Interesting topic. In my case, rocketry started a little over a year ago. After my move from MN to AZ, I was in search of something to do, and friends. With two small children at home, my #1 priority of course was parenting. It hasn't been easy. My thought process was this - "What can I do, that doesn't take me away from my parenting and other responsibilities, is kinda fun, gives me something to do during all seasons, allows me to make friends, and doesn't cost too much money?" On a trip to a hobby store to buy a little RC helicopter, I walked through the rocket aisle, and then it hit me...
ROCKETRY! :surprised:
I can glue on a fin and return in five minutes,,, or five days. Doesn't matter. I can build when it's hot, and fly when it's not. I can keep myself very occupied for a relatively small amount of money (relative to RC flying, ATV's, boats, concerts, habitual drinking, strip clubs, gambling, and numerous other hobbies I couldn't possibly name). I can drive to a club site and launch big, or walk with the wagon to the park with my kids and launch a micro! I can order an expensive kit when I have the money, or work with scraps and raw materials when I'm broke. I can even sit in a lawn chair and watch a rocket event without spending a penny besides fuel to get there! I could keep going too. There are so many benefits from my point of view, this is definitely the hobby for me. I do believe in balance though, and I balance rocketry with traveling, cigar smoking, photography, reading, etc.
As far as my wife goes. The comment that stuck out in my mind was something like, "Isn't this very seventh grade of you?" While I didn't appreciate that much, as it was aimed to belittle my hobby, I didn't retaliate. I'm not looking for approval here. I'm a man in a house full of women. I expect what goes through my mind to be confusing to them. Just like whatever goes through their mind is confusing to me. My wife is a BIG tv watcher. I am very good about doing rocketry in my spare time, and not during family time. For her though, the tv is always on. She will be sitting on the couch watching tv and say to me as I leave the room, "Do you really need to do your hobby right now?" My response is usually, "Aren't you doing yours?" Unfortunately she came to a launch once when it was really windy. She had both of our children while I attempted to launch one single rocket. It was understandably a difficult day for her, but I fear it tainted her view of what a launch is for good. I don't expect her back any time soon. Honestly though, I've learned I just can't expect her to do everything I do. In fact. Once the puppy love wears off,,, it's nice for her to get out of my hair and let me work on some rockets! When I'm at a launch, I prefer to be alone. I talk to people, take photos, launch rockets, and sit around a lot. I look forward to the day when my girls are old enough to come and enjoy it, but in reality, they're just a little too young to do anything besides paint a rocket or launch a micro at the park. Time will tell.
I ask myself. Would I rather be doing something else? Would I want to spend my hobby allowance on something else? Then I realize, I LOVE ROCKETS! I can't waste time questioning my own faithfulness to a hobby I truly enjoy. It seems that rocketry has become a part of my life that won't be going anywhere soon. I can assure you though, when my pay increases and student loans are paid off,,, I'll be on a golf course, a speed boat, sitting on the cabin deck, exploring exotic travel destinations or something grand.
For now, while my kids are little,,, rocketry is my gig...