Published on 12, July, 2020
Anyone else have a series of obsessions that seem to come and go in rotation?
When I get into a hobby, I throw myself into it fully and pursue it with passion whilst I'm learning at a decent rate. Then when the learning slows down because of the plateau that inevitably comes, I lose interest and move on to something else, often an old hobby.
Because I value efficiency, I'll often sell all of the hobby equipment - sometimes regretting it shortly afterwards.
I've been through astronomy, photography, shortwave radio, ham radio, electronics, hifi, religion, piano playing, guitar playing, motorcycling, advanced motorcycling (to the point where I was qualified to teach this). On the odd occasion that I find myself without a passion I get into a hell of a mess with addictive behaviours too.
I have some obsessions that last a really long time. I've had some that have currently lasted about 20 years.
I have other obsessions that are short lived. They've never tended to be ones that involve lots of equipment though. At the moment it is rubiks cubes.
Mine are all childhood things that come and go. I recently toyed with getting back into 00 gauge railways - but on costing it all up it would be thousands to build a nice layout - and where would I store it?
I have a cabinet full of Lego, I've got loads of models - all the ones that were too expensive when I was a kid like the Matchbox Flower Class Corvette and the Lindberg Fletcher Class Destroyer.
I got a Nichimo 1/200 IJN Yamato model - these are about £500 new - for £21 from a really badly done advert on Ebay.
Mine are usually childhood things too. If I had the money I would have an entire room dedicated to them and it would be full of Lego, modelling kits, puzzles, figures and other toys I have been obsessed with.
I designed one that has multi loops for a 8x4 sheet of ply that has over 80' of linear running track winding around on 3 levels with some tunnels & bridges.
Relatively easy to build but just sooo expensive.
I had forgotten 00 gauge railways! One of the nicest things my dad did for me as a child was put a 6ft square bit of MDF on castors so I could build a permanent layout and it would slide under their double bed when not being used!