Curious as to the type of folks who share space on this forum. What are your bad habits/expensive hobbies? I'll start it with guns, motorcycles and scuba diving.

Bad habits/Expensive hobbies Well, sometimes they're one in the same. In my case it is definitely the guns.
... and related accessories!


rags

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RIP Shipmate

Pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, knives, cigars, liquor, beer, coins, wife.

Sports cars, S&W revolvers and my wife ... who shares the same interests.

Charlie

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SWCA # 2294

got it narrowed down to just handguns and shooting them. used to be airplanes,racing boats, trapshooting,cognac, and cuban cigars.

I have it down to Smith revolvers. However, there was a time when it was, in no particular order, golf, booze, cigars, big block cars, and last but not least, my wife.

Fresh water fishing. No time or good weather conditions to go fishing, but I seemed to end up in the fishing department at the sport shop. I have 28 rods & reels (a fly rod & reel that is NIB & 12 years old and never used), 3 tackle boxes filled with lures, spinners, rubber worms. The last time I went fishing was 3 years ago and I'm retired.

2008 election and primer & powder shortage caused me to take advantage of pre-price increase conditions. I have a 10 year supply of components, more than 1 wheelbarrow full of range brass. Haven't been shooting in 3 months or reloaded ammo in 5 months and I'm retired.

Something is wrong. Haven't yet fired the last 2 guns I bought either. All of this is getting expensive shopping. I've become a hoarder with a part-time job.

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S&WHF 366

In the long distant past I was a big time gambler and owned and played with airplanes, harleys and guns. Now retired I cant pay attendtion. I still own a busted up plane and many guns from my past but I aint buying anymore.
A snapshot from a past life.

Live steam, gardening and Geo. Dickel.

Isn't that enough?

I would say women, but my wife ended that long ago.

Fortunately, I'm not retired so I have plenty of time to do the things I want. Retired people work too hard and have convinced me never to do it.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

Cool picture Merrill! Is that a 74', or 75' TA? I think it's right around that era, but I'm not sure...

As for expensive hobbies, yes we share a common one on this board. The good news is that we should be able to get a good part of our investment back, if you are careful. Many other expensive hobbies/habbits are not so kind to your wallet!

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NRA Life Member

That be a 1976 trans am. The 1977s went to twin headlights. Mine was a 400 ci. They also came in 455. That car was pretty low built for me to get in and out of. They were a stiff hard ride at low speed. The faster you went, the better it rode and gave better gas mileage at higher speeds. That car didnt start to ride right under 85/90 mph!

Cool Picture Feralmerril.

I do spent money on revolvers, revolvers, revolvers, knives, whiskey and not on wife. She works and has money of her own.

None of my wives worked while I was married. I keep reading of it though. We still got by.

I jettisoned my worst habit. 21 months smoke-free (knock on wood). At $5.50 per pack and 1-1/2 packs per day that's about $3500 saved so far. Unfortunately I gained much poundage and used a lot of it to buy clothes to fit my fat arse. And a new Caddy
Hobbies? Drums and guns. And gardening with my wife. Also into hockey, watching not playing. Looks like the CBJ is ready to go for it this year...

Fine firearms, fishing, and 25 year old scotch seem to eat up my time and cash.....

forgot to add the grandkids.....lots of money there, too

Besides guns . . . . . . farming, tractors, keeping up land that I own. It is very expensive to keep a property from being overgrown with non-native invasive species like kudzu, privet hedge, etc. That's not to mention taxes.

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Georgia On My Mind

My kids (both teenagers, a boy and a girl); my wife; our pets (2 dogs and 2 cats) and my guns - oh and fishing.

Regards,

Dave

In addition to a modest collection of old Smiths, I enjoy an occasional sip or two of Crown and spend a lot of time in the garage playing with my old cars. I recently sold a real decent '37 Packard to fund repair and upgrades on the custom '58 Chevy pickup I inherited last year when my brother passed away. I also have a '69 GTX that was purchased in '82 and totally restored in my cramped 2 stall garage over a period of 12 years or so...

here's the '58

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"Shall not be infringed"

Guns and woodworking.

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"... shall not be infringed."

Hey , me too!

With (a lot!) of guns , 5 Harley Davidsons , and my project '64 Vette , plus the tools , parts , and memoribilia that go along , that's where the bulk of my 'mad money' goes.

Remember , he who dies with the mostest of the bestest toys , still dies!

1. Classic convertibles
2. Collecting and shooting firearms.
3. Horses
4. Boating
5. Women

Not in that order.

