Any Other Expensive Hobbies?

Marc/Jay,

 

I'm from A2 and my first ride was the 1968 Mustang Fastback, 289 H.O., Hurst, bought for $600, wrecked by an unlicensed drunk.

 

"If you were a better shot you wouldn't have to shoot so much"

 

NRA four position expert badge at 14. One usually participates in activities one does well = fun. So, it's the inverse, Jay. I shoot more because I shoot well. I bike more because I'm fast = fun. I swim less because I sink more. 8*)

Josh: Rock climbing inexpensive? When I did that 20 years ago before my tendons said "remember when you made us let you grab things you couldn't even see now? We're gonna get even..." shoes were $60 to $100 and ropes and hardware...yipe! Plus ropes and slings need to be replaced often. Still have a pair of manky EBs though. Got the Olympus XA for a climbing camera, couldn't see using the M4.

 

Henk: Not a 175, what is it? Looks good, I love P90s. I have a couple on an old 1950 Epi Regent Zephyr Deluxe, funky refinish but a bargain-basement L5. Lovely mid-50s Kenny Burrell sound. I gave up tube amps when tubes got expensive and got an Evans solid-state jazz amp. 25 lbs...my days of lugging Twin Reverbs around are long over! (tube vs solid state == film vs digital). (If I'd kept all of the then-cheap Fender guitars and amps I went through in the 70s I could have retired on the profits...oh well.)

 

Bicycles are great inexpensive fun. Even an expensive one is less than a cheap car, and mine was cheap. But then there are motorcycles. Had a Ducati Darmah back in the 80s, sold it when I got poor and parts became extinct. Loudest vehicle in Berkeley, CA for a while ;-). Just got a Moto Guzzi V50, but it's still in the process of restoration.

 

Too little time, too many things to do.

Lets see, the darkroom went first, since the new old house didn't have a place for one (I know a wimpy arguement), followed by the road bike, rock climbing went out (to dangerous, spouse didn't like it), downhill skiing (now only done once/twice a season vs 60 days), skeet shooting (yes $0.50 every time you pulled that trigger). What's left my mountain bike ($50 a year tune up), cross country skiing, snowshoeing, the beach, KIDS, and the photography sans the darkroom.

 

GS

I don't have any hobbies. Photography has been a job in the past and a creative outlet for 30 years, off and on, but never a hobby.

 

I have had hobbies. I still have a guitar, several guns, a mess of CD's and yards of photography books from previous hobbies. But I really don't have any current hobbies.

Well lets see:

 

There was the audiophile phase I went through about 8 years ago which culminated in my "penultimate" setup: Proac Tablette Sigs, all Cardas Hexlink Gold cables (bought super cheap after the newer series came out), SFCD-1, Wilson-Benesch turntable, Benz-Micro L0.4, Benz Lukashek phono-preamp, Audio-Note Kit One (with extensive modes to the pcb board). Haven't put any more $$$$ into that set-up in the last 7 years as I've been pretty happy with the combination (unlike some other people I know who are always on the quest for audio nirvana). Some people blow tens-of-thousands jumping from Single-ended back to push-pull then back to single-ended. Push-pull indeed!!!

Currently, my expensive hobby is outdoor trad climbing. Costs big $$$ to built a decent trad rack. I've never counted photography as a hobby cause I've been doing it forever... kind of equate it to eating dinner every night.

Lee/John,

 

A hooby is done for FUN, not work. So, what one likes doing when not: eating, sleeping, working, getting to work and back...

 

Maybe you need more hobbies to remember what a hobby is, 8*).

John,

 

What's a trad?

Robert, I was involved in Karate because I grew up with

Japanese boys in my neighborhood and learned to love

Japanese culture from their mom. When they went to learn

Karate, I went also. They quit (wise), and I stayed (ouch). I recall

my first Kumite sparring was with a little dude that beat my big

ass to a pulp. All I could think of was "well, there goes the self

defense" motivation. It was the beginning of a long string of ass

beatings. It was a brutal school, and feared by tournament

opponents.<div></div>

" 'Doug, what is farrier, food?'

The farrier is the lady (in our case) who trims hooves and fits shoes on them; every 4 to 6 weeks."

