Do any of you ever get “burnt out” or “tired” of participating in your favorite hobby?

[C-Ya]

Title says it all…….. Is the Juice still worth the Squeeze?

 

[Mandelon]

I don't, but my wife does.

Wait, hobby?

 

[240Hallett]

Already done with the car show circuit?

 

[propcheck]

I wil let you know if I ever get a minute to relax and do my hobby

 

[golakers]

Yup, was an avid cyclist for 15years. Mountain and Skinny tire. Found a new love in Pickle Ball. Still ride MTB a little. Hope PB sticks for a long time.

 

[DMF]

Seems like all I do is work. Yes, I am getting tired of it.

 

[Bear Down]

In Marriage #1 we'd be in Havasu/Glamis every other weekend or more. It got to the point where we just not enjoying it as much as before and it was more work/struggle to get the excitement to go as often and all that comes with it (cleaning/storage/set up), but felt necessary to do so with the monthly nut it takes to have the whole set up. Fast Forward 13 years in Marriage #2 with a Family, I really miss my boat and Boating in its purity, but I remind myself how much time, aggravation and $$ I am saving by not doing any more of those weekend hobbies. Now we just have Softball/Baseball to wipe out our freetime and accounts. At least that money pit is for a few more years until the kids get out.

 

[shintoooo]

Depends. I could go fishing every day if time allowed.

 

[Sandlord]

Being in Glamis 3-1/2 days per week for seven months of the year for 6 years took a toll on my vertebrae.
But it wasn’t very good to begin with.
The pain drove me away from my favorite hobby, not burnout.

 

[Bear Down]

Being in Glamis 3-1/2 days per week for seven months of the year for 6 years took a toll on my vertebrae.
But it wasn’t very good to begin with.
The pain drove me away from my favorite hobby, not burnout.

you definitely put a lot of Dune time during those powerhouse years!

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

I got out of the lower river due to the increase in Meth, bayliners and when you quit drinking river boating kinda sucks. Ocean fishing is replacing the water hobby. Looking for a 26 Glacier Bay to replace the boat. My son hated that we would always be drinking at the river. Fishing is more productive, more spead out, and you pretty much always bring something home. Just my .02.

I'm over my son's motocross, but I'm stuck now. I did slow him down on the amount of riding he does.

 

[NicPaus]

I am getting burned out on work. Trying to get back my motivation but it's just not there.

Definitely could use more River trips. But I am burned out on the drive. Takes me a few days to recover after driving home. Leaving at 10 pm and getting to bed at 4am to avoid traffic there probably doesn't help.

I think it's me getting old. Need to figure out how to get motivated on everything these days.

 

[Meaney77]

I go through my phases and, at times want to sell it all (kids would never let me). Its a ton of work- Maintaining boats, dirt bikes, off-road car, motorhome, trailer, etc. Its a ton of work- cleaning, packing, unpacking, and cleaning again but at the end of the season its all worth it. The alternative would be to stay home and be a short-tempered, grumpy asshole because we wouldn't do anything.

 

[AZLineman]

I am currently experiencing burnout of both my land and water Motörhead hobbies. Cost, asshole people, shit ass drivers/operators and the sheer amount of work it all takes are all contributing factors.

 

[DaveH]

got to wonder if porn stars get tired of it...........

 

[Sandlord]

you definitely put a lot of Dune time during those powerhouse years!

Thanks Memo. The friends I made along the way made it all worth it.

 

[ChrisV]

Yes. Many times I told my self to sell everything and work at Home Depot.

 

[Bear Down]

I am getting burned out on work. Trying to get back my motivation but it's just not there.

Definitely could use more River trips. But I am burned out on the drive. Takes me a few days to recover after driving home. Leaving at 10 pm and getting to bed at 4am to avoid traffic there probably doesn't help.

I think it's me getting old. Need to figure out how to get motivated on everything these days.

Turning 50 in March and been working for a pay check since I was 14 years old. I am beat with work and as you noted, motivation is hard. The $$ is good, but god, what I wouldn't give to go to work for a place with almost zero stress and just enjoy waking up at a normal time. Just not my path is suppose.

