What hobbies have you quit and how did it affect you?

[flyoverstate]

I recently retired at 64. I have been downhill skiing since I was 12, but I am seriously considering giving it up. I always thought I would be one of those "old guys" you see skiing into their 70's or later, but honestly, I am not feeling it this year. I came close to throwing in the towel last year, but at the end of the season I decided that since I would be retired this season, I would go more often and enjoy it more, so I bought another season pass. It has been a mediocre snow year in Colorado, and skiing groomed trails all day isn't that fun for me. My wife and all of my friends have given up DH skiing, either because of the same burnout I am experiencing, or because they have bad knees, backs, or whatever. The drive to/from is tedious and occasionally dangerous, and I just feel bored about the whole thing.

I realized today while I was skiing that all of my gear is overdue for a refresh. My boots are 17 years old, my skis are 10 years old, my helmet is 10 years old, I don't even know how old my ski clothes are, but trust me, they need to be replaced, duct tape only goes so far! Even if I shop sales and buy cheap or used, I am looking at $1500+ to replace everything with the same level of stuff I am skiing. Then there is the ever escalating cost of a season pass, you can't even dream of buying day passes and only skiing a few days per year now, it is simply ridiculous. So you have to commit to 12+ days to make a pass worth it, or not ski at all, and even with a pass, when you consider costs of gear, gas and the like, it is easily $100/day to ski now even at a local resort, and that does not include food.

To top it all off, there is world class cross country skiing even closer to us than DH skiing, a season pass for that *both* of us is $200, we have fresh gear for that, and we can get our fill of XC skiing in just a couple of hours instead of using up an entire day.

Really, the only barrier to giving up downhill skiing is that I feel like it is "giving in" somehow, especially since I have no physical reason to stop, and I have been DH skiing for so long. Has anyone else faced a similar dilemma in voluntarily giving up a long-term activity? Any regrets?

 

[rembrandt]

I don't ski because I know I would either break my legs, or end up like Sonny, if you know what I mean.

 

[Focus]

I recently retired at 64. I have been downhill skiing since I was 12, but I am seriously considering giving it up. I always thought I would be one of those "old guys" you see skiing into their 70's or later, but honestly, I am not feeling it this year. I came close to throwing in the towel last year, but at the end of the season I decided that since I would be retired this season, I would go more often and enjoy it more, so I bought another season pass. It has been a mediocre snow year in Colorado, and skiing groomed trails all day isn't that fun for me. My wife and all of my friends have given up DH skiing, either because of the same burnout I am experiencing, or because they have bad knees, backs, or whatever. The drive to/from is tedious and occasionally dangerous, and I just feel bored about the whole thing.

I realized today while I was skiing that all of my gear is overdue for a refresh. My boots are 17 years old, my skis are 10 years old, my helmet is 10 years old, I don't even know how old my ski clothes are, but trust me, they need to be replaced, duct tape only goes so far! Even if I shop sales and buy cheap or used, I am looking at $1500+ to replace everything with the same level of stuff I am skiing. Then there is the ever escalating cost of a season pass, you can't even dream of buying day passes and only skiing a few days per year now, it is simply ridiculous. So you have to commit to 12+ days to make a pass worth it, or not ski at all, and even with a pass, when you consider costs of gear, gas and the like, it is easily $100/day to ski now even at a local resort, and that does not include food.

To top it all off, there is world class cross country skiing even closer to us than DH skiing, a season pass for that *both* of us is $200, we have fresh gear for that, and we can get our fill of XC skiing in just a couple of hours instead of using up an entire day.

Really, the only barrier to giving up downhill skiing is that I feel like it is "giving in" somehow, especially since I have no physical reason to stop, and I have been DH skiing for so long. Has anyone else faced a similar dilemma in voluntarily giving up a long-term activity? Any regrets?

No reason to feel regret. Let it go; everything has a life cycle, and it's clear this activity has reached the end of its cycle for you. You could always pick it up again later if you change your mind.

I'm starting to feel this way about travel. I'm still traveling, but the rapidly increasing costs/hassles and overtourism are sucking much of the joy out of it. Nowadays everyone is traveling and posting endlessly on social media, so it no longer feels special.

 

[silvor]

Has anyone else faced a similar dilemma in voluntarily giving up a long-term activity? Any regrets?

