My wife explained to me on numorous occasions just how wierd I was for saying that looking in my gun safe or buying a gun was a great stress reliever. I can truelly say that when I open that safe door and smell and feel the heat from the golden rod, and the lights come on that this relaxes me. I start on the top shelf and work my way down to the rifles. Now depending on my mood I may start at the single action rugers and end up at the lever guns or start at the semi autos and end with the assualt rifles. Or any combination of start to finish. I think if I had a safe room were I could be surrounded by all my guns hanging on the wall for display that would be the ultimate in a zen experience. I have worked on a safe room for a client and know how I felt when I was in his room so I can't help but think I would really like one of my own. What do you do to cull the daily grind blues. My wife tells me she's not so worried about me running off with another woman when I hit the midlife crisis just the expense for the new guns that enter my life. Maybe I should write Dear Abbie. Doeboy

Stress, we dont need no stinking stress! My number one stress releiver is jumping on one of my motorcycles and going for a ride. Number two is a range session. In the winter, in the man cave reloading and fondeling a six gun or two.

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Stay safe people!

The greatest stress reliever in my life, is looking across the room and seeing my wife's smiling face looking back at me.

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Always Stay Strong!

That would make me nervous because if my wife was smiling at me I know she would know something I thought she didn't know that she thinks I should tell her about knowing that I may tell more than I should, not knowing when to stop.Know what I mean? Doeboy

Didnt see this thread before I posted one on the same line, but I think mine is rooting in the safe and looking at some of the stuff I have accumulated be it a Sharps or a Pre-29 or a Freedom Arms gun. I have also gone back to reading the works of Skeeter as well as some of the older gun rags when they actually had good info.

For me it's a trip to the range with my new M1! Or hanging out with the old vets down at the VFW hall trading war stories, these guys tell it like it is!

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

I just step into the backyard with my compound bow until my shoulder tells me I've had enough. I live in city limits, so no real shooting allowed.

Standing behind a bench and sending lead down range is the best for me, then the safe (like the OP said) and next to last is sitting in front of my 550 Dillon and reloading. Last is cutting a new plug for a new Smith & Wesson owner puts a smile on my face that I am helping to bring new shooters and old ones as well to buy a new Smith and enjoy it.

I'm somewhat of an expert on substance abuse and I know that my gun collection, reloading, shooting, and hunting is simply a transfer of addictions. I realized once that my fantasy of a new gun, justification of why I need it, the endorphin rush when I pick it up finally, the glow of ownership. Then it starts all over. Pretty sick fella, huh? So instead of alcoholism or whatever, I got Smith and Wesson encephalitis.

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beaver

I had several ways before I got married, and even less when the kids were born. One of my best ways to relax is spending time with my little ones, and lately it's watching them on their power wheels atv's. As they get older it will be going to the ranch and shooting rabbits (the dogs eat them), frogs and later bigger game. I used to hike out there but in the last ten years they built a HWY so the noise level and the air are no longer as pleasant.

For me it's been either Canoeing or playing the Drums.........
Nothing like taking a couple of sticks and hitting things for awhile and at the same time laying into the bass drum pedal with your foot.

For the last 40 years my job involved driving the highways/tollroads in and around Chicago. For 30 years I never was concerned much. The last 10 years I'd become paranoid about the statistics, as in how long can you play bumper tag, at 80 mph, with these maniacs before your numbers up. So now that I'm out of the work force I relax watching the rush hour traffic reports and T.V. helicopter views of the very routes I used to drive. Head and tail lights bumper to bumper flowing like a big snake for miles and miles. Time for another cup of coffee.

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SOS USA

But just think of all those dangerous guns you're keeping off the streets and out of the hands of criminals!

It's for the children, after all...

Since retirement, I don't have much stress But when I'm down a little I grab the weed eater, mower and full ice chest and spend the day cleaning an old forgotten cemetery that is on my hunting property. It was a family graveyard for a family that is long since moved off/died. It's nice visiting with those folks, and when finished, my silly problems have all been forgotten.

Thats pretty cool.I knew of an old one in Va. that I used to like to go to,it was by a river.Peaceful.A very old family site from civil war times.I wondered about the people that had been there so long ago.

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Dum vivo cano

For me it's taking a long ride in my 63 Ford convertible. Funny how an old car, a set of glass packs and a pair of fuzzy dice can make you a young man again.

A good book, with some good music playing in the background, relaxing after a day out riding my motorcycle with my lovely child-bride on back. Steaks cooking on the grill, garlic shrimp getting ready. A glass(or two) of a decent but not crazy pricey wine to wash it all down.

Spending time with our "the best grand-daughter in the whole world".

Heck, I'm feeling good just writing about it.

Hobie

I have found weight lifting works wonders and has all sorts of added benefits.

just closed the safe and feel much better. Kids were with me and held the guns and knives that they wanted when I died. I'm sure they will get some before that but atleast I wrong what to put in the will. My baby said he wanted my german bayonet because he could play peter pan with it. That stuff makes me laugh! We had a great time and then watched hancock on tv I am so relaxed. Doeboy