I gotta get another hobby (besides guns)

jmccracken1214

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My search for something to entertain me, outside of my guns is peaking. I keep wanting to buy guns, but I keep getting less and less time to shoot them. I've been questioning myself lately, why bother? Keep a few and find something else to do... that I can do more often as well. It really urke's me at times, going 1-2 months without being able to shoot, seeing my safe/guns everyday and never using the crap i've dropped thousands on.

Maybe I need to buy a playstation and get some yarn to knit with.
 
I started building models again. Takes time, can be done during any weather type.
Only get out to shoot 3 or 4 times a year. It’s getting harder to justify spending all that money on guns and ammo and having it all sit in a safe going unused.
 
My search for something to entertain me, outside of my guns is peaking. I keep wanting to buy guns, but I keep getting less and less time to shoot them. I've been questioning myself lately, why bother? Keep a few and find something else to do... that I can do more often as well. It really urke's me at times, going 1-2 months without being able to shoot, seeing my safe/guns everyday and never using the crap i've dropped thousands on.

Maybe I need to buy a playstation and get some yarn to knit with.

I found these 5k run n gun matches and physical long range matches that one rucks the match.

I am no physical stud by any measure and know i am pulling the end of the line with me, but it gave me a new aspect to gun shooting. Now i have goals at the range to achieve, plus improvement in my physical health.

So thats my new hobby
 
here is the situation, as i see it:

1. less and less shooting time.
2. desire to do something different.
3. asking for our advice.

long reply.

here we go:
as you already know, range time is LOTS of time (and money, but i'll focus on time).
time to Get Ready for the Range, driving to the Range, at the Range, etc.
and traffic, at least near my range, is getting worse.
so...what is a Hobby that might "console" the restless heart?
my "substitute" is trail cameras. others use drones, but i am not that good, yet.
essentially, i have 11 cameras set up to check daily for ~1 hour.
which means i get my "steps" in, and it's done by dark.
 
Would love to fly drones. Looks like a lot of fun and if you are really good at it you can make some money.
 
I got into woodworking, it fits the whole "we live in an old house" scheme of things.
The other is RC sailboats. I'm thinking on starting a full keel 50" hull soon.
 
I understand. When I first got into guns, I literally bought about 100 or so. I had a healthy income and could afford them, and if I wanted to try one out, I just bought it. I have sold off a lot of them, standardized calibers, and now have what I need for family and friends, plus some I would use for barter in the event of an "event." Just not fascinating to me like they were.

Never really had a problem with not enough stuff to keep me occupied mentally... or maybe that is the reason I have had 8 CAREERS (not jobs). I get bored with stuff and unlike others who just grit their teeth and do it, I am so undisciplined that I just have gone tearing ass out after some new job or diversion. Even as a kid, I got bored in school and sat back in the back of the class and read encyclopedias, looking for random topics that piqued my interest. Internet before the internet.

Due to an ability to pick things up pretty quick and a really sort of manic work ethic (I have never worked less than 65 hours a week in my memory and mostly WAY more), things have worked out ok, but I am now realizing that if I had the DISCIPLINE to find one thing and stick to it, I would not be a mile wide and an inch deep on so many topics.

I guess life is a tradeoff in just about everything.

Nevertheless, the world is such a wide, fascinating, compelling and invigorating place that I know you will find new hobbies that SUPPLEMENT (not replace) your shooting fetish.

Thanks for posting that, and good luck.
 
Not everyone is so lucky to be able to shoot in their back yard in their underwear!
@jmccracken1214 fix up the house, landscape/trim etc, flip it. Buy a cleaner upper just on the outside of a growing area, flip again.
After doing this every 2-5 years for 10-20 years, you may be able get pace for chooitin’ in yer drawers. :eek:
 
Collected Lionel Trains for 50 years, Sold them all last year, collected Ertl Scale Toy Tractors for 20+ years, Sold them all last year. Sold my wood working shop last year. Been selling gun collection, what little there was. Now collecting Bark River Knives, Shooting 1000+ yards, and working in the yard. Always looking for a new hobby and at my age I can get bored with one real fast.
 
I understand completely. I too can shoot in my backyard with or without underwear. :p But if I had to to pack all my gear and drive to a "range" I would probably own one or two hunting guns and go out before the season, shoot two or three times to blow out the cobwebs and that would be it.

This may sound really strange but my wife and I are avid birders. It really keeps you sharp in regard to your awareness and "outdoor skills" and you can do it just about anywhere. All you need is a set of binoculars and a field guide. For the competitive types, keep a record of species. The first 100 are relatively easy, after that you almost have to get in full hunting mode. I have a SF friend (a real snake eater!) who is always being deployed and he quietly keep a record of species he sees all over the world. Pretty impressive life list to say the least. Throw him in the woods and he can spot a warbler moving through the canopy at 100 yards. And if you were out there and even as much as blinked he would spot your ass too! :eek: It's like hunting and you can do it anywhere on the planet. You just have to have to work on your "situational awareness". I drove to town this morning and just while driving I spotted several juvenile Wood Storks, a red-shouldered hawk, Great Horned Owl, and a Yellow-crowned Night heron. While in the grocery store I spotted a nice "double-breasted mattress thrasher" too! :D
 
Hobbies? I don't have any hobbies. I'm such a nerd, I can relate every single thing I do for enjoyment back to my professional life, some way or another :cool:
 
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I don't really need another hobby as much as I need to get off my lazy rear and do stuff.

There is plenty to do around my house and lot, that if I stayed on top of those, I wouldn't have much time for sitting, reading this forum, watching YouTube videos, ordering gun stuff, etc.
 
Collected Lionel Trains for 50 years, Sold them all last year, collected Ertl Scale Toy Tractors for 20+ years, Sold them all last year. Sold my wood working shop last year. Been selling gun collection, what little there was. Now collecting Bark River Knives, Shooting 1000+ yards, and working in the yard. Always looking for a new hobby and at my age I can get bored with one real fast.

I used to be into HO scale trains. Ending up moving so much it all stayed in boxes. Sold it all off. My pop has Lionel’s, treats them better then the grand kids
 
Everything I do is within 15-20 minutes from where I live. With horses, mini donkeys, dogs and a small parrot I stick close to home. I only have one rideable horse so I rarely ride but it is my love and exercise daily.Motorcycling came in when I wanted cheaper transportation when I worked 1/2 hour from home. Taking the bike instead of driving a F350 diesel dually in Winston-Salem saved some $. When I worked the gun store I rode the bike unless it rained or snowed. I dance 2x a week unless the instructor needs my help or we do a "show" or parade. I shoot at least once a week at an indoor and clean my "equipment" a day or two later. I have started taking rifle courses recently and will continue that along with my sidearm practice. I play games on my Xbox when I can, usually in the early morning hours, and I played Call of Duty a lot. Keeping up 2 houses (house and barn) lawn and weed eating work and along with trees, leaves little time to have "hobbies". My life is a hobby!
 
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