Hobbies

[mike72903]

Given the creativity, DIY spirit and sometime clever humor on the forum I doubt motorcycles are an exclusive interest among membership. I know Dreamaker is currently into CNC building which requires several skills but not aware of many others hobbies or interests outside bikes and politics What other hobbies or interests do members have?

[Patrick]

Aviation/ flight instructor
Restoring old cars/bikes
machine work/fabrication/welding
Working on old houses
shooting
hunting
archery
fishing
golf
Tiki bars
parties
anything that gets my hands dirty
I'm sure I forget some others

[RDKLL]

Well, nothing too intense.
the Valk bobber, a work in progress , pretty modest
1992 Mustang LX, I have owned since '94
cigars now and then...

[dreamaker]

Given the creativity, DIY spirit and sometime clever humor on the forum I doubt motorcycles are an exclusive interest among membership. I know Dreamaker is currently into CNC building which requires several skills but not aware of many others hobbies or interests outside bikes and politics What other hobbies or interests do members have?

There are allot of talented people in this group, although we bump heads from time to time, they are generous group, and try and help you the best they can.

[Serk]

My wife will warn people that I don't have hobbies, I have obsessions... (Part of being slightly Autistic/Asperger's Syndrome) but some of my main ones are:

Saltwater reef aquariums  (500 gallon TSV reef system in a dedicated fish room with 8' inwall main display)



Collecting guns, silencers (Suppressors) ammo, shooting 'em, reloading ammo, and fighting tirelessly to preserve the rights of me and my children to do the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw2h4Pxb2_U

Renaissance Faires



Computers networking and technology (What I do for a living, but I love to play and tinker with it all on my own as well)

Collecting, blending and aging bourbon (And scotch, but I've had better results blending bourbon than I have scotch)



Lately I've picked up cigars, but after being a cigarette smoker for ~20 years I'm setting some very tight boundaries to make sure this interest doesn't lead back to being a nicotine addict again.

And of course being the best dad I can be to my 5 year old triplets and 13 year old daughter, and the best husband I can be to my wife.

[Jopson]

I enjoy playing with my wood... Umm I mean I enjoy woodworking!!
And cows...

[..]

Serk. I too tried enjoying the occasional cigar but it led me STRAIGHT back to nicotine hell. It took me another year to stop again.

My advice, just say no to the cigars.

[msb]

Still playing soccer after 53 years, now in an over 55's league as I approach 60 this year, and also like to sing along to my very average guitar playing. My main passion though other than riding the Valk (aside from trying to keep in touch as much as possible with our two grown daughters) is fly fishing. We have an abundance of excellent trout streams and lakes in BC and this has been another life long pursuit of mine. I have a set up that I can even take along on our regular longer rides through BC, AB, ID, MT, etc so I can combine the two   Perhaps a rarity, but I also very much enjoy my work of the past 30 years, traveling a fair bit across the country and to many points in the US.... its always enjoyable meeting new folks.

[Jess from VA]

Serk. I too tried enjoying the occasional cigar but it led me STRAIGHT back to nicotine hell. It took me another year to stop again.

My advice, just say no to the cigars.

I have to ditto this.  (exactly) 

It's just another form of heroin, and you know what I mean.

If you really want to stay quit, don't start.... anything.



 

[..]

Serk. I too tried enjoying the occasional cigar but it led me STRAIGHT back to nicotine hell. It took me another year to stop again.

My advice, just say no to the cigars.

I have to ditto this.  (exactly) 

It's just another form of heroin, and you know what I mean.

If you really want to stay quit, don't start.... anything.

 

Yep, the minute you think you have it under control it is in fact in control of you.

[Wizzard]

Electronics of all sorts (I am an EE) That's what I do to support my hobbies.
IT, did that for awhile. Love computers
Flying, I am a private pilot and had a plane for a long time while the kids were growing up. Sold the plane and miss it.
Restoring old cars and bikes. Am restoring an 87 Vette and a 1979 KZ 750 kawasaki.
Too many hobbies get in the way of work.

[Steve K (IA)]

In the winter I restore Cuckoo Clocks.  I have a huge collection.  Don't know an exact number.  When I got to 70 I stopped counting.  

I used to fish a lot, but not so much anymore.  My wife has been pestering me about taking her fishing so getting licenses looks to be in the near future.

I also in the past restored 1970's Honda 750 F Super Sports.  Had 7 at one time.  Now just have 2 Valks. They need nothing but the occasional maintenance and cleaning.

[Romeo]

Last winter I started collecting and restoring 60's and 70's vintage stereo. You know the good stuff, built to last forever, super clean analog audio. Before the days of made in malaysia black plastic crap.

[Hooter]

Classic rock bass player. Current band Hard Times. Hunt..fish..restore 66 Plymouth. .fabricate / weld..silk screening..commercial window washing. That's bout it for now.

[RDKLL]

Serk. I too tried enjoying the occasional cigar but it led me STRAIGHT back to nicotine hell. It took me another year to stop again.

My advice, just say no to the cigars.

First, I can sympathize. For me, smoking a cigar was sort of an "event" and that event my be my grabbing a cigar a drink and a book and heading out to the backyard...that said I have not had one in about a year and a half, but I am maintaining my humidors...like everything YMMV

[hubcapsc]

Last winter I started collecting and restoring 60's and 70's vintage stereo. You know the good stuff, built to last forever, super clean analog audio. Before the days of made in malaysia black plastic crap.

I remember going to this guy's house downtown in Charleston in the late 70s...
he had giant flat electrostatic (?) speakers and a wild turntable with a
teak (?) tonearm.

-Mike "no Steely Dan, though..."

[Serk]

I appreciate the concern (Seriously, I do) and realize and recognize the risks I'm taking by tempting myself with the addiction again, but honestly, some days the only thing that keeps me from doing horrible, unthinkable crimes is the knowledge that at the end of the day, once my responsibilities for adulting have been met, I can go out on the back patio, have a glass of (bourbon|Scotch|other) and one cigar...

So yeah, it's a risk, but it's a calculated risk and it helps keep me going through some very challenging times...

[Willow]

I've done some writing of sorts.  Willow in the Wind

I need to get back to it regularly.  It provides much needed therapy.

[art]

I enjoy playing with my wood... Umm I mean I enjoy woodworking!!
And cows...

Nice table. I have made three farmer style tables just like that but have problem with wood drying out and shrinking. Haven't been able to find dry wood anywhere around here. I have one in my kitchen that is doing good after a redo on the top after it shrunk and warped. I like woodwork but working with damp wood is a nono. I also am into telescope making and have a couple of nice scopes.

[Romeo]

Last winter I started collecting and restoring 60's and 70's vintage stereo. You know the good stuff, built to last forever, super clean analog audio. Before the days of made in malaysia black plastic crap.

I remember going to this guy's house downtown in Charleston in the late 70s...
he had giant flat electrostatic (?) speakers and a wild turntable with a
teak (?) tonearm.

-Mike "no Steely Dan, though..."

did they look like these?

[The emperor has no clothes]

These are some of them but sadly I don`t do them much anymore.







Sorry about the pic quality. They are a pic of a pic hanging in my hall.

[hubcapsc]

did they look like these?

Yep, that's how I remember them looking... wow, I just
put "electrostatic speaker" into google, they still make
them and some cost thousands of dollars...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_loudspeaker

-Mike

[Bighead]

#1 is knife collecting,over 700 in my collection. ( and yes I will be an outlaw when they ban them)
#2 wood working
#3 taking care of my Phat Girl ( bike not the wife she's not fat) 

Otherr than that I am busy working to pay for the free loaders in this country.
I am working on getting a bumper sticker or T-shirt made that says your entitlement is not my burden but the more I think about it as long as I have a job it is MY burden.

I can only be responsible for what I say not what you understand.

[cookiedough]

fishing and atving and watching TV if that is even a hobby?  Last few years the fishing and atving has become less and less.  

one thing I do know is I don't have nearly as much talent as most on this board being pilots and other very challenging, yet interesting, hobbies.

Serk - Highlander would be proud....   You need to audition for a movie role as a scottish highlander you look the part for sure.   

[Serk]

#1 is knife collecting,over 700 in my collection. ( and yes I will be an outlaw when they ban them)

My father in law is very into knife collecting, but he specializes in Buck knives... He's handed a few down to me as early inheritances, very nice blades...

[hukmut]

I am a potter. Also known as a "creative problem solver".

Taught pottery making for over 20 years.

Retired. Now I take care of my adopted family.

Oh, and I do stuff to my Valkyrie and even ride it from time to time.

Rode the "Tail of the Dragon" over the Independence Day week.

Pretty good ride from Wiggins, especially pulling a hf trailer.

This is just a small sampling of what I might do.

[Jess from VA]

I keep my house from falling down/apart.

I don't think of it as a hobby.  More like a pain in the ass.

As Roseann Roseannadanna said...... if it's not one thing, it's another. 

For instance, the bulb in my ceiling light to this room just went out.  Unlike many other things, I'm pretty good with bulbs.

[Valkorado]

Don't collect much anymore and never was as into it (rich) as Bighead (probably 650 less), but I also enjoy cold steel.  I'm a low to mid-level collector expenditure wise.  One can get in way over his or her head with this hobby, quick.  I drool looking at 1,000 knives, but haven't ever spent over $100 on one and usually much less.  I do have some decent Blackie Collins, Gil Hibben, Ken Onion blades among others.  And the usual Old Timers, Uncle Henrys some throwers and yes even a Buck or two!  Funny, my favorite everyday knife is a $17 Kershaw!

Also used to "collect" blue steel items but I lost them all in a terrible boating accident.