I’ve started and stopped playing music for the better part of 40 years. I always come back by taking a different angle. Instead of playing out, and dealing with a band and bar managers, I am just content on playing whatever I want by myself.

Maybe there’s an alternative you can find?

 

[rk911]

Well, amateur radio has been my main interest for 40+ years. I built my dream ham shack when we remodeled the unused bedroom 10+ years ago but while I'm not totally inactive the club I belong to is hanging on by a thread.

We were avid RVers between 1986-2023 when we sold our last motor home. We criss-cossed the country any number of times before and after we retired in '05.

I fulfilled a life's dream by earning my pilot's certificate (Sport) in 2012. I self-grounded myself 7 or 8 years later when I started producimg kidney stones.

I was heavy into PC's for a number of years starting when they first emerged. I taught myself BASIC which came in handy at work for several years, wrote some BASIC programs for home and work but never followed up with other programming languages. But I'm still the go-to guy for friends when they start scratching their heads.

 

[DrRoy]

I collected coins for about 10 years in the early 2000's. It got to where the things I would like to add were just more expensive than I wanted to pay. I still have what I collected, and occasionally will pick up a new commemorative coin from the mint.

 

[HawkOwl]

I have stopped collecting almost everything (ancient coins, art, sports memorabilia, comics, etc). I no longer watch or care about college or professional sports. The reasons are various- from the responsibility of passing on their ownership before I myself pass on, to realizing how little I have in common with overhyped athletes. In every case my life has been better for walking away.

 

[albireo13]

Maybe take a year off. Sometimes it's good to take a break.
In my case, I gave up DH skiing years ago. I had a hip replacement and then went back a year later to DH skiing. With the increasing cost of lift tix, lift lines, dealing with the bombers and yahooos skiing over my ski tips, I decided .... Naah, I'm good and hung it up.
No regrets.

I do enjoy x country skiing quite bit still.

 

[street]

It is a normal cycle in life that change will happen regardless of the reasons. I have gone from hobbies to other hobbies in life for no other reason than I like new and different adventures.
One thing I love to do to hike untrailed back country areas. The country is rough and no trails to guide you just picking your way through and getting back to the start at days end.
I often think about the day this will have to end, and it is kind of depressing for me. As I age, I find myself getting more tired doing this hobby and might have to adjust where and when I go.
Good Luck I hope you find a mind resting decision. There is always new adventures though.

 

[rembrandt]

Well, amateur radio has been my main interest for 40+ years. I built my dream ham shack when we remodeled the unused bedroom 10+ years ago but while I'm not totally inactive the club I belong to is hanging on by a thread.

View attachment 54109

We were avid RVers between 1986-2023 when we sold our last motor home. We criss-cossed the country any number of times before and after we retired in '05.

View attachment 54110

I fulfilled a life's dream by earning my pilot's certificate (Sport) in 2012. I self-grounded myself 7 or 8 years later when I started producimg kidney stones.

I was heavy into PC's for a number of years starting when they first emerged. I taught myself BASIC which came in handy at work for several years, wrote some BASIC programs for home and work but never followed up with other programming languages. But I'm still the go-to guy for friends when they start scratching their heads.

How many gallons/mile does that get?

 

[Taco]

Inertia. Sometimes we do what we do just because it's what we do.
Jump off that merry-go-round if it is no longer fun for you.

 

[MarieIG]

I thought I would go back to horse back riding - but have not due to fear of falling.

 

[Ronstar]

I brewed beer from 2010-2015, but quit brewing because I no longer drink enough beer to keep the hobby flowing.

 

[Surewhitey]

10 years ago I stopped spear fishing since we no longer live on the Caribbean. Kinda hard to pack a gun for vaca. Down to just diving when I get back...

 

[Kings over Queens]

Fishing - have tons of gear and never go.

Shooting - same thing. Thousands of dollars invested and hours on hours to develop the skill. I stopped shooting events because I didn't like standing around for hours waiting to shoot. You literally could be there all day and only have 4 minutes of actually trigger time.

I don't know what my "next big thing" will be. I find things that interest me, beat the hell out of them, and move on. Cooking is the one thing that's stuck all my life and that I enjoy.

Getting a partial knee replacement next week, who knows, perhaps exercise will be what I focus on.

 

[MarieIG]

Fishing - have tons of gear and never go.

Shooting - same thing. Thousands of dollars invested and hours on hours to develop the skill. I stopped shooting events because I didn't like standing around for hours waiting to shoot. You literally could be there all day and only have 4 minutes of actually trigger time.

