Com-Pac Yacht Owners Association

General Com-Pac and Sailing Related Discussions => Com-Pac Sailors Lounge => Topic started by: HeaveToo on February 16, 2017, 02:35:05 PM

Title: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: HeaveToo on February 16, 2017, 02:35:05 PM
I was just thinking of this and I figured I would put this out there.

Is sailing an addiction or a hobby?

Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: HeaveToo on February 16, 2017, 02:36:19 PM
I vote for addiction.  Seriously, I think about it so much and when I am not sailing I am thinking of it, about half of the time.  I like looking at boat adds in the winter.  I actually enjoy working on my boat and the whole time I am working on it I am thinking about my next cruise.

Definitely and addiction.
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: BruceW on February 16, 2017, 05:30:44 PM
What about obsession?

I've got some projects and plan to accomplish them between sailing trips, but I really do think about taking the boat out.

It's a hobby, in my opinion, that looms large when you can't do it.
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: HeaveToo on February 16, 2017, 09:08:45 PM
Interesting thought....My Hunter 22 was named Bad Obsession!!!!  LOL
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: kahpho on February 16, 2017, 09:29:41 PM
It's an avocation.

Or something like that.
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: kickingbug1 on February 16, 2017, 09:49:21 PM
    a hobby  because its therapy
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: Tim Gardner on February 16, 2017, 09:52:00 PM
It's absolutely yes!
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: Bob23 on February 17, 2017, 05:29:27 AM
Therapy and freedom!
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: Gerry on February 17, 2017, 08:00:23 AM
Addictions control you.  Hobbies, you control.
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: Mas on February 17, 2017, 10:07:55 AM
It's a love affair. I love running my hands over her curves, love getting her things, love looking at her, love taking her out, love simply being around her. :)

....ditto for Susan!


Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: HeaveToo on February 17, 2017, 12:06:14 PM
Whew....For a second I thought that Rick was going to get a little graphic with his love affair comment.  LOL
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: philb Junkie19 on February 17, 2017, 08:48:32 PM
More than a hobby,  yes a passion, but i guess guess I'll have to settle on just plain magic. From the moment I stepped into that old wooden rented rowboat with my dad and felt the water holding us up and allowing us to row in any direction we chose it was the beginning of the magic.
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: CayugaSailor on February 17, 2017, 09:26:49 PM
"Only at sea is a man really free."
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: Reighnman on February 18, 2017, 06:31:33 AM
I think it's an addiction to a hobby. For myself, I'm up at 625am typing on a Compac sailboat specific forum which says addiction to me. The person I purchased the boat from would fall closer to a non-addict to the hobby as the boat was beaten like someone who looked at her as simple a vessel to enjoy for the moment and nothing more. I think we look at our boats as much more, that's why we spend hours talking about various projects and upgrades.
I have a very addictive personality, be it too many beers, running my body into the ground doing triathlons, and now obsessing about the day I can push off the dock with no return ticket. 
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: Mas on February 20, 2017, 08:41:55 AM
Quote from: HeaveToo on February 17, 2017, 12:06:14 PM
Whew....For a second I thought that Rick was going to get a little graphic with his love affair comment.  LOL

I am sure everyone understands being in love! Also where else can you be in love with your spouse of 37 years and have an extra marital affair with two other ladies complete with the blessings of your wife! Doesn't get much better.  :)
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: jdklaser on February 20, 2017, 09:25:36 AM
I used to be addicted.  I would sail in air temps below freezing, as long as the wind speed did not go above the air temperature, or big wind but now, not so much. 
Still love to sail, but comfortably.  Love....yes, addicted.....no, hobby...yes
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: Potcake boy on February 20, 2017, 07:37:03 PM
I think of sailing as an escape. A portal that allows us to enter the world where everything is perfect. Perfect because it all makes sense. Perfect because it is the closest we can be with nature, and nature does not have the shortcomings of humanity. A storm can be understood because it is absent the sentiment of human beings, it's just a storm. Nature will present you with challenges, but not betrayal, with extreme circumstances, but not malice. Nature is neither your friend nor your enemy, she is perfectly natural. So for many, sailing is an opportunity to be themselves without apologizing, without fear of reprisal, or being judged.

So I believe that is more than a hobby for many, but less for some, a passion for many and less for others. It is what we make it for ourselves, and that's perfect.
Title: Re: Addiction or Hobby?
Post by: brackish on February 21, 2017, 09:36:27 PM
Well said Ron.  For me it has at times been both, at other times been either and occasionally been neither.  I guess it depends on the pressures the life we live has placed on us over time.  Now it truly is an escape, a place to go and become centered.