 

[CommanderLee]

Every time I get ready for a season or if something breaks I ask myself is all of this worth it. The kids are older and the youngest is still in college so they hardly ever go anymore doesn't make it seem worth it. Then throw in the traffic just to get out of town for either the river or dirt and you really wonder why am I doing this again? Not to mention I have had to work my ass off to get what little we have and somehow maintain it all. You have to be a special kind of stupid I guess.

So with all of that being said when is everyone going out next?????

 

[jetboatperformance]

Heres my deal When something I do other than my Job (which I love) becomes WORK I have re evaluate

 

[Desert Whaler]

Unfortunately I gave up surfing after many years.
#1 reason was the crowd ….. everyone wants to hustle you for EVERY single wave , even the shitty ones.

Final straw …. one day some dude who was a way better surfer than me seemed to be paddling for EVERY single wave I was trying to catch …. I tried my best to get away from him but it was like he was following me.
Finally I had enough, stopped and yelled at the guy , “Are you gonna surf right here”?!?! He said ‘Yeah’. I said “Cool, I’m gonna paddle 300 yards down that way so I’m not in your way anymore “ !!!! … he replied , “You’re not in my way” !!! … to which I said , “Well apparently I am since you seem to feel the need to paddle for every fucking wave I’m trying to catch”!!!!! ….. he came back with “It’s not my fault you can’t paddle”!!! …. & I said , “Nope, it’s sure not, and that’s why I’m paddling way the fuck away from you”!!!!!

The dude didn’t know what to say …. Usually dudes just bark back & forth talking shit, then keep surfing.

My buddies were dying laughing & still tell that story to this day !

I was over it.

 

[ltbaney1]

im feeling it right now, considering selling the boat and letting the storage in Parker go. between the cost of the storage, upkeep on the boat, the drive time and having to find somewhere to stay and the drive, im kind of just over it. considering a bayliner type boat to use in the salt which is 15 minutes to the launch ramp and can putt the harbor with kids for an hour or go fishing.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I have a river pad I've seen twice in 3 years. Water toys that haven't seen water in 4 or 5, and a '31 couple I haven't touched since I built the hood about then either. Not burnt out, I'd love to do that stuff again. Time is running faster than I am...always afraid it will run out on me.

Eating, or maybe sleeping? Yep, those are my hobbies. That, and really, sticking my head in here between the stuff that needs to be done.

 

[coolchange]

got to wonder if porn stars get tired of it...........

Yep

 

[12vMan]

I started going to the river in the 70's and there have been some periods of burnout over the years, but like any 'hobby' you do for so many years, I think that's to be expected as times change. Rules and laws change, boats got bigger and wakes got bigger, crowds got bigger, traffic got worse. But here I am, 50 years later and still enjoying hauling ass on glass, enjoying the lake and friends I made a long the way.
I still enjoy mountain biking, but I've gotten lazy the last year. It's raining, too cold, too hot, or I'm gone or have something else to do. I just did a complete tuneup on the bike tho, so I'm getting back in the saddle.
Off roading has always been a love of mine, especially racing in Baja. I don't think I'll ever get tired of that unless times change there, which doesn't happen real fast except in the tourist areas.

 

[Meaney77]

For my situation in particular, I feel like my daughters are getting to an age where they kinda see what it takes both physically and financially to do it all. They all have several friends that don't do anything- no boat, no dirt bikes, motorhome, off-road car, camping, etc.. and when they talk to those friends, they realize how fortunate they are to have the things and do the things we do so that helps since there is a sense of appreciation.

They are also of the age where they can help out more with the cleaning, packing, and unpacking, so some of that is not on my and my wife's shoulders as much. They forget to pack something that's on them!

 

[ChrisV]

Picked up a hobby so I can kill time. Now I’m so balls deep into it that it takes up sooo much time. Couldn’t sleep the other night cause I’m trying to figure out why the buggy isn’t handling right. Boating season needs to start.

“What happens in life is self inflicted”

 

[boatnam2]

Been done with the river trips for a while, second year not going I think, as a matter of fact not even sure why I'm on a boating site anymore, I guess old habits die hard.

 

[Frickstyle]

I am over certain parts of it.