I don't know what my "next big thing" will be. I find things that interest me, beat the hell out of them, and move on. Cooking is the one thing that's stuck all my life and that I enjoy.

Getting a partial knee replacement next week, who knows, perhaps exercise will be what I focus on.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

 

[Kings over Queens]

Thanks, I appreciate that Marie. I'm looking forward to putting it behind me.

 

[Jerry1]

Has anyone else faced a similar dilemma in voluntarily giving up a long-term activity? Any regrets?

They all seem to run their course. The only one I’ve kept long term has been golfing. It seems like you’re at a good point to just let the DH skiing go. The main thing that keeps me going with golf is the social interaction and if you’re going DH skiing on your own, I could see how that would get old fast. I like the idea of doing the XC skiing with your DW. I wish DW golfed. I’d still want time with my buddies but it would be nice to go do 9 with DW from time to time.

 

[punkinhead]

Hobbies come and go. I was serious into woodworking for years then just sort of drifted away as my interests moved elsewhere. Same with motorcycles - I'm down to only 2 and will probably sell one of them this spring. I sold one of my airplanes a few years ago and may sell my current one this spring because I'm not using it much. If I sell I'll probably never fly again because hangars are very hard to come by in my area. But every time I've slowed down or stopped one hobby another two or three come along so I don't miss them.

 

[sparky08]

OP, I've been downhill skiing for over 50 years. I skied the midwest, with a rare visit out west. I was starting to feel like you do.

But we moved to the mountains three winters ago and things have turned around. Because I live so close, I do a lot of half days. The first year I skied 102 times for fun. Then last year I joined the Adaptive ski school as a part time assistant. It is one of the most rewarding things I've ever done.

By working at least 15 days per year, I get my ski pass paid for. I also get really good discounts on equipment.

I ski with a group of people, ages 55-75. We don't plan anything, but just run into each other on the mountain. We'll ski a couple runs, and then split up.

So for me, my skiing hobby kind of reinvented itself.

 

[donheff]

I used to love skiing (water and snow), snowboarding, windsurfing, scuba diving, and hiking. I have given them all up for a variety of reasons as I pass into my late 70s. I continue to ride bikes (albeit ebikes) and am planning a cycling trip to Portugal in a couple of months. I also, continue to do HIIT exercises to stay in shape. On the other hand, I have started new hobbies. I have gotten totally hooked on astrophotography. And I have been taking Coursera courses on AI and quantum mechanics.

I miss the action of carving down a hill, but I would rather not break a hip. And light headedness from Parkinson's makes hiking problematic, although sitting on a bike still works. Eventually, I will have to wind down the stuff I'm now doing. If past is prolog, I will adapt up until some point to be determined, at which point I hope I have the capacity to pull the plug.

 

[jfn111]

I quit golf because it started getting expensive and I suck at it.
The wife and I both sold our Harley's when the wife started having foot and balance problems.
I fish every year when we go to Florida (not this year unfortunately), but I haven't bought a local license in years since my last fishing buddy died.
I did take up brewing beer, walking more, attending more baseball games and starting to loosen the checkbook and attend more live music events.
Some Hobbies go away and other interests take over.

 

[Which Roger]

To top it all off, there is world class cross country skiing even closer to us than DH skiing, a season pass for that *both* of us is $200, we have fresh gear for that, and we can get our fill of XC skiing in just a couple of hours instead of using up an entire day.

Problem solved! Much less expensive, much more convenient, and you get a great cardio workout - you can still get your downhill fix, but have to climb the hill first! I read somewhere that downhill skiing (including snowboarding) accounts for 97% of the ski economy in the US, and Nordic is just 3%. Put me in the latter camp.

 

[cheyrl]

We only ski about once a year, when the kids insist that we join them. It's not worth it to buy all new equipment or a season pass, we just get daily rentals and a daily pass. It is still a wonderful way to spend a day.

 

[aja8888]

Long time hobby: Restoring classic cars - stopped when arthritis got so bad I couldn't recover easily. Plus, I was tired of losing money on the eventual sales.

Medium term hobby: Collecting un-built antique R/C model airplane kits from the 1950's and 1960's. (Hal DeBolt kits, Sterling, etc). - Got them all. well, most of them - maybe 400 kits) and ended up selling my collection in 2015 or so.

My dog is my hobby now!