I have lots of bad habits. The worst are probably smoking and drinking loads of beer. Not as much as when I was a younger man, but still plenty. Most expensive hobbies used to be playing music in a bar band and buying more and more equipment. Don't play in bands no more though. Lost interest. Still pick a little every great once in a while though. I love guns and I buy when I can which ain't very often.
Peace,
Gordon

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better have that checked

Sailing used to be my most expensive hobby, unfortunately when I moved I was forced to sell my boat. Now that I have a big enough backyard I decided to take up archery. After buying the bow, arrows and accessories my wife had a fit when she saw how much I spent. I still haven't told her about the other "bells and whistles" that I plan on purchasing.

I've been into Skiing, Motorcycles, Firearms, and Guitars, by far the most expensive is keeping a Woman

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

I guess shooting trap is my addiction. It is expensive.

I reload a box of 25 for just under $5.00. Each event takes 4 Boxes. Round that off to $20 bucks to shoot reloads. And, most days of Registered Shooting (competition) there are three events or $60 for the shells.

Then, to shoot one day of competition, it's about $28 as entry fees per event or $84. Then there's the options, where the money is. The cheapest is the Lewis Option, either $10 or $20 per event. So another $30 to $60 per day. So one day of shooting competition is at least $174. And, most competitions are three days and some are even longer. The Grand, in Sparta, IL, is almost two weeks long.

Gas and food and sodas-no problem as I've already spent a lot of money, might as well be happy, too.

Then there's the fees to shoot just plain practice. Practice, and I shoot a lot of it, is $4.50 per round of 25. Ten to Twelve rounds a day, sometimes more. So, $5.00 for the shells, $4.50 per found is, if I shoot ten rounds, is only $95.

And, I shoot every day except in the summer when the Club is closed on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Then I go to a Sporting Clays course at least one day.

And, I got my wife into shooting this insane sport. Thankfully, she is still working and can only shoot on weekends and when she takes a day off (like this Friday).

Then there's the guns, the pouches, bags, glasses and....

They say Trap is addictive. It must be or I'd quit spending this insane amount of money on it.

I never added it up before. Of course, it doubles for Friday, Saturday and Sunday as my wife is shooting the competition then. Tomorrow, it's just me shooting with my buddies since it's the Preliminary day of the competition.

The good news, if I hit the Lewis Option, I get some money back. But, that's if.

I sure hope my math was wrong, but....

Bob

Well for years I had very real appreciation for fast cars, faster women, and slow horses; anyone of those is a certain guarantee to keep all but the most well healed in constant contact with his banker Ya but it was fun as long as it lasted.

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Always Stay Strong!

Like so many others, I spend far too much on sporting goods. I also have a pretty fair amount of fishing gear, and have traveled as far S as Cabo and as far N as the Kenai River to attain tight lines. (Got 'em, too.) The cost of gasoline is so high that it can limit some aspects, such as scouting, but I know more or less where I want to go and what for. But, now here I am, thinking about getting a boat...?!

I have the "G" disease. "GUNS" "GUITARS" "GIRLS"

Over the years, my hobbies have come down to one now: handguns. Well, I enjoy reading and movies, but I'd call them interests or ways to pass the time, rather than hobbies.

When I review all the hobbies I've participated in, the most expensive are offshore sailing and flying. Not only do they have the highest acquisition costs (in the 6 figures) for equipment, they also have have the highest maintenance and usage costs.

Even if the equipment sits there doing nothing, the cost of the slip is several hundred a month, with regional variations. For marinas, the longer the sailboat, the higher the fees, as they generally charge by the foot of overall length. Launching and hauling out the boat with a Travelift costs a few hundred per round trip. For planes, the hangar or tie-down fees are fairly size constant, unless you get into much larger wingspans beyond 37 feet. Aviation is also much more regulated than sailing, with annual inspections, Aviation Directives to comply with, etc.

Then, to actually enjoy the hobby is even more expensive. Every offshore voyage (minimum 2 weeks) cost thousands. I seldom day sailed. Once I left the channel, I sailed past the edge of the earth (beyond the horizon) to some international destination. Even checking into the Bahamas cost $300 for any boat over 37 feet (mine was longer). For flying, factor in engine reserves (eventually, roughly every 2000 engine hours, the engines will have to be replaced or overhauled). Engine reserves are much higher than the cost of aviation gas, perhaps a couple of hundred per hour, depending on the plane, type and number of engines.

I used to hang out with a retired naval aviator in Key West whose trimaran was a few slips from mine. Capt. John E. was sailing from TX to the Bahamas when his mast broke in a storm and he struggled into Key West. He never left. He taught me celestial navigation. But the most profound piece of advice that he gave me was that "If it floats, flies, or fornicates [I modified the actual 4-letter-based word], it's cheaper to rent." Clearly, we had both chosen the more expensive route to boating.

Years later, I got married and shortly thereafter, sold the expensive equipment because they were no longer being used. I still get a longing for the lifestyle, but the reality is that I no longer can just take off and disappear for weeks at a time.