Currently fixing my boat up enough to put it on the market, and if it doesn't sell I'll be "OK" running it for awhile. Problem with that is it's hard to find a point to stop fixing, updating or restoring only "parts" of the package. I've redone this boat 100% once, then had to tear it apart to replace all of the wood of the structure years later. Hard to justify pouring even more money into it. It's also more the time it takes to do all of this stuff.

At some point you get negative returns on your time. 200hours of offseason labor to take a boat out for 30hours on the water is about what it seems.

I bought an outboard boat to get back to simpler boating with less maintenance. Only goes half as fast, but sometimes it's about twice as fun. And my wife can drive it!

I've also found it's cheaper to race cars, than have a high HP inboard boat, by ALOT! Currently having more fun with that, and it's a challenge developing the skillset = more reward. But still lots of "time"

 

[Backlash]

I LOVE working around boats and I really enjoy the projects I have. The only part that "Gets old" is the post-grinding itch. If I could do fiberglass work and somehow managed to avoid being itchy for 2 days afterwards, I would be ECSTATIC! That's the only thing that slows down my already slow pace. Well, that and time....and work.....and a never-ending honey-do list......and.......

 

[coolchange]

Been done with the river trips for a while, second year not going I think, as a matter of fact not even sure why I'm on a boating site anymore, I guess old habits die hard.

You’re on a boating site? Which one?

 

[Bigbore500r]

I definately go thru phases.

I stopped offroading for a while, then got back into it when we had kids. I like the camping aspect of going to the desert more than the actual riding, and spending time with the kids and our friends. The prep, after-trip unpack and cleanup / maintanance is gnarly for how little time you spend out there, that part burns me out. I feel like I enjoy watching the kids ride their dirbikes, and chasing them around on my dirtbike, more than I do running the buggy. The buggy adds alot of work and $$$ to the program. It would be easier to just have bikes to play with and bring the Jeep if we wanna cruise to a destination - but definately wouldn't keep up with the groups! Not ready to give it up yet though, I love being out there.

I'm currently a little burned on going to the river, once we got the house we upped our number of trips and alot of the time spent up there is keeping the house in "rental ready" condition which is a shit ton of work sometimes. I appreciate and enjoy it for sure, but river trips are a little different than they used to be. It's hard to keep the boat in good shape having it stored out there and not being near it to do stuff between trips. Cleaning the boat and putting it away when its 100+ degrees is definately less fun these days.

Im currently fired up on getting my muscle cars back on the road that have been sitting for years, and doing local stuff that doesn't require as much time and travel. May slow it down a little for 2025 and enjoy whats around us more - we live in a beautiful area, I feel like we spend all of our time planning trips to get away from it and don't do anything local to enjoy what we pay for at home! We have a pool - didn't even get in it ONCE last year lol. I have a bitchin mountian bike and live near a trailhead - haven't done it once last year. I drove our el camino to a total of 2 cars and coffee's last year, and they happen twice a month down the street! It's kinda crazy to think about how much shit you have at home, and your constantly trying to escape to do other stuff every weekend.....

 

[ChrisV]

I LOVE working around boats and I really enjoy the projects I have. The only part that "Gets old" is the post-grinding itch. If I could do fiberglass work and somehow managed to avoid being itchy for 2 days afterwards, I would be ECSTATIC! That's the only thing that slows down my already slow pace. Well, that and time....and work.....and a never-ending honey-do list......and.......

Get on it boyeeee

 

[callbob]

After my wife passed last summer plus having to more or less take care of her for 3 years of chemo, I got burned out on doing anything basically. Used to play a lot of golf and fly fishing but haven’t done either. Thinking of downsizing and selling the motorhome and getting a smaller travel trailer to pull with the Gladiator or sell the jeep too and getting a bigger truck. Still like to travel but not as much fun without her. Kind of a pia going anywhere with this big Moho as I get older. I’ll probably take a bath on getting rid of either after the work I’ve put in both of them. My hobby now is trying to find a happy place.

 

[Todd Mohr]

I make the drive from Phoenix to Havasu 2 times a month from March through October and 1 time a month the rest of the year, I'll get a little burnout at some point during the year from the drive. This will be year 5 of having my place there so I'm a newby compared to some, I did the RV to the lake in N Nev for 20 years every weekend during boating season and was burned out by the end for sure. Boat problems can burn me out a bit also but so far not ready to quit the boating lifestyle anytime soon. I'm 62 and hope to be active boating for at least another 10 years or so, but if I get burnt I'll find a new way to spend my time. I mix some skiing and dirt biking in as well but not nearly the pace when I was younger, dirt bikes and racing were my big go to when I lived in N Nev as boat season was way shorter than Az.

