I need a new hobby :-(

[WalkinTarget]

Never thought the day would come, but I am somewhat tapped out when it comes to building or upgrading computers

Now that's not to say I still don't enjoy it, but I have a serious yearning for something else. I attribute it to an early mid-life crisis, so here are the details:

I watch a TV show called Wheeler Dealers, and they find these beat up cars and restore and sell them, so I started looking for something fun and sporty to pick up, but soon decided I didn't want a 'project' car, as my mechanical skills are non-existent.

Next, I moved on to an old love, ATV riding. I usta have a Kawasaki Mojave 250 until around '97 when I changed jobs and fell out of contact most of my friends who rode. Flash forward 10+ years, and I want to buy one again ... except ...

the wife disapproves !!

Both my bro-in-law and father-in-law ride a few times a year, and a co-worker is interested in buying one too, so I may have plenty of people to ride with in the near future. I'll need to sell off a couple more PCs to buy one, but I dunno if its just a phase (I need to get out more anyhow) or I really do want to ride again.

Planning on renting an ATV over the summer and riding, so do we have any other ATV riders that have anything to offer ? It's not easy finding a quad for around $1,000, so I guess I'll keep looking and if this ATV desire goes away, I'll at least have some money stashed away for a PC upgrade if I need one by the end of the year.

[Trooper110]

Take up mt. biking instead WT, I'll go with ya!

[mapes]

ATV's are alright. I'd prefer dirt bikes but, whatever.

[Skud]

guns, cameras? a grand would be a good start in either of those.

[Hammy]

Anything outdoors is what I reccomend.

Camera's will change your life as you seek perspective. You can hunt animals with your camera, and in doing so, you learn more than photoshoting, you need to learn how to find the animals, learn hiking safety, and etc. You will be so busy with this that the end is very rewarding.

Where you live determines what you want to do. I mean, many of my hobbies are seasonal. Sea Kayaking season just started up for me FYI- I cant wait to get back in the water next weekend.

[WalkinTarget]

Troop, I still have a mountain bike, a 2000 Trek 350, so I don't have the stamina to ride very far. Chalk it up to exercise induced asthma ...

My wife suggested that already, so I dunno ... I may try it again at least once just to get outdoors.

Skud, I'm planning on taking my dig. camera with me on rides and getting some nice nature shots. The rest of the group that rides are the outdoorsy hunter types, so while they are offing killing dinner, I will be snagging some choice pics.

I found a local Yamaha Warrior that needs a full top-end for $600, but I'm not sure I want to tackle a motor rebuild for this project.

[Skud]

Sounds good, WT. If you were in the neighborhood maybe I'd dig my mountain bike outta the basement.

[Trooper110]

I'm make him go riding soon as I get my front derailure fixed on my Gary Fisher Kai Tai. Need to get my brother out and exercising too, lazy bum's been sitting round since Circuit City was liquidated. My bet is I collapse first

[mapes]

Troop, I still have a mountain bike, a 2000 Trek 350, so I don't have the stamina to ride very far. Chalk it up to exercise induced asthma ...

My wife suggested that already, so I dunno ... I may try it again at least once just to get outdoors.

Skud, I'm planning on taking my dig. camera with me on rides and getting some nice nature shots. The rest of the group that rides are the outdoorsy hunter types, so while they are offing killing dinner, I will be snagging some choice pics.

I found a local Yamaha Warrior that needs a full top-end for $600, but I'm not sure I want to tackle a motor rebuild for this project.

Hammy's post made me think about the ocean. If your near the water Scuba diving can be very rewarding. Damn I also need to get in the water. I know people out in Santa Cruz that both surf and scuba. That way no matter what the sea like they have an activity

[Duke{CLR}]

I go through phases to and I ended up getting the boat. It satisfies my tinkering desire while at the same time provides fun for the whole family.

[WalkinTarget]

Ehh, wife would rule out a boat or diving in a hurry. Her Dad had a boat and he loved doing some things to piss off any female passengers, so we can forget that idea. I'm not into water sports at all either.

First thing I need to do is sell some PCs on CraigsList and then go from there. Every quad is out of my price range at the moment, so I figure in a month I'll have a better plan.

For now, I'm planning a rental of a quad and see if my back holds out from the trail bumps, then see what my bank account says i can do.

I guess my wife's fear is the last time I was on a bike, in my case it was the aforementioned Trek bike, I took a very nasty spill on a concrete bridge surface as a car was passing me ... full speed endo at top speed, as my derailleure locked between sprockets when I went to top gear and I went headfirst onto the road surface.

I've since learned that the sprockets require oil every 5 years or so ...

[{CLR} Cobalt]

I give it less than 2 months and you'll be back to PC's.

[sopek_]

hey walkinT may I interest you in radio control gas helicopter or gas/elect. airplane. they are truly fun, it's an outdoor hobby, "cheap" well... depending, family oriented, lots of assembly especially if you're new and/or crash, oh and did I mention fun!

[WalkinTarget]

sopek, funny you should mention that ! Another co-worker is a hard core RC nut, and I think he had 4 cars in his collection last time we talked. He regularly spends $300-400 on broken axles or other parts from jumping his boosted cars, so I could definitely get into the hobby in a hurry with his help.

Cobalt, I haven't really left PCs, I just reached a point where I upgraded every PC I own, and there's nothing to be gained by adding anything else. I looked at an i7/X58 upgrade, but $750 of hardware might net me 8% framerate gain .. just not worth the money spent.

[BlackArrow]

WT, my ex-wife told me if I bought a motorcycle she would divorce me.......and after denying me 15 years of riding, she divorced me anyway.

I say go for it