 

And what Doug is probably too shy to add, is that for the hunter/jumper class of horse he illustrated, those shoes can run more than a brand new set of radials for you car -- EVERY 6 weeks! In my daughter's case, she was a competitive HJ, and her horse required "Titanium, Bar-reinforced" shoes. $355 every six weeks just like clockwork.

 

I'm glad she got too busy at school for horses last year :)

 

Cheers,

Trad climbing refers to <b>Trad</b>itional climbing methods where the leader (1st person to ascend a route) must drag the rope up and set up intermediate points of protection to safeguard against a fatal fall. Trad climbing is the second most dangerous form of climbing that one can practice because your safety is riding on your skill to set up good protection (pro). Also, the routes are typically not manicured (that is cleared of loose rock and scree) so you have to be extra careful not to kill your belayer below by dislodging a 100 lb piece of rock.

Most climbers start out top-roping then graduate to sport climbing. Both are not nearly as dangerous as trad and it shows in the ethics. I train in the gym to get strong on the harder grades but in there I sense a one-upmanship that I don't sense being around trad climbers. Traddies are more into genuine comraderie probably because they don't want you to screw up too often. If you top-rope or sport climb you can screw up as many times as you want without serious consequences. That explains why most trad climbers climb more "conservative routes" relative to their performance in the gym.

ie I can climb a 5.12 on top-rope but only trad climb 5.7.

Hope this is more helpful than confusing.

 

BTW: <b>Josh Root</b>, you climb too? Drop me a line sometime next year as I'm road trippin' through the States, maybe we can climb something together (like Devil's Tower in Wyoming). ;-)

Marc, I can relate to your karate stories. I did a couple of years of Wado-Ry Karate, but stopped with our Sensei (WC 1968, 8th dan) insisted on my competing. I did one or two competitions but it was just too brutal/full contact. I actually remember my last match when this guy kept on hurting me w/o getting any points due to lack of proper technique. I looked over to my team captain (then European Champion), scrugged my shoulders as to what to do, he moved his index finger across his throat indicating my to finish this off (hence, you don't want your opponents to think that your club is weak), thus I walked back, decked him with a right hook and got disqualified and walked off the matt while my club members were chearing. Apart some martial art training during military service, I haven't done much karate since.

 

I know now idea what this has to do with Leica photography...

Racing an Alfa Romeo in Historic Touring Cars makes Leica look cheap, cheap, cheap. At £1800 per engine build (every three races, or seven weeks on average) in the 1980/90's plus parts and the rest of the running costs it could only be done with sponsorship. Even then I could have had many black paint M3's from the money from my own pocket. But some things, even if not sustainable, are even better than having a Leica!

I've had a few over the years... but photography seems to give me the most creative release.

 

To me the hobbies are all about creativity. I'm not a musician, but I build instruments. I'm not a shooter but I build guns. I'm not a ham, but I build radios. Dunno if anyone relates to that.

 

I'm frankly suprised I'm not a camera repairman... but I do enjoy makeing pictures better than messing with equipment, so maybe there's hope for me in photography.

Online multiplayer games like Medal of Honor. They can suck 8hrs out of the day without you even noticing...or eating...or answering the phone...or using the restroom...or...or...

World travel, watch collecting, pen collecting, wine collecting, auto racing - esp.BMW,

Target shooting is quite expensive, especially if you travel much to shoot. One thing about bullets - once you launch them, they don't return. I burn out a barrel every couple years. If I go back to Camp Perry next year, that will cost a couple thousand.

Carey,

 

"Henk: Not a 175, what is it?"

 

Its an early 60's ES 125T Thinline, i really love it, no decorations, just a really rich and bluesy sound.... Kinda like an M2 ;)

 

Greetings,

Mmm, online games indeed.

 

Audio as well, listening to and playing. Very pricy hobbies.

Other hobbies I have:

 

Cooking, once as a profession, now private. Proper gear can be very expensive.

 

Playing darts, and pool for liquid gain (beers), I don't play in bars for money, it can be dangerous. Playing poker with friends for financial gain. Remember success = fun?

 

Watching the Michigan Wolverine football team beat-up most of the other teams. UM 50, UH 3. Prediction: UM 31, Notre Dame 17. Any domers out there? Care to wager $50 vs my 90 Elmar LTM for a 14-point spread?