 

[coolchange]

I haven’t been on a boat in years. That’s because of life complications not lack of want. I’m at a point now where if I can get my dock banger back up I’m thinking I’ll store it at the river. And now I have a little 27 MPG zipper with a hitch that’ll get me there and back easily. But all the grief of getting there, getting out of town and trying to get back in town almost makes it not worth it. It takes me till Sunday to get distressed just from getting there.
Last year, my only river trip was a detour to roadrunner to have breakfast and a bloody Mary just because I promised myself I would never go a year without at least going.
When we Camp it’s almost always dispersed. Go to where there’s nobody. Then go another 40 miles. If we camp in normal campgrounds, it’s very selective. Never on an amateur weekend. I don’t need to come home. More pissed than I left. Can imagine I would ever give up at least the want to boat. Water is the only thing that seems to center me.

 

[Meaney77]

Another thing to add after reading everyone's responses I am actually okay with taking a season off from our hobbies. As @Bigbore500r mentioned we live in an awesome area of CALIFORNIA, there is a ton to do and see. The River, Havasu, Desert, and Dunes will always be there. Time with my kids wont always be there and be a thing as they grow- I would love to park (not sell) some of the toys and make more road trips in the motorhome and see more of this great country we live in with them while they are young and can appreciate it.

I look at those trips RD does every year and I am jealous and would love to plan something out like that.

 

[jetboatperformance]

By the time I would clean polish wax , gasup, the boat and motor home I needed a Nap LOL

 

[Socalx09]

I got burned out last year pretty badly. I think I made a post about it. I didn’t go anywhere from Feb to May just to enjoy being at home. We pay a lot of money to have a nice home and sometimes I feel like we don’t use it.

The issue is we both love a different hobby. Robert’s peace is at Glamis and my peace is in havasu. He could sell the boats and take summers off and I could sell the RZR/RV and sit at home.

I always say boating is a lot easier and cheaper if nothing goes wrong. This is an example of a Glamis trip. When a boat breaks, it’s definitely not cheap.

Get the gas cans filled.
Load the quads, bikes, RZR and wood in the trailer. This always takes time even though it’s the same program. Get gas and propane filled in the RV and then groceries. Check the tires on the trailer and RV. 4am- wake up and move the enclosed trailer outside with a truck and unhitch. Move the RV upfront and hitch up the trailer. Drive to Glamis. Don’t get the RV stuck, get the rv carpet out. Unload the trailer only for a few days to do it again and drive home. Take out groceries. Laundry for days.

Boating-
Get a boat slip for the weekend
Check truck tires, get gas and head to the river.
Get the boat from storage and check tires.
Grab a Walmart pick up order
Head to the house
Launch and relax for a few days
Put the boat back on the trailer, wipe down and back at storage
Clean the house.
Go home

One program is a lot easier. We both did agree to stop late July to August boating. It is not worth it in the heat like that.

 

[CLCookie]

For sure, the burnout is real. Just spent the last two weekends pulling motor and putting back in for Glamis this weekend. It isn't the money, it is the work between trips and even when you are there. If my 20-year-old kids didn't love it so much, I would sell everything and do something else, maybe more golf and pickleball, or more trips to the beach?

I got burned out on the river/lake years ago, the drive wasn't worth it to me anymore. To fill this void now, moved onto the water in Canyon Lake and have a Houseboat on Powell, spend 9 days on the Lake Powell and weekends at home, maybe go on the lake and maybe not, super easy when everything is on a dock in the backyard.

 

[callbob]

Not really as dire as I typed it but you get the picture. After she passed, I put the lift, tires, bumper and winch on the Gladiator thinking I would get back into rock crawling again. We used to do it when I had the LJs. I do enjoy going to Ouray jeeping and not anything really technical there so me and Charley have a good time. Got in with some people here in Apache Junction that showed me some trails and I do enjoy that. I am burned out on the serious rock crawling part mainly because of what shit costs to fix when you break something. In my younger days I never gave it any thought. Thought about getting another boat, but then I woke up. I need to figure out what I want to be when (or if) I ever grow up. With no wife to lead me, no telling what might happen.

