This was initially just going to be another progress update for my dystopian wars Prussian fleet and ork lootas, but after reading the FTW post announcing the hiatus it prompted me into some reflection of my own.
It got me thinking about how much time I spend on this hobby? Obviously Ron's situation was in the extreme having to pander to our needs and support our hobby interests as well has his own by running a massive blog community. It is a situation that bears very little resemblance to my own but his points do reflect some concerns I currently have.
The hobby brings me a large amount of joy. Some of the best friends I have made have attended my various local gaming clubs, it keeps me thinking and creative (something I always indulged in as a kid but lost when I began to become a scientist) and it even kept me out of drugs when I was at college as I would go spend lunch in the local shop rather than smoke weed (which nearly got me kicked out of college).
So the hobby is pretty important to me and it does play a central role in my current social life but that's just it. At this present moment in time there isn't much else to do. My partner is stuck in a dead-end job back in her home town, I'm in the graduate graveyard and there isn't a music scene to speak of here. So right now, it does no harm to indulge my impulses in the hobby like spending all day painting and taking an hour out to write this article.
What's interesting to me is what will happen to my hobby when I move on to better things? What will happen to it when my partner and I move in and start our lives proper? Will it really matter to me that much? I hope that when I eventually come to answering these questions that I keep a sound perspective and remember that it is a hobby and when it takes more than its value from your real life it's time to say no. I have been sitting here thinking about how much time and money I have spent and it just astounds me. Could I have done something better with that time and money? Well on average I would say no, I am happy with most of the choices I have made but it is shocking to really think about how much personal investment I have given. Imagine what Ron must have felt like!
In conclusion to this little snippet of personal reflection I would like to make a comment of my own towards Ron's decision to close FTW. I would like to congratulate him on making the correct decision and restoring the balance of commitment in his life. I would also like to champion him as setting a good example to all of us by reminding us to remain sensible with the attention we give our hobby and not to lose sight of the really important things in life. Finally, I would like to say thank you to the attention he gave all of us in the blogging community, he owes us nothing.
Some Hobby Progress
Well despite it getting a little deep there I think there is still some room to add in some hobby progress (oh sweet irony).
Here's Big Bertha
Heres the 7'th member of the loota squad
I'd say that when life really gets off the ground that your hobby will just move with it. Take me for example. Since i moved to Wales 3 years ago my career has grown and improved exponentially, and so has my hobby! Maninly because i've had more and more money to spend on it! But seriously, when you've got an understanding girlfriend as well, there isnt much to get in the way of the hobby (well there isnt for me anyways) I still have bags of time to go see my mates back home, go to the pub, go and watch leannes footie team loose again and again! Humans are naturally adaptive, and as you love your hobby, you'll find that you'll dam well make time to get some modeling in! Of course the situation changes when you have kids like Ron has, and then its a whole different storey. But until that happens, i'd say dont worry in the slightest! The future just holds more money to buy Forgeworld!!
ReplyDeleteLove the Blimp by the way!
Hey thanks Tim, I was hoping to get some insight from you, your life is pretty much where I hope mine to be one day.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right, there will always be a place for a man and his hobby regardless of what it might be. Lauren has already said that our first place has to have a man room so that she can throw me in it and get some piece and quiet! That and she doesn't want plasticard all over the kitchen table! She really has given this some considerable thought.
Thanks for your posting.
ReplyDeleteIf I've succeeded in nothing else, I've been able to shine a light on others hobby/home life and make them look at it to make sure they are where they want to be with it as well.
Thank you.
Thanks for posting this, Musings of a Smurf. I had been feeling a little bummed out lately about not having any hobby time. You reminded me however that this was only because there was much that I had to do for my family and that I am very happy having gotten a lot accomplished outside the world of my little toys. Thanks man for giving me a fresh perspective! Haha... all about priorities, right?
ReplyDeleteReally nice work on the newest Loota, that is going to be an amazing mob when you're all finished with them. And as for Big Bertha... beautiful! The flight deck and the skin of the airship look great. It's always fun to see what cool things you're been working on, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the post MoaS, enjoyed the read. Seriously, I needed it. Sometimes real life acts like a freaking bitch and your post was like eyedrops for tired eyes. Not kidding, sometimes you need someone to give you a little change of your perspective ;D
ReplyDeleteAnd BTW, loved your new blog design, banner and such. I hadn't seen it until today. Nice work!!
@ Ron: Good luck, and thank you, without FTW this blog wouldn't even have got off the ground.
ReplyDelete@papa jj: It's funny isn't it how we lose sight of things every now and again. I mean, I have no job, my partner and I are in separate parts of the country, I have University debt coming out the wazoo and I have no immediate future, yet here I am worried that I won't get my ships all painted in time! It is funny what this hobby is capable of sometimes so yeah I guess it is all about the priorities!
@Nesbit: We all need a little boost from time to time. I'm sure you'll pull through what ever life has been throwing at you recently but I'm glad you took something away from my words. Don't get me wrong, I'm just a 23 year old MSc graduate with dreary and often pessimistic outlook on life so my words don't tend to be that inspiring. Seriously though, I think we all need a nudge from time to time.
@ everyone: Thank you all for the lovely comments. I'll try and keep the blog personal as well as creative
Berther looks fantastic, the Orks look cool as wellkeep it up.
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