Hobby Projects

I’ve been devoting an inordinate amount of time to hobbies lately. I’ve never had a hobby before. I always hated it when people would ask me if photography was my hobby— the first few times it happened, my response was “no, it’s a way of life.” Later I shortened it to “no.” I find it hard to attach the same sort of severity to my latest obsession, trying to keep a couple of planted aquariums. I can’t think of many profound life-lessons in the procedures involved. Or maybe they’re just too obvious:

• If your chemistry turns foul, you will die.
• Not enough light will make you depressed.
• Food becomes fertilizer.
• Happiness is related to busyness.

I’m also contemplating rock tumbling. Someone claimed that rock polishing teaches patience. I think a more profound life-lesson might be that if you let something grind on you long enough, you become smooth and rounded.

July 20, 2006 2:11 PM