The triangle of my hobbies

 Was talking to a co-worker, who was intrigued that I had so many hobbies.  In explaining my pattern of hobbies to him, I realized that there's a "triangle" relationship to all of my major hobbies (writing and recording songs; hand tool woodworking; filmmaking).

I'm not going to draw out a diagram, so:  imagine a triangle, with the bottom left vertex being "creativity", the bottom right being "logic", and the top of the triangle being "technical".  Extend a line outwards from each of these three corners:  to "creativity" add "self-expression"; to "logic" add "problem-solving"; and to "technical" add "gear".

All of my major hobbies are an intersection of left-brain and right-brain activities (logic vs creativity), and all involve technical mastery of skills (e.g. playing an instrument; using woodworking hand tools).

The creative aspects manifest themselves in self-expression (emotions and ideas in the songwriting; storytelling through the filmmaking; and various physical forms (and creative decisions about shape, color, and general look and style for the woodworking.

Problem-solving occurs in songwriting (choosing the right notes that fit as a whole); filmmaking (various technical challenges, especially with my limited resources); and woodworking (creating something that's structurally sound and meets the needs, while using often "scavenged" materials).

Finally, all of these hobbies can be performed with a fairly basic set of tools -- but I tend to enjoy the gear (inexpensive, quirky stuff -- not the fancy expensive stuff) as well.  :)

So:  that's a diagnostic summary of (apparently) why my main hobbies are, indeed, my main hobbies -- and why other things (e.g. martial arts) have -- for now -- fallen by the wayside. 

--GG

 

Secret to happiness

In my 30s I was somewhat into board games -- inspired, in part, by a friend from high school who finds board games at good prices at garage sales and thrift stores, then sells them at higher prices on "game collector" websites and uses the profits to fund additional game purchases for himself.  (He could totally afford to just buy the games that he wants -- but making the process self-sustaining is far more interesting.)

I e-mailed him to ask if he was sufficiently interested in a semi-collectable board game that I should "suitcase" it back to Seattle for him -- post-pandemic (!!!) -- or whether I should just give it to my (adult) niece, or my wife's co-worker, here in Australia?  He said I should just dispose of it here. 

As part of this conversation, I mentioned that I'm planning on going through my various games and getting rid of most of them:  I've now realized -- self-aware middle-aged guy that I am -- that spending 1-5 hours playing a game is not how I want to spend my time.  So -- I'm only going to keep a few.  And then I proceeded to -- off the top of my head -- list my "keepers".

It turns out that I ended up with twenty-seven (and thought of two more after I'd sent the e-mail).  So that's probably more than "non-game" people would have.

I asked my friend about that -- but he says that he's not a good reference point, as he has over a thousand.  So: clearly he's into games.  ;)

This reminded me of one of my "middle aged guy wisdom" insights:  the secret to happiness is to figure out what you like doing -- and then maximizing your time doing that (as long as it isn't harmful to yourself or others).  So:  I'm glad he's still doing "the game thing".  :)

Related to this:  I'm always charmed and intrigued by people who have interests, and then set up little work-shops or "zones" to accom-modate their interest (e.g. a "jewelry-making station").  I know he has an extensive system of shelves, down in his basement, for game storage:  so I'd like to think that he also has a  secondhand diner booth nearby -- with proper lighting -- so that he can play games at a moment's notice, leave half-finished games set up, and etcetara.

He actually doesn't, as it turns out:  but he likes the idea...  :)

 

--GG

My happiest times

I usually hang my "yardwork clothes" on hooks on the laundry room door.  The specific contents vary -- but its an old shirt (either a retired [stained!] dress shirt or a cheap t-shirt), pants (either a certain denim pair of shorts, short sweatpants, or long sweatpants), and a hat (the floppy cloth hat [pictured], or a straw hat) -- plus my "tool belt" (pouch for pruning shears; pouch for my keys (shed keys, house keys); pouch for my cell phone (if The Lady phones during her errands, plus for taking snapshots of projects); and a pouch for my utility knife.