By far, most expensive hobby we have is collecting art. It is something the wife I truly enjoy. We have collected so much that several pieces are rotated onto walls.

We have slowed our "hobby" mainly because we are out of wall space........ and money

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NRA Certified Instructor

Bad habits? I don't have any bad habits, really! Expensive hobbies? Oh yes - flying and owning airplanes (I've calmed down a lot in that area, down to one airplane - well, actually, two, from having owned 9 or 10 at once a few years ago, no longer own any warbirds - that is incredibly expensive - but I don't fly single engine airplanes anymore, had a "far too exciting" experience in one at night over the mountains a year or so ago, only own and fly twins now), motorcycles (rather addictive, as well), fast cars (primarily big-bore sport cars, they have to be able to corner and brake extremely well, as well as accelerate quickly enough to push your face to the back of your skull and be capable of at least 150 MPH), though I don't really push them or routinely double (or triple) the speed limits anymore. Shelby's, Corvettes and various Z-28 Camaros are known to inhabit my space - I guess once a sport car racer, always a racer. I really have cut back there, though, the '06 Mustang GT is gone, and I sold my Cobras many years ago (one of my long-standing regrets). I have resisted occasional urges to get back into drums and guitars (although a nice old Fender Stratocaster that recently appeared at my favorite pawn/gun shop is calling to me from the back of my mind). The one hobby I just can't seem to get control of is my gun addiction - I don't think even guns anonymous can help, I just can't help myself. That has been a lifelong situation, which, of course, has gone through periods of intense activity and periods of remission. I always seem to have at least 5 or 6 on lay-away, and frequently make outright purchases - if I see something I want, I just can't rest until I get it. Of course, I can stop any time I want to - yeah, I really can, I just don't want to right now. I did cut down on the fast women thing, though. It just got to the point that the costs and negatives of dealing with all the high maintenance stuff became far greater than the perceived rewards. Perhaps growing older and, to some extent, wiser, had some effect there, as well. A few years ago, a pilot friend of mine who was into golf in a big way was playing the course which the house I had at the time backed to. I happened to be in my back yard when Mike and his wife were at the tee behind my place, and we waved at each other. He ran a pilot shop that I frequented, and the following Monday, I was in there picking up charts, and he commented that he was pretty sure I wasn't married. I confirmed that, and he said his wife would never let him park sport cars on the back patio, or even have them! Freedom has its good points. I do have a girlfriend, who is very attractive, intelligent, and, above all, nice. We get along quite well, especially since I moved 150 miles away, and don't have to put up with all the daily BS (although she usually calls about 8-10 times a day), its very nice when I go down to the Valley and see her. Also a lot less expensive than constantly "doing something." Ah well, enough rambling. Time to go home and check the "new" 66-1 I picked up the other day, or maybe the Pre-29, or one of the Pythons, or ....

A long time ago I quit smoking then I quit chewing. That wasn't enough I then quit drinking and chasing wild women. The only thing I got left is my guns as a hobby or bad habit. I refuse to give them up as life would be really boring. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

I see a lot of flying on the list. That was a hobby I had back in the 80s but just didn't have the time or money to keep current. I did manage to get my Class III SEL and get checked out in a few Beechcrafts and a couple of Pipers along with a Stinson Voyager though. Probably actually flew for about 5 or 6 years, I'd have to dig out the log book.

No question. Smoking's the worst. Bad AND expensive. Trying to quit.

NOW LEAVE ME ALONE!!!

My flying is a sad story. I started and stopped in the mid 60`s. It`s always about money or more accurately, the lack of it. I had a uncle I have mentioned before, the batchlor from the 82nd AB in world war two. He had medical problems and committed suicide. Before he did, he flat told me I was going to inherit some money from him and to "go blow it on whatever I really wanted to do". He said I wish I would have! I took the money and bought a 1956 metalised piper tri-pacer to finish out my lessons. Back in 1975 I paid $5,000s for that airplane. That probley would be similar to $40,000s today.
I got my license in it but had a bad incident too long to tell here, and crashed and totaled that plane. I and two passengers walked away unhurt. I took the insurance money and bought a 1972 GCBC Citaberia.
Another long story short, a young woman ground looped it badly and I wasnt even present. Her father rebuilds airplanes as a labor of love and had told her to fly it around his strip to warm the oil so he could change it. That was a eon ago. He had problems, I had a divorice and had to work for the supports every wakeing minute etc. Now finaly, the airplane is close to being fully restored. As of two months ago last time I seen him and the plane in his hanger it was recovered, I had already bought new metal spar wings from the factory, it needs painted and new interior.
I have about 400 hours, went again to ground school a couple years ago, have fought like hell to get a one year at a time medical. Now I need to get a few lessons again and get my bi-annual check ride.
Hopefully I will go to pick up the plane in california later this year. My wish list for this operation is to fly it around here for a year or so and then sell it. It`s the old challange I guess, plus I "dream" of flying a lot of this country and plotting mines and interesting ruins and other areas on my maps and latter trying to get into them with our quad on little adventures.
Sadly, my wife wont and couldnt if she wanted to, ride with me in that plane. We are both huge, and being able to take gas along would be a plus! For me, it`s really a single place airplane unless I lose a 100 pounds and get a fly weight passenger.
I had my friend recover it once before, just before his daughter groundloop it, here it was then. Unless a person is rich or plans on flying for a liveing, it really isnt feasable to get involved into flying in this day and age. Sorry, but it`s really a exspendsive ego trip!

