Interesting discussion and I agree with all of it.
I will add that if I compare my hobby, and it's cost, to other men in my town then the overall expenditure pales. It is nothing to see people driving a $75,000 truck with a $5000 trailer hauling two (or often four) $12,000-$25,000 snowmobiles. Then in summer they are hauling two, or four, $12,000 to $20,000 ATVs.
My other way of justifying my hobby to my wife is to pick up a motorcycle magazine. I t-boned a truck on my bike five years ago. The very suggestion I might get another motorcycle is enough to get her to drop any objections to a new lens. The day she starts advocating I get a new bike is the day I start to worry.
I wonder how many have other hobbies as well? I suppose I am a bit of a hobby person, photography, metalwork - lathe + milling machine + drill, a certain amount of wood working kit, I have at times made decent furniture, microscopes that breed in the night, these usually do and astro telescopes despite UK weather of late. Oh and a few model helicopters but I only smash up the cheaper end of the market. Then there is the occasional need for the odd bit of electronics.I have a very understanding wife. The 1200cc motor bike went before I broke any bones. She was pleased about that. From other peoples experiences I found that we don't bounce very well as we get older and came very near to being bounced a couple of times.
John
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