organisation, but once my tenure's up, I'm not doing it again.

otter

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #91 on: March 16, 2016, 09:56:49 AM »
Jethro and his nose,

It's an old Spider, a 1981 2L turbo.



This is my first time back on this forum in quite some time, and the reappearance of this post is timely for me. Cars are also one of my hobbies, and my biggest passion, though in my case it is not racing.

Since last spring I have gone from three cars to four - wrong direction! When I started shopping for the fourth I made a deal with myself that after I bought it I would sell my Fiat and, later, my Appliancemobile (when I was able to replace it with my other older car.) Then I spent so much less money than I expected on car #4 that I promptly broke the deal. But just this weekend, the discovery of more rust on my Fiat seems to have finally pushed me to decide to get rid of it. In my case, the hobby hasn't turned into a job, but my priorities have shifted. Car #4 is a car I've wanted my whole life and I am thrilled with it, and drive the hell out of it (since my life is driving-optional, it is all just-for-fun), even on occasions when I would otherwise use the Appliance. But while I still enjoy maintaining and working on my cars, I have lost interest in big projects - I would rather go on bike rides than do a body restoration, and I would rather drive car #4 than work on the Fiat. What I'd really like to do is get rid of the second garage, without having to sacrifice never street-parking anything.

What kind of Fiat? New or old? Have driven many Fiats and there are 6-8 I would love to own. Have owned a vintage 500 (and want another) and a 131.

couponvan

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #92 on: March 16, 2016, 08:38:11 PM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.

I freaked out when I saw this baby at our FIRE house last year...Luna moth. :-) 

Guses

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #93 on: March 17, 2016, 07:23:54 AM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.

I freaked out when I saw this baby at our FIRE house last year...Luna moth. :-)

Are you petting a salamander?

Gone Fishing

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #94 on: March 17, 2016, 09:58:51 AM »
Our hobby farm is running wide open this time of year and it's feeling very much like a chore.  I am hoping I can give it the time it requires once I ER, and have time left over to actually enjoy the spring.

Knowing what it coming shortly, re-reading this post from last year is awesome!

wenchsenior

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #95 on: March 17, 2016, 10:19:30 AM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.

I freaked out when I saw this baby at our FIRE house last year...Luna moth. :-)

I'm envious! I've never spent enough time in the range of the Luna to see one in the wild.

couponvan

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #96 on: March 17, 2016, 11:13:39 AM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.

I freaked out when I saw this baby at our FIRE house last year...Luna moth. :-)

LOL - the picture is rotated weird.  That "salamander" is the door knocker at the FIRE house (came with the house, we didn't pick it).

Are you petting a salamander?

couponvan

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #97 on: March 17, 2016, 11:15:12 AM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.

I freaked out when I saw this baby at our FIRE house last year...Luna moth. :-)

I'm envious! I've never spent enough time in the range of the Luna to see one in the wild.
I'd never seen one before myself - then that single day we saw three or four. I'm not a "moth" person myself.

big_owl

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #98 on: March 17, 2016, 01:53:20 PM »
Gettin' ready for moth season....already drooling over my latest hobby-improvements.  Gotta wait another 6 weeks to get started though...

Last year was somewhat of a bust.  Lots of problems with diseases.  This sort of thing seems to happen every 4-5 years, really depends on the weather.

I freaked out when I saw this baby at our FIRE house last year...Luna moth. :-)

I'm envious! I've never spent enough time in the range of the Luna to see one in the wild.
I'd never seen one before myself - then that single day we saw three or four. I'm not a "moth" person myself.

Lunas are our most common Sat around these parts.  We should start seeing them in about a month.  Some nights I see 15-20 at my MV light.  They were much more rare in Southern Michigan where I grew up.  Then I moved down here and it was like oh big deal they're everywhere...but I still rear a few each year just for fun. 


littleqt

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Re: Anyone else have a hobby that has become a chore instead of fun?
« Reply #99 on: March 17, 2016, 03:44:43 PM »
As a girl I enjoyed keeping my room decorated and girly, but now I have no interest in that whatsoever. I've become a lot more practical.

Also only recently I went to the gym about 6 hours a week to lift weights. It was the highlight of my days in college. But now I do it more out of necessity to keep looking the way I prefer, rather than for the same level of fun it once was. Cooking isn't very enjoyable to me most of the time either.

Perhaps it has to do with me being more of an adult now and discovering more about what I really care about, rather than what family thinks I should care about.