BP Healthy Escape or Addiction

[KHickam]

Me and a friend of mine have a debate going - whether or not reading history/portraying a historical (as best I can) persona is a healthy escape or obsession/addiction - when does a hobby rise to the level of obsession?

Keith

 

[Mike Brooks]

18th century living history used to be an addiction for me for over 20 years. I finally got over it by becoming addicted to other time periods.... :haha:

 

[rabbit03]

I have enough trouble portraying myself than to take on another character! :blah:

As for the addiction thing, I am not sure, I have always called shooting my black powder rifle a passion. However I think it is more than that. Not sure how I would describe it really but it is a part of life for me and for some I suppose it is addicting too :thumbsup:

An addiction would sound as if it is something that gets in the way of your normal life. For me it is my life!

rabbit03

 

[Ohio Joe]

Me and a friend of mine have a debate going - whether or not reading history/portraying a historical (as best I can) persona is a healthy escape or obsession/addiction - when does a hobby rise to the level of obsession?

Keith

I think it depends on your level of enjoyment with either.

IMHO hands on history (re-enacting) is a quest to see and get a taste of what life may have been like for the period you are protraying.

Reading about history is also good as it gets your mind to thinking and exploring the thoughts of re-enacting and what you can do to further your persona...

There are several different ways to look at things. Example; Re-enacting is just that, but it's the enjoyments and rewards we get from doing something right in the 'old timers' ways.

Take the NMLRA for example. If you compete on a National scale, and on a State scale which is an NMLRA sanctioned event, those records of scores are kept for historical value as an actual real life history as it unfolds from event to event over the years.

If you want to know who finished first and last in a certain contest (say an offhand match) from the 1948 NMLRA National event, this most likely can and will be found as it was 'recordable history' at the time it took place, and can still be referenced today.

Re-enacting events are just as important as real life events in this sport as it keeps everyone involved in keeping this sport/hobby/history alive. :thumbsup:

 

[2172]

There are times when it has been a healthy escape for me. Fifteen years ago, tied to a desk, I took advantage of NJ's then-newly-created M-L squirrel season...the end of January,beginning of February...there was always a mid-winter thaw of a couple of days, and I'd take my Dixie poor boy .32 and head for the state forest...always the same ridge...never shot a squirrel, always got my head back together...Hank

 

[graybeard]

I'd say an addiction is when the hobby or pursuit diminishes your life. My passions: hunting, fishing, black powder, etc., have always enriched my life. My wife might not see it that way, though. graybeard

 

[FlintlockJonny]

all depends on your lifestyle...for me, my priorities are, God, Family, Making sure I provide for my Family, and then everything else in no particular order. I've seen addictions ruin families, mostly with substance abuse, but an addiction, regardless of what it is, is still an addiction and should not be taken lightly.

 

I would say that a hobby get to obsessive porportions when a person can no longer find the money for, or make time for reality. Now that I think of it -- my job is in the obsessive category because it can't be anything close to reality ........... and the pay is certainly sub market value.

 

[ladysmithtrading]

It started out as a hobby, moved to an addiction, then an obsession, now its our lifestyle(or will be pretty darn soon) within the next 2 years , the wife and I will be semi-retired, moving away from this rat race over populated metro area surrounding Seattle and over to the Olympic Penninsula of Wash state,to a small town, population 367,far enough out to relax and slow down, yet an hours drive away from the major shopping areas, will begin building the house next spring, 24x 42 shop was finished last year, where we will focus on our BP trading comp. its going well now and can escalate and support us if we devote a little more time to it, so a lifestyle it will become.

 

[KHickam]

I was born/raised for 8 yrs on the Peninsula - little town called Shelton - okay not so little anymore - but we lived closer to Matlock than Shelton.

Wel,, I was just curious - I was lounging around this morning in my long sleeved 18th century shirt this morning while my sweatshirts drying in the dryer. As I was laughing about some of the comments Patrick Gass wrote in his journal - having grown up on both sides of the Cascades in WA - I know many of the places he was talking about and I found his comments humorous. Lou (my buddy) thought that I have taken this too far.