 

I'm quite sure there are no Spartans or Huskers from my previous posts. I am a FANatic when it comes to Meeshigan Football. Hell, I was born at the U of M hospital.

 

And, posting with typos. 8*)

Yeah, Trad climbing can be really expensive. But then again, not any more so than a couple of Leica lenses. But bouldering is downright cheap in comparison, and a top-roping setup is not very much more. Sport climbing gets a bit more expensive, since you have to have a set of quickdraws and they easily get stolen/lost. For those who don't know, <A HREF="http://travel.howstuffworks.com/rock-climbing1.htm">here's</A> a page that describes the different types of climbing.

<P>

I don't really ever climb trad, though many of my friends do and they all tell me that it's really fun. I'm more into sport routes or bouldering. I feel it's nice to be able to push myself to the limit of my abilities, without having to worry (much) about if my pretection will fail and I will fall hundreds of feet to my death. Bouldering can be some of the hardest climbing you will ever do, but you are hardly ever more than 10 feet off the ground.

Well, I'm impressed. Marc, you should have taken up Aikido and just rolled around on the mat. Nothing to it. And Camp Perry is not for the novice. Do you see Ghost Dance there? Gentlemen, I salute you and will retire to enjoy a fine cigar. They cost a fortune and will kill you in the end. Now that's expensive.

Some of you guys sound like you have too much money.

 

I used to, also, and was an audiophile for years.

 

" . .(bought super cheap after the newer series came out). . "

 

Oh, yeah, if you've got the needle in deep, hi-fi can suck up money like anything.

 

But I like, and sometimes need, to turn hobbies into professions, and sometimes back into hobbies again.

 

I'm selling my high-end gear to buy recording equipment, and growing that business. Years ago I got into cameras and picture making as a avocation, then it was a job for nearly a decade, went to sleep for a spell, and now it's back as a fresh pursuit. No weddings yet - spare me!

 

Life's funny ...

david,

 

aikido and rolling around the mat is easy? try doing that fifty -

seventy times just for warm ups and the world goes hay-wire.

and we're not yet even talking about high-falls yet...

I have done judo in my young days, ripped my achilles tendon(?) once and stopped. My doctor said i had weak ankles, dunno if that was from judo or some genetic malfunction, but still. A friend of mine did karate and later Pencak Silat. We fought once for fun, but when he maitained distance he always kicked my ass royaly ;) Pretty weird to see a guy jump around like an ape and kicking your forehead when supporting his weight on one fist...... *the dark sensation kreeps up on me again* Im done fighting nowadays, im happy to say ;)

 

Greetings and peace with you all ;)

Bas: "4years with one PC and still see no need to upgrade"

 

Just imagine someone who bought an M3 when new; 50 years later and still no need to upgrade. ;-)

 

Josh, I love fountain pens, too. I love looking at the Waterman catalogues; the Carene is such an evocative instrument, isn't it? Maybe I'll buy one, along with the Art Deco Phileas I've been lusting after for years. But then, what will I really do with them? I do write quite a bit but that's mosty e-mail. I guess I don't need a reason to buy them - I can use them now and then and enjoy their beauty anyway. I guess I don't want to become a fondler...

 

Matt, children are really the best people IMHO. Wouldn't mind having children one day, but yeah, it won't be easy.

 

Steve: "A hooby is done for FUN, not work. Maybe you need more hobbies to remember what a hobby is, 8*)."

 

I Don't believe in hobbies, Steve. I'd like to think that anything I do is of some value to somebody else. Of course, the best thing would be to have a job which I love so much I won't *need* a hobby to distract me from it. ;-)

 

Chris: "Online multiplayer games like Medal of Honor..."

 

I play Day of Defeat. Best game *ever*! Compared to fountain pens and photography, on-line FPSers are dirt cheap. So I guess this doesn't qualify...

 

Expensive 'hobbies' (though I don't like the word and what it implies) that I'd *like* to have include rebuilding Jaguar V12 cars as a kind of part-time business thing. Love to own and run my own on-line gaming servers (i.e. for Day of Defeat and maybe some other game). I like to play with networks so half-a-dozen Mac laptops to mess around with would be handy.