Expensive habits like wine, women, and song. Had to give up singing! My passions: salmon fishing in Alaska, finally learned to do it with a fly rod; 2 seater sports cars; travel; cooking!!!; gardening; my German Shepherds; and old guns. Love to bring back derilict oldies that are my "graveyard projects" (very expensive). Chasing parts is a full time hobby. At my age, putting one foot on the floor each morning!

Sounds like you are making real headway. You deserve a cigar for your efforts

This was my expensive hobby until the kids came along. She's waiting in the garage until I can afford to get her on the road again.


After my maternal Grandfather passed a couple years ago, I got back into firearms.

Most of you, make me feel very inadequate in my hobbies, but rest assured that I try to keep up with you in spending money!

My current hobbies, retiring after 40 years as a medical examiner and forensic pathologist, are taking care of my wife of 47 years, who is not well, trying to supplement my daughter, 2 grand daughters and 1 with 1 one the way great grandchildren.

I still try to collect S&W revolvers (the older the better and especially 1940 birthday guns) and an occasional pistol. Antique leather, especially Tio Myres holsters, is my latest VERY bad habit. Koi fish in my pond, smoky scotch whiskey and cuban cigars round out the list.

But, just think, it used to be beach houses, german automobiles, and gulf stream fishing boats. I have really settled down in my old age!

medxam

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Doc Garrett
Dead Man's Doctor

Comedian Stephen Wright was asked recently on a talk show if he had any hobbies.

He said, "trying to not commit suicide". Works for me.

Photography

If you do not list guns, find another forum, so that goes without saying. I will admit to many vice's... watches, fly rods, wine, Hermes ties, Allan Edmonds shoes (I need to dress for work), 20th century American prints, but by far the most extreme is the lake house. While it provides much joy to everyone in the family, the cost of the second home has overshadowed (and greatly limited) all other bad habits.

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always trust your cape...

Expensive hobbies are guns, Harley Davidson motorcycles, and custom trucks. Bad habit is smoking. Smokes aren't expensive where I live, so no desire to quit.

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Politically Incorrect

Guns.
Boats (offshore sailboat racing, deep sea fishing, marsh fishing-freshwater fishing-driving around the marsh just chillin') Currently down to just two boars after Katrina but at one time had 5.
Next up is a trawler and plan to do the loop cruise in about 3 years.

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Forum consigliere

Expensive hobbies: Guns, Harleys, guitars, '69 camaro work in progress.
Bad habits: Raiding my meager retirement income financing the above "necessities."

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S&W Armorer
Lost in the 50s

Sounds like a plan.Nice.

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Dum vivo cano

My weakness' are Fishing shooting and old school hotrods.

I only wish I had a HotRod.I do have a 24stud Flathead but I don't think it would do justice in my '04 GMC.

Anybody want to donate a '32 frame?

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Dum vivo cano

Books. Thank God for Amazon...Built and paid for two houses, put two kids through college with cash. Also supported 2-5 horses for about 25 years and helped the boy get a bunch of ratings up through multiengine and CFII. Those expensive hobbies are now handed over to my girl (she took over the horse activities) and my son who flies his own 1954 Tri-Pacer when he isn't medevacing people in a King Air.

I've been collecting, shooting, and working on neat guns that appeal to me since forever, and although sometimes cash was scarce, I've had a good time and pretty well gotten everything I could want. The wife has a Toyota Spyder that is a hoot in the mountains; I slip in the "Master and Commander" CD, put the top down, and off we go at a high rate of speed.

The boy and I occasionally scheme about how we might finagle a Cessna 180 one of these days. I'm sure that would soak up any spare money lying around!

Work and the hobby blur...saxophone, etc. That gets pricy. cannng and cooking could get expensive if I let it, but at lease I sell some of that on the side to offset the expense.

Not that I have a lot of bad habits. I drink some. Not a lot, but what I do like is VERY expensive. I sneak a smoke now and then.

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Soli Deo Gloria