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Hobbies, by any other name
Aug. 6th, 2011 10:07 pmRealizing that at this point I'm talking to about 50% empty air, as much of DW/LJ land has left for Pennsic and is out of electronic contact.
But as I'm mostly muttering to myself, anyway, this hardly matters.
I've been thinking more about hobbies, and the nature of making choices about time and how we spend it. First, the things that have been niggling us about the SCA of late:
1. I've mentioned already the issue of my children and their "acceptability" at events. That's a biggie. The other side, of course, being that they're not happy AT events.
2. We don't fit the "mold" typical of a lot of SCAdians. And, yes, while the Society at least pretends to accept everybody, if you're politically conservative, standard issue Protestant, not much into partying, and unable to camp..... Why are we here, again?
3. The number of people who confuse "chivalry" with "enforced labor." Past a certain point I get mortally tired of being constantly hit up with requests for rides, cheap places to live, cast off furniture, and general dealing with the "leach" community that has learned how to bottom-feed off the Society.
4. Ten-years in, it's time to replace a lot of our kit. Is it worth it? All the time. 100+ court Scrolls. All the sewing. The stuff that went into "gift baskets." I don't have it anymore. My children need me.
Ya live and learn, so we're evaluating potential "replacement" hobbies with a jaundiced eye.
Both of us like Steampunk stuff. I could keep costuming, John has always been a Jules Verne fan. But we'd run into the same problem (or worse) with the kids.
I've been jealous of those of you who went to CoCo. But also aware that that's just not in the cards for me. Probably ever. In fact, while I love a lot of the eras represented, the inherent issue with costuming in general is that it's a solitary hobby. While it sometimes fits into something that we can all participate in, by itself, it's a solitary hobby that I can't really share with the family. Oh, they can wear things. But the actual "making" part is a one-woman enterprise.
Even getting much into food blogging, etc., is just about me. And frankly, at this point in my life there really isn't much room for anything to be all about me.
Dance - will hinge on the girls. Maybe Anneliese will continue to hate it, even with earplugs. Maybe Rori will just have no interest. Maybe we won't find anybody who wants them as students.
As yet, we haven't found any other BIG contenders. Suggestions?
But as I'm mostly muttering to myself, anyway, this hardly matters.
I've been thinking more about hobbies, and the nature of making choices about time and how we spend it. First, the things that have been niggling us about the SCA of late:
1. I've mentioned already the issue of my children and their "acceptability" at events. That's a biggie. The other side, of course, being that they're not happy AT events.
2. We don't fit the "mold" typical of a lot of SCAdians. And, yes, while the Society at least pretends to accept everybody, if you're politically conservative, standard issue Protestant, not much into partying, and unable to camp..... Why are we here, again?
3. The number of people who confuse "chivalry" with "enforced labor." Past a certain point I get mortally tired of being constantly hit up with requests for rides, cheap places to live, cast off furniture, and general dealing with the "leach" community that has learned how to bottom-feed off the Society.
4. Ten-years in, it's time to replace a lot of our kit. Is it worth it? All the time. 100+ court Scrolls. All the sewing. The stuff that went into "gift baskets." I don't have it anymore. My children need me.
Ya live and learn, so we're evaluating potential "replacement" hobbies with a jaundiced eye.
Both of us like Steampunk stuff. I could keep costuming, John has always been a Jules Verne fan. But we'd run into the same problem (or worse) with the kids.
I've been jealous of those of you who went to CoCo. But also aware that that's just not in the cards for me. Probably ever. In fact, while I love a lot of the eras represented, the inherent issue with costuming in general is that it's a solitary hobby. While it sometimes fits into something that we can all participate in, by itself, it's a solitary hobby that I can't really share with the family. Oh, they can wear things. But the actual "making" part is a one-woman enterprise.
Even getting much into food blogging, etc., is just about me. And frankly, at this point in my life there really isn't much room for anything to be all about me.
Dance - will hinge on the girls. Maybe Anneliese will continue to hate it, even with earplugs. Maybe Rori will just have no interest. Maybe we won't find anybody who wants them as students.
As yet, we haven't found any other BIG contenders. Suggestions?
