Just finished with my christmas gift exchange with my wife. It got me thinking about my current hobbies, and what I’m spending my free time on. As you can see from below, I’m starting to get back into reading, but what else do I do?

• Digital Photography (own a Canon D30, several lenses, Photoshop, Wacom tablet, scanner, etc.)
• Cars (just got a 2002 BMW M3 cab.)
• Reading (History, Technology, Leadership/Management, etc.)
• Movies (A modest ~200 DVD collection)
• Wine
• Video games (XBox, GameCube, Playstation 2, NES, Gensis, etc.)
• (unfortunately) Television (tracking way too many shows on TiVo)

In all of these, I would classify myself as a beginner. My knowledge of cars is limited and easily trumped by my 13 year old neighbor, my photography is (at best) mediocre, and my knowledge of movies is limited primarily to blockbusters and bad 80’s movies. If I think about some of my past hobbies I get a little depressed...

• Chess – gave it up before I ever really got beyond basic understanding
• Role playing games – my older brothers were in to it, I tried to write my own gaming system, again, I understand it, but never had a chance to really get into it
• Programming – I used to write code all the time just for fun. I haven’t written just for myself in a long time
• SciFi Conventions – I used to help run local scifi conventions (Norwescon, Rustycon, Dreamcon, etc.). However the demanding schedule for these and work conflicted.
• Rollerblading – still do this once in a while…
• Skiing – did this for a couple seasons, really enjoyed it… lack of time/money for a couple years and there it sits
• Japanese – been there a couple times… always wanted to live there for a while, but life happens
• 3D Graphic Design – downloaded the free version of Maya, but never did much more than the tutorials.
• Architecture – per the career entry below… tinkered, but never followed through…
• Etc, etc, etc… the list could go on forever…

Seems unfortunate when your past hobbies out number your current ones. I have wanted to be a renaissance man. When I meet people like John Kallen I get really depressed. Here is a guy that speaks something like 7 languages, has traveled the world, understands computers, art, and music. Why can’t I ever become at least a journeyman in any of my hobbies? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have many regrets. I am very happy with where I am, and with the choices I’ve made. I just wish that I could get more hours in the day to better myself.

Oh well, time to dig into my next book (a gift from my wife): Guns, Germs, and Steel.