Competing Activity/Talents

Tom H · #1 04-09-2006, 07:54 AM

From the various postings of the members of this board it is obvious that many have multiple Talents (or at least are involved in multiple activities that result in something being created). I make cupboards/stepbacks, doll furniture, Noahs Arks, Quilts, and try to carve. This is a lot of competition for time. I love it, but need more time. When I carve, this is what I really want to do. But that is also true of making a piece of furniture or a quilt. Are others afflected by the same problem? What are some of these other creative outlets that you have? Tom H

Donna_T · #2 04-09-2006, 08:28 AM

Good observation, Tom,
I suspect that many of us are driven (nuts) by having to chose what we're going to do next...carve or what.

I like to do needlework (but the eyes are not as good as they used to be), quilting, gourding, gardening, antiquing (on a eclectic basis), and dabble in trying out new techniques from time to time.

And then there's grandkids. I usually will drop everything to do something with them, even if it's to take them shopping all day. Now that's quality time well spent. I can always carve when they're grown and don't have time to spend with grandma!

Donna T

decoycarve · #3 04-09-2006, 09:12 AM

I am into motorcycles, riding, building, repairing, jsut anything to do with them. I find it hard to find riding time as I like to ride 150 miles or more when I go out. My carving is turning into a business as I am not able to do the heavy industrial work that wore my body out anymore. Somedays when I have been carving all day working on a bike is great change for awhile.
Goody

Kenny_S · #4 04-09-2006, 09:22 AM

Really do not have a problem and my other hobbies aren't considered competition for time.
If I want to carve, I carve, If I want to relas ammo, I reload, when hunting seasons come around, I hunt, tinkering with my hot rod, id do, if the little bride has honey dos, then I found other things to do and mark hers of my list,but to worry about my other hobbies, no, I really don't.
Life is to short to worry about how I use my time.
Now when I was working, yes, it was hard to find time to carve, hunt, or whatever an I hated that feeling.

Lightningbolt · #5 04-09-2006, 11:15 AM

To begin, I work a full-time job and even if it is teaching woodworking and woodcarving it's still WORK and that is especially true when you learn that I must document out the yazoo every detail for every kid every day.

Just trying to find the time to answer a small fraction of all the great postings on this message board is a challenge when it comes to dishing out the time! But I do the best I can.

My favorite interest's that compete for precious time would be woodcarving, woodwork, designing rustic furniture, ultralight backpacking methods, and believe it or not I spend a lot of my own personal time finding ways to improve my woodshop program at work.

whitecree · #6 04-09-2006, 12:02 PM

Carving, computers, forum cruising, carving research, art research, history, science fiction, grandson activities, drawing, painting, walking, working my way down the 'do it or else' list and once in a long while, I even manage to find time to just sit and think.

Who needs tv?

Ron Davidson · #7 04-09-2006, 12:08 PM

I think one of the things that I miss the most is building furnature and cabinets. So basically the carving is my main outlet. I can pretty much do it when I want and if I need a break I go for a hike.

Tom H · #8 04-09-2006, 12:25 PM

I think I am still going to ask the kids and grand kids for a time stretcher for fathers day. The main problem that I have is I seldom spend the amount of time a one thing that is really necessary to begin to master it. Since I am kinda new to carving I need to spend nearly all the time with it, if I want to get better. But, you know what? It's still fun and nothing like work at all. Everything I try to do is that way. I don't know anything about motor cycles, but I do know that those photos show an awesome machine. Tom H

Kenny_S · #9 04-09-2006, 01:00 PM

Harold, My father in law still rides and he is 80, Now he rides less than he use to but at 79, he went back to Mexico for the umpteenth time and he rode to Strugis SD, last year for the umpteenth time, and he is restoreing a 1939 Indian Chief and is almost completed. well it might be now as I ahven't been over there is a couple of months.
I gave up the motorcycles years ago and has made for a happier home life.
Oh, some times I would like to own another one but have other things I would like to do also.
Tom, I understand where you are coming from but I decide long ago, It isn't worth the stree to worry about the time spent on one hobbie or the other.
If you get down to it, Personally, I would give all my hobbies up and spent more time with the Grandchildren, but now, One is in grad school and one is in preschool and the other goes to the babysitters week day.
I believe the busier you are and keeping yourself occupided makes you live longer. That is if you want to.

Good topic Tom.

JIM QUILICI · #10 04-09-2006, 04:26 PM

well most of my working life I was a boss, told people what to do and when, and where to work. now that I am retired I still make the decissions , what to carve and when to carve............................unless if my wife has other plans or does'nt want me to carve or if my kids or grand kids are comming over lol.
Just old Jim