Keith :thumbsup:

 

[Ohio Joe]

I guess I never answered the question in my earlier post. For me it is a healthy escape from the modern blend of shooting, and helps me to relax and unwind after some stressful work days, or just lifes in general stress that comes about with most of us in our daily life's.

I's a great sport/hobby to unwind with!

Joe :thumbsup:

 

[Desert Rat]

What does selling a pint of blood to buy a lb of powder fall under..... :rotf: Just kidding, for me it goes in waves, There's been years where I'd head out a couple times of month to trek. There also have been years were I didn't do much of anything. Now if I can get out 4-6 times in a year I feel I've gotten away a lot, I do however, still try and get out a few times a month for a few hours to at least shoot.

I'd call it an obsession, I'd think a body would have less control over an addiction and might do un-healthy or stupid things to feed it.

 

[ladysmithtrading]

KH, we have 2 acres just south of Brinnon off of the Duckabush River, well you know Shelton has grown up when it has a Super Size Wally World!up on Wallace Kneeland Blvd and the 101.

 

[KHickam]

Small world - my dad used to take me grouse, elk and deer hunting up around there when I was a kid. Even after we moved to south central WA - dad, my brother and I used to go over there every November to hunt elk with my cousins and uncles. Deckerville, middle fork of Satsop and Rabbit Creek. Sometimes we would go up to Grisdale or Dennie Ahl. Altogether, I spent 36 of the 42 yrs I have graced the Earth today in WA. Shelton, Spanaway, Puyallup (I was stationed at McChord) and of course Sunnyside, Royal City, and Spokane (I was stationed at Fairchild AFB) I still miss home - but I will be going back this October for a chukar hunt with some clients.

Anyway - I went out and exercised my passion today - shot my smoothbore - and it is shooting center finally - we did some backwoods gunsmithing on it - bent the barrel and had my front sight moved back to center - we still are working on moving the point of impact up - but I can shoot minute of antelope at 50 yds easily now. :thumbsup:

 

:hmm: I dunno! Never give it much thought. Whatever it is, it's a lot of fun. :grin:

 

[ladysmithtrading]

Living in Auburn now, cant wait to get the he#$ out of here! Send me a PT when your getting close to heading this way, maybe we can go for a shoot, Beav

 

[marwat06]

Is it an addiction? I guess if it becomes an addication than some of the same addicative behavior will be displayed. Is it hurting your relationships, $$$, work, etc?

 

[KHickam]

Hasn'hurt that yet

 

[Bob J]

I guess I never answered the question in my earlier post. For me it is a healthy escape from the modern blend of shooting, and helps me to relax and unwind after some stressful work days, or just lifes in general stress that comes about with most of us in our daily life's.

I's a great sport/hobby to unwind with!

Joe :thumbsup:

I wholeheartedly agree, Ohio Joe! Shooting blackpowder at the range is relaxing and takes my mind off work, obligations, etc. And getting into the woods, flintlock in hand, during hunting season is even better :grin:

 

[bob243]

There is a fine line between obsession and hobby for me. But the way I look at it, there is alot worse things I could be addicted too. BP is one of my latest (last 3 years or so) before this I spent pretty much whatever I had left after the bills were paid on shooting related hobbies. A friend had a shop which I spend probably 20~25 hours a week at just helping out, etc, and usually 3 or 4 trips to the range every week. Same thing when I decided I wanted to start building longrifles. I started my first one on the couter of my laundry room, and got disgusted with not having good place to try and work on it, this spring, I finally finished my 10x16 workshop out back, which I also went a bit overboard of getting tools, but I guess that happens LOL. Finally got my first rifle done a month and a half ago, and am working on my second one as well as planning my third. The bad news is I had to cut back on buying anything, I got the news that my department at work is being eliminated. (but I guess the obsessive part is my first though was "great timing for hunting season".

Yea, I am kinda obsessed, but then again, I know some people around town that spend more at the bar every week than I spend on shooting gear. And I have something to show for it the next day :blah: