[champagne612]

I will soon be concluding 12 months of construction at the house and I want to find a new hobby.

Been working most weekends for the past 5 years ... things seem to be slowing down.

I left the Country Club scene bought a place at the lake boat jet ski's etc and sold that after a few years.

Wife travels often and rides horses so no problem in pursuing just about anything.

Suggestions

[Admiral Goodwrench]

Dear Doug,

I hesitate in suggesting this, because if the bug bites, then it can become an almost endless pursuit. Talk about a potential time pit. Genealogy is something we generally do not get interested in until it is too late to talk to the people who have first hand knowledge of your ancestors. Had we started on our search only twenty years earlier, then we could have spoken to folks who knew the answers to the questions we cannot now find. Of course if you already have relatives who have taken up the search effort then that makes things a bit easier. You start with family stories or folklore and then set about getting primary sources to prove or disprove. It can be as frustrating as chasing Ferrari history on a particular car.

Best regards,

Robert

[Barry]

Doug
A couple of years ago I decided I was spending too much time sitting down, either in my office, in my car or at home. Took up running, which eventually led to marathons, triathlons and more recently an interest in mountain biking. If you're interested in a hobby that will get you outdoors, fit and healthy and provide a competitive challenge (though it doesn't necessarily have to) I can't recommend all of the above highly enough.

The less fit you are now only increases the likelihood of greater relative achievements in a shorter space of time. 2 years ago I couldn't run 3 miles without stopping. In the last 12 months I've done Dublin, Belfast, Cork and New York marathons plus a ton of triathlons. But my current favourite is simply tearing down the side of a mountain on a well sorted mountain bike, at speeds that should be reserved for much safer environments! I could go on, but I'm on the wrong forum.... One warning: it can become addictive.

Best of luck

[brettgagnon]

A hobby you might already dabble in is wine collecting, maybe even reviewing. I am more of a person who plans vacations to wine regions and tries to find the hidden gem vineyards as opposed to the big names you can buy from your home from any broker. It leads to great trips and some fantastic drives (drive from Melbourne to Barossa via Coonawarra and Adelaide Hills and you will get my drift).

[360 Modena]

Ditto on wine and add cigars (don't dismiss cigars - remember George Burns?)

Do they race sailboats on your lake?

We campaign a sailboat every Wednesday evening (and there are sailing regattas every weekend, including during the winter months).

It's a great way to break up the week and make lifelong friends.

Just ask Wetpet how much fun and excitement yacht racing can bring.

It's also a sport that you can involve the whole family in (or not).

[champagne612]

Originally Posted by Admiral Goodwrench

Dear Doug,

I hesitate in suggesting this, because if the bug bites, then it can become an almost endless pursuit. Talk about a potential time pit. Genealogy is something we generally do not get interested in until it is too late to talk to the people who have first hand knowledge of your ancestors. Had we started on our search only twenty years earlier, then we could have spoken to folks who knew the answers to the questions we cannot now find. Of course if you already have relatives who have taken up the search effort then that makes things a bit easier. You start with family stories or folklore and then set about getting primary sources to prove or disprove. It can be as frustrating as chasing Ferrari history on a particular car.

Best regards,

Robert

We had a family reunion 10 or so years ago and my aunt did the whole gamut.

One of the coolest things ever and she updates it once a year.

It took her three years and she logged her travel.

I agree every family should have it - it's interesting how the apple truly doesn't fall far from the tree.

[champagne612]

Originally Posted by Barry

Doug
A couple of years ago I decided I was spending too much time sitting down, either in my office, in my car or at home. Took up running, which eventually led to marathons, triathlons and more recently an interest in mountain biking. If you're interested in a hobby that will get you outdoors, fit and healthy and provide a competitive challenge (though it doesn't necessarily have to) I can't recommend all of the above highly enough.

The less fit you are now only increases the likelihood of greater relative achievements in a shorter space of time. 2 years ago I couldn't run 3 miles without stopping. In the last 12 months I've done Dublin, Belfast, Cork and New York marathons plus a ton of triathlons. But my current favourite is simply tearing down the side of a mountain on a well sorted mountain bike, at speeds that should be reserved for much safer environments! I could go on, but I'm on the wrong forum.... One warning: it can become addictive.

Best of luck

Awesome!

There is a guy on here who has a wife that is a marathon frreeakk.

He started joining her and getting in shape - something I need to do for sure and my new home is only a mile away from the St. Louis Zoo that has a huge park and 6 mile bike / ride trail. I bought the bike and will start there this weekend.

[champagne612]

Originally Posted by brettgagnon

A hobby you might already dabble in is wine collecting, maybe even reviewing. I am more of a person who plans vacations to wine regions and tries to find the hidden gem vineyards as opposed to the big names you can buy from your home from any broker. It leads to great trips and some fantastic drives (drive from Melbourne to Barossa via Coonawarra and Adelaide Hills and you will get my drift).

My wife drinks wine - we have a room dedicated to have a cellar.

I know zero about wines - damn good idea!

Do you have a cellar?

[champagne612]

Originally Posted by 360 Modena

Ditto on wine and add cigars (don't dismiss cigars - remember George Burns?)

Do they race sailboats on your lake?

We campaign a sailboat every Wednesday evening (and there are sailing regattas every weekend, including during the winter months).

It's a great way to break up the week and make lifelong friends.

Just ask Wetpet how much fun and excitement yacht racing can bring.

It's also a sport that you can involve the whole family in (or not).

Love cigars and could certainly add that to the wine room.

There is place called Lake St Louis 45 minutes away - have some friends obsessed with their sailing.

Post some pics - I love boats but don't know crap about sailing.

I almost landed a tenant that taught sailing and sold boats.

Problem is he needed to much outside storage - the guy left his corporate job to start the adventure - not sure how he is doing but he certainly had a deep passion for sailing.

[brettgagnon]

I do have a cellar, we run about 400 bottles only due to size restrictions.

[360 Modena]

Originally Posted by champagne612

There is place called Lake St Louis 45 minutes away - have some friends obsessed with their sailing.

Post some pics - I love boats but don't know crap about sailing.

Here's a few. Last year I put a 3'x3' foot hole in a buddy's boat because he was in a place he should not have been. It's gets very exciting when you are mere inches away from a collision or hitting a rounding mark. Or broaching under spinnaker with the mast spreaders kissing the water.

Then, there are the fantastic sunsets, a cold brew and primo cigar to end the evening.

[sunskr]

Sailing can be great fun. If you have water close, evening midweek beer can races are a lot of fun, and low key. Weekend regattas a little more competitive.
Look at a yacht club close by, skippers are all ways looking for crew for the beer can races midweek.
I race crew on sailboats 3 times a year for longer 1 to 2 day races. All so raced Thistles and Star boats, still own the Star boat.

[Barry]

Originally Posted by champagne612

Awesome!

There is a guy on here who has a wife that is a marathon frreeakk.

He started joining her and getting in shape - something I need to do for sure and my new home is only a mile away from the St. Louis Zoo that has a huge park and 6 mile bike / ride trail. I bought the bike and will start there this weekend.

It's all to easy to turn into the proverbial marathon freak! However one thing my wife and I decided (she got into it too) was that we were not going to let it affect our social life. Never gave up wine, good food or going out for drinks with the friends. My theory is, that if you are training regularly you can pretty much eat and drink what you want and just train it all off!

So maybe you could combine some outdoor pursuits with a new passion for wine and cigars as well. Seems like a nice balance to me

[champagne612]

Originally Posted by brettgagnon

I do have a cellar, we run about 400 bottles only due to size restrictions.

Nice ... any advice or tips on building one?

I know the moisture and humidity issues but any help would be much appreciated.

[GrayTA]

One of my favorite hobbies, although I have been somewhat out of it for a while is collecting comic books. It kind of reminds me of life as a kid in some ways, but I dont just buy off the newstand. For me I always enjoy the hunt to complete a set. I really like finding the Marvel Comics from the 1960s - those are like blue chip investments, except better. Think of all the great characters/teams X-Men, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four. Those books have WAY outdone the stock market over the last 20 years or so, IMO.

Going back into pre-1960 comics is pure gold!! I have books going back to 1940, including Superman down to #20. Books of this era are extremely rare - it is estimated that there are less than 50 copies in existence of any of those old books. Think about the age of those characters - Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern.

A LOT of these have been turned into very successful movie franchises with NO sign of slowing down. Every time a movie is released it has an impact on the value of the books.

You have to be careful buying books of that vintage and look for good condition, but always look to upgrade if you can with better condition copies.