[Bighead]

Valk I have been collecting a Looooooong time. And I have spent more that a hunert on a single blade. I carry one every day that cost $350.     Life is too short to carry a cheap knife

[Serk]

I don't formally collect knives myself but I've got a few $500-$1000 custom hand made blades from a forge here in Texas (Angel Sword) but they're admittedly safe queens and only come out to be drooled on, oiled, admired, and put back away.

My daily on me all the time knife is a Gerber multi-tool, just too handy to have ready to go at any time.

I keep my house from falling down/apart.

I don't think of it as a hobby.  More like a pain in the ass.

Ya' know what they say... A man's house is his hassle!

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Used to like making things from wood but got tired of it. Now besides motorcycling it's firearms, archery, hunting, reloading, machining and I just started kayaking a month ago. Repairing and refinishing firearms has changed from a hobby to a profession.

[Jess from VA]

I have a modest collection of good quality folding and straight fighters.  KBar, USAF survival, Fairbairn, Spanish and German steel.  One made of polycarbinate, said it was not to go on airplanes.

My carry is Emerson.  

But I also collected the correct bayonets for my Mausers (from 1888), SMLEs, US battle rifles, and an Argentine short sword.  As I got a rifle, I scrounged the correct bayonet.  When I started, it was $25-40.  It got stupid later.  Most of these have very fine steel, and patina.  Like lots of old things, you clean them up, but you don't make them new, and you don't sharpen them.  One SMLE (No4 MK1) is all numbers matching, including the bayonet and scabbard.

Also really fond of Mr Smith and Mr Wesson (and others), and that's all I have to say about that.

[solo1]

At 88 years I no longer hunt, fish, or best of all, ride. Those were great years.
Presently, i still like to write stories but I'm not on Facebook.  Writing is a stress reliever and a satisfaction..
I'm still involved in our city's governemnt after some 25 years since my retirement.
I dabble in photography.  I'm active in my veterans group.
I'm learning to play the hammered dulcimer, slow going during these summer months because of my love of driving the Miata.
I've become active in the shooting sports again but no longer reload.

[baldo]

At 88 years I no longer hunt, fish, or best of all, ride. Those were great years.
Presently, i still like to write stories but I'm not on Facebook.  Writing is a stress reliever and a satisfaction..
I'm still involved in our city's governemnt after some 25 years since my retirement.
I dabble in photography.  I'm active in my veterans group.
I'm learning to play the hammered dulcimer, slow going during these summer months because of my love of driving the Miata.
I've become active in the shooting sports again but no longer reload.

I first heard a hammered dulcimer on a trip to Silver Dollar City in Missouri more than 30 yrs ago. I fell in love with that sound.....

[Alpha Dog]

Last winter I started collecting and restoring 60's and 70's vintage stereo. You know the good stuff, built to last forever, super clean analog audio. Before the days of made in malaysia black plastic crap.

Nice Romeo.  I can sure appreciate this old stereo equipment.  I like to call this the Silver Face era.  Quality analog, real turned heavy metal knobs, and just gobs of power and great looks.   Looks like on the left you have a couple of Marantz units with the bottom one a real heavy duty high watt powerhouse. My first one in 1974 was I believe a 2020. This winter I am going to buy one to go along with the pioneer sx-3700 and a real powerhouse the Pioneer sx 1080.  I have both these hooked to my computer and take turns with them, although the 1080 loses left channel sometimes and I need to find someone locally to tune this monster.  I have a rare set of  Synergistics  floor speakers hooked to my 5.1 tv system that sound great.  Also in the attic I have Bose 901 series 3 I bought brand new in 1978.  I use them from time to time but they were to big for my office and entertainment room as you need to place them to far from the wall but still sound great all these years later.

Some of this equipment can bring a good penny.  Last night during Olympic game commercials I turned to American Pickers.  For the first time I saw Mike Wolfe buy this equipment.  He found some old Bose 901, I think they were the series 2, he did not say and he bought a Marantz 4000 or something like that.  I think he paid 200 dollars for all, quite the bargain.

Good luck on your hobby and happy listening.

[mike72903]

It's been interesting reading about your varied interests and hobbies. Looks like the thread will soon disappear and wanted to say it added dimensions to my admitted one dimensional knowledge of the members here. Mike

[Fazer]

Some really interesting hobbies--a hammer dulcimer--cool!

For me it's remote control model aircraft.  Here is a photo of my Aeromaster biplane.  50cc gas engine and 72" wing span.

[Valkorado]

That's cool, Fazer!    Looks like you could transport a small child with that man toy.  Or lop off a limb!

[baldo]

I'm not really enjoying any of my hobbies right now, too busy. But when I was, woodworking was right up there. RC flying was a blast. I like to read...

Right now riding my motorcycle is the girl for me. Unfortunately, it's still down. All I need is one full day to get the needed work done...maybe soon.

[Patrick]

Some really interesting hobbies--a hammer dulcimer--cool!

For me it's remote control model aircraft.  Here is a photo of my Aeromaster biplane.  50cc gas engine and 72" wing span.

Nice
I have 4 kits I cut from plans for them. Nice flying planes. I think I have at least 3 new Quadra's for them.