A few days prior, I had read a quote in a magazine (wish I could give a proper citation, but I looked, and couldn't find the quote again), where someoneone's mother (or grandmother?) had said that the secret to happiness is to find three things that you like doing -- and then try to do them a lot.

I took the photo because I realized:  some of my happiest moments are when I'm wearing those clothes -- puttering around doing yardwork, or doing some woodworking project -- or wandering back and forth between the two.


--GG

Solitary hobbies

I think that hobbies can classified into three broad categories: solitary hobbies; group hobbies; and hobbies that can be either.


For example, solitary hobbies are:

-model boat building
-woodworking
-computers
-electronics
-writing
-reading
-collecting quotes
-sewing
-scrapbooking


Group hobbies are:

-tennis
-soccer



And, hobbies that can be either solo or group are:

-visiting the opera, seeing concerts and plays, going to movies
-weightlifting (i.e. you could go with a friend, or by yourself)
-hiking
-camping
-going to sporting events
-songwriting
-recording songs
-playing musical instruments
-cooking
-dancing
-golfing
-gardening


These aren't exhaustive lists, of course.  But the ones that came to me were either solitary, or "flexible":  not too many were inherently "group".


I found it interesting that all of my major and minor interests were either "solo" or "solo/group" -- which I practice solo.

Specifically woodworking, songwriting, recording, playing music, gardening -- I do 'em by myself.


Hm.


--GG

If I had more time

Every once in a while, I take stock of what I would do with myself if I came into a great deal of money and could just do what I wanted with my time.

Not travel -- at least, not recreationally (ugh!). I gots too much stuff to do around the house -- which I would enjoy more, and get more satisfaction from, than bopping about the globe.


TOP TIER:
-Woodworking
-Writing and recording songs
-Learning to play various musical instruments

TIER 2:
-Martial arts (continue Krav Maga; maybe pick up another on side on a rotating basis, to round things out [Judo, Western boxing; BJJ])
-Weightlifting, body conditioning -- lifting things, leaping fences, increasing my grip strength
-Building musical instruments

TIER 3:
-Gardening
-Building micro-homes (tiny living quarters)
-Writing, shooting and editing film shorts and music videos

TIER 4:
-Robotics (programming)
-Electronics (guitar effects pedals; various contraptions)
-Computers (hardware; programming)
-Wilderness survival techniques

TIER 5:
-Costuming/sewing
-Steampunk
-Cooking
-Write children's picture books (someone else would illustrate)


Plenty to keep me busy, once I retire.


--GG

A good haul

Yeah, Christmas is about more than just giving and getting presents. But: it **is** nice to receive some nice stuff...

This year was pretty balanced, covering nearly all of my hobbies and interests.


GARDENING: A book on building outdoor structures.



ARCHITECTURE: See above


WOODWORKING: The above book. Also some wooden clamps. A backsaw. And a one-person crosscut saw!!!




MARTIAL ARTS: A neat-o book on Chin Na (joint locks, etc.).



MUSIC: A cable tester. Also a silver "Flying V" guitar Christmas ornament. And a guitar calendar.


(Note: Those aren't gang signs: that's a "K" to remind me that it was from the kids, and an "F" to remind me it's from my family.)


GREEN STUFF: A green froggie paperweight. And a drawing, from my wonderful daughter. :)



--GG

If I had a million dollars

Oddly, if I had a million dollars, my day-to-day life wouldn't change much. I'd still only be having the boys in daycare two days a week, because we're trying to minimize that. And I actually kinda enjoy my job -- so I'd still keep working. But maybe ten hours a week instead of twenty.

But once the kids were in school full-time, I'd go up to twenty hours a week -- rather than full time. And I'd take martial arts classes; exercise more; record music a few times a week, probably in three-hour blocks; and do more woodworking.


The biggest change: have Indian or Middle Eastern food -- take-out, from a restaurant -- a **lot** more! :)

Oh: and buy maybe two funky synthesizers. And a really fancy fuzz pedal.


--GG