Over the years I owned FIVE copies of Amazing Spider-Man #1. If I had kept those copies I would be able to sell them, pay off my house and still have more than $200k in the bank - EASILY!!!


I like the hunt and the art of the deal in buying those books.




PDG

[champagne612]

Originally Posted by 360 Modena

Here's a few. Last year I put a 3'x3' foot hole in a buddy's boat because he was in a place he should not have been. It's gets very exciting when you are mere inches away from a collision or hitting a rounding mark. Or broaching under spinnaker with the mast spreaders kissing the water.

Then, there are the fantastic sunsets, a cold brew and primo cigar to end the evening.

Damn dude!

That is an expensive learning curve.

Nice way of life

[champagne612]

Originally Posted by Barry

It's all to easy to turn into the proverbial marathon freak! However one thing my wife and I decided (she got into it too) was that we were not going to let it affect our social life. Never gave up wine, good food or going out for drinks with the friends. My theory is, that if you are training regularly you can pretty much eat and drink what you want and just train it all off!

So maybe you could combine some outdoor pursuits with a new passion for wine and cigars as well. Seems like a nice balance to me

Can't argue with that

You are in Dublin - my daughter spent a summer there and I was a little nervous. When she got there I saw pics of the host families home and area.

The next door neighbor was Bono - beautiful area and very safe.

[champagne612]

Originally Posted by GrayTA

One of my favorite hobbies, although I have been somewhat out of it for a while is collecting comic books. It kind of reminds me of life as a kid in some ways, but I dont just buy off the newstand. For me I always enjoy the hunt to complete a set. I really like finding the Marvel Comics from the 1960s - those are like blue chip investments, except better. Think of all the great characters/teams X-Men, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four. Those books have WAY outdone the stock market over the last 20 years or so, IMO.

Going back into pre-1960 comics is pure gold!! I have books going back to 1940, including Superman down to #20. Books of this era are extremely rare - it is estimated that there are less than 50 copies in existence of any of those old books. Think about the age of those characters - Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern.

A LOT of these have been turned into very successful movie franchises with NO sign of slowing down. Every time a movie is released it has an impact on the value of the books.

You have to be careful buying books of that vintage and look for good condition, but always look to upgrade if you can with better condition copies.

Over the years I owned FIVE copies of Amazing Spider-Man #1. If I had kept those copies I would be able to sell them, pay off my house and still have more than $200k in the bank - EASILY!!!


I like the hunt and the art of the deal in buying those books.




PDG

Dang Patrick

Spidey outperforms gold!

[GrayTA]

Originally Posted by champagne612

Dang Patrick

Spidey outperforms gold!

To give you some perspective on that - in the 1990-94 time frame I traded about $1000 worth of comics for an Amazing Spider-Man #1. It was worth probably $5k then. Copies of that book (although nicer than any one of mine) have now sold for $120k.

My X-Men #1 I bought for less than $500.00. Copies of that book have sold for $60k. The math isnt that difficult to figure in relation to the Dow or any other economic measure. I still have my X-Men #1, but I know that its not in $60k condition, but every time that one sells for a higher price it pulls my book(s) up as well.

I have TONS of other examples like that. I bought a Mystery in Space #53 (First appearance of Adam Strange) - paid $24 for it. Now its in the $5k range - mine is a really nice copy too!!

There are still deals out there on undervalued books, but all too often they are overlooked and people dont realize what an asset they really are. Geeky as it may be....

PDG

[champagne612]

Originally Posted by GrayTA

To give you some perspective on that - in the 1990-94 time frame I traded about $1000 worth of comics for an Amazing Spider-Man #1. It was worth probably $5k then. Copies of that book (although nicer than any one of mine) have now sold for $120k.

My X-Men #1 I bought for less than $500.00. Copies of that book have sold for $60k. The math isnt that difficult to figure in relation to the Dow or any other economic measure. I still have my X-Men #1, but I know that its not in $60k condition, but every time that one sells for a higher price it pulls my book(s) up as well.

I have TONS of other examples like that. I bought a Mystery in Space #53 (First appearance of Adam Strange) - paid $24 for it. Now its in the $5k range - mine is a really nice copy too!!

There are still deals out there on undervalued books, but all too often they are overlooked and people dont realize what an asset they really are. Geeky as it may be....

PDG

Damn dude!