Hobby vs Passion vs Obsession

[gingerninja]

I cant possibly comment.
Except to say if I die before my wife and she sells my scuba gear for what I told her I paid for it I will be rolling in my grave!

Best be putting a little note in the will then

[DiveDiva]

Hi,

At what point does a hobby turn in to a passion, then slide in to an obsession?

Being the self proclaimed tight a*** that I am, I think of everything in terms of $$, so what percent of your after tax income would you have to be spending on diving, or diving related stuff to make you wonder if diving had taken control of your life, and you were powerless to stop it ?

I ask, because I'm 'doing some numbers' and am scaring myself

Thanks
Cameron

Interesting question

Personally I think when your 'hobby' starts to impact significantly on other areas of your life - either financially (we couldn't afford to pay the power bill because we spent the $$$ on kit) or family (what husband? I have a husband!!?) or work (every Wednesday for 2 years is quite a lot of sick leave!!!) then you can safely say you're fairly obsessed!!

But it depends on your perspective. I know many of us who would be happy to spend most / all of any surplus cash on diving or diving related stuff. Others will need to balance the time and expense with other things.

For those of us who spend all our extra money and time diving and then any left over energy on this forum discussing diving....well, there really is no hope

[Paul]

That was very well summed up Rach!

[Tony]

:) It's all about perspective hey?!

Hilarious CB With a diving partner I don't have the luxury of Enron type accounting

Definitely Lol there Cam.


As to the question? Well for me it would have to be an obsession. Especially if its got anything to do with wrecks etc.

[petemes]

Everyone needs to spend their money on something.

Its what you choose to spend your money on is the hard part. In saying that. It really isnt that hard at all. Its all about priorities. If getting a spoiler kit for your car and a set of those undercar florescent lights is the priority then thats what you will get!

Cameron, we are all made up differently so I guess you arent going to change your way of thinking by reading a few posts on the forum. If its consolation you are looking for then you are in the right place. Man I am STILL paying off a scooter that I DONT REALLY need. I go on trips that I CANT afford, I obsess over gear that I DONT REALLY NEED, I have a visa bill that will feed a small nation on the interest I pay ALONE. But am I happy???? HELL YEAH.

I guess the best advice I can muster is spend it while you can!! you can always get around having little cash but TIME is the thing that you cant get back. Enjoy life. We all know people that life changes after a visit to the doctor. But then thats just me. My wife is the worrier about bucks in our household ( and worry she should!!!!!!).

GET THE GEAR YOU WANT
GO ON THE TRIP YOU WANT
BUY THAT CAMERA YOU HAVE BEEN WANTING FOR YONKS

just send me the bill!!



Pete

[binklebonk]

just send me the bill!!

Pete

Well that's a very generous offer Pete.. You may need a bigger letterbox.

Now on the subject of passion/obsession..
Being a somewhat foolishly outspoken Atheist I find myself regularly in a position of having to try and explain to the credulous what it is that keeps me interested/sane/moral in the absence of a reward/punishment view on life. After the usual admonishment for the glaring admission, that the asker of such a question makes, that they only live a moral life from fear of retribution I usually come round to this.

This life is not an audition for the next one, it is not a 'vale of tears' that we must 'put up with' momentarily until our ticket is clipped and we are rescued from this miserable existence of trial and temptation.

I think this to be our one and only life, a view which, I can assure you, makes life seem precious beyond all value and I want to see as much of the mind boggling diversity that evolution has wrought as possible, the vast majority of which is in the sea.

I have already this year spent almost 1/2 my salary on new kit...... It took me about .07 seconds to decide

On my deathbed I will not regret what I did, but I may regret that which I didn't.

[petemes]

Well that's a very generous offer Pete.. You may need a bigger letterbox.

Maybe I should have said - Send my wife the bill!

[ChuckyBob]

Well that's a very generous offer Pete.. You may need a bigger letterbox.

Maybe I should have said - Send my wife the bill!

In that case can you just send me a full set of 4th element undergarments and pass the bill on to your wife.
I'll PM you my delivery address.

[petemes]

Well that's a very generous offer Pete.. You may need a bigger letterbox.

Maybe I should have said - Send my wife the bill!

In that case can you just send me a full set of 4th element undergarments and pass the bill on to your wife.
I'll PM you my delivery address.

you have to hand it to her in person Besides, shouldnt you ALREADY be in Fourth Element gear Greg?

[ChuckyBob]

Oh, in that case I think I will just pay retail my self.
I have a 4th wetsuit undergarment but I am still using the Otter thinsulate with my DS.

[guru]

Its what you choose to spend your money on is the hard part. In saying that. It really isnt that hard at all. Its all about priorities. If getting a spoiler kit for your car and a set of those undercar florescent lights is the priority then thats what you will get!

It is indeed the hardest part, on what to spend your money and more importantly your time on!

If I would say I was addicted to anything, i would say I was addicted to the thrill!
So far my list of 'major' hobbies extends to Diving, Dancing, Motorsport & Skiing. Most of which I hope to take to the next level over the next few years. Add to that wanting to get my jump license for skydiving, see the world, and sometimes stop to enjoy the little thngs and life suddenly starts to seem quite short indeed!