 

[mbrown2]

Been done with the river trips for a while, second year not going I think, as a matter of fact not even sure why I'm on a boating site anymore, I guess old habits die hard.

In all seriousness this forum is more about the village and less about the boating....boating got us here...everything else kept us here...

 

[lbhsbz]

For me it's the driving that killed most of it. Doesn't seem to matter where I wanna go, I seems like it burns a whole day getting there and another whole day getting back. Years ago when it was just me and the wife, we'd throw some drinks in the cooler, put on board shorts/bathing suits...maybe throw a spare set in the seat pocket of the truck and leave town at 9pm or so, pull in at 1 and be ready to go the next morning. We didn't need much. Now...kid, dog, and my Dad joins us everywhere....so the minimalist program doesn't work.

I'd rather just stay home because it's just too much work for the amount of time I get to spend enjoying it before I've gotta turn around and come home. We'll revisit someday, but not soon.

Running a small business doesn't help either....there are no days off....still trying to figure out that one.

 

[hallett21]

My wallet has lol.

 

[mbrown2]

I got burned out going every weekend... particularly when it meant trying to get out of work early on Friday and getting back Sunday evening. Fortunately my job and line of work allows more flexibility on where I do my work. I am in the office a couple of days a week. So I am able to work from the river and stay longer which I love... Often I will work a week or more from there....and just take my time enjoying the river and the nature in what it brings...not rushing to get every minute out of the boating time.. We don't have kids, so our memories are made at the river, Mammoth, where ever we feel like going...

 

[Bajastu]

My hobby is working on boats, cars, and welding. I love working and fabricating on my projects, but I've been burned out on the labor of love to finish this beast. After building, racing, and rebuilding cars for 15+ years, I'm kind of burned out. I'm more interested in working on my vdrive. Some day I'll get the urge to finish this beast.

 

[Runs2rch]

My wallet has lol.

Is this where we turn the thread political to make the 2nd most miserable person on here happy???

 

[77charger]

Have many hobbies I don’t usually
Sell the toys. Boating been doing all
My life and every once in a while I lose interest so just might use boat 1-2 day trips a year.

Got another stand up jet ski 7-8 years ago enjoy that for water time. It’s easy to load and go.

Been doing glamis since 86-87 took a couple years off in early 90s got back into it and gone for years. These days with the moron sign and drives I’m over it. Wife wants to go 1-2 times a year so that’s it. I like to stay local and not trails in desert near home. Also still have dirtbike and will get out on single track during week although not much time this year but will do next week.

Firearms well been spending more time with that hobby and main one in winter now. Use to do a lot in late 90s early 2000s but ca made it harder to do. Now in az it’s revived. Have a couple others I do to but at times like said I’ll take a break work more on another and come back at some point.

 

[Tooms22]

The boat is at the house in Havasu. I tow it down the hill, launch, and enjoy. Sometimes the pool, a bucket of beers, and a game on the TV in the backyard seem like a better, low stress idea. I find myself not wanting to go through all of it and then clean it at the end of the day... especially in July and August. It's a 2002, so maybe a brand new boat would perk me up a little . I always want to keep my cars clean but they're newer and I know every imperfection because I bought them new. Eh, maybe it's just winter time bitchin'

Bought our first SxS in February and haven't got to use it a lot. I definitely love spending days and nights working on it and adding accessories. But when it's time to take it out, we have really only taken it shooting and to grab breakfast/lunch/dinner or a beer. I actually kind of like taking it around town. But I'm basically taking a Lambo and saying I really like driving it around a crowded parking lot

I have not gotten tired of the 4 hour drive to and from Havasu. We closed on our house in September 2022. We've averaged close to every other weekend and Thursday night to Monday night. I still want to come out all the time. But find myself enjoying the town and house more than the hobbies. Maybe I'm just busy with work and the down time is nice.

 

[Bajastu]

Have many hobbies I don’t usually
Sell the toys. Boating been doing all
My life and every once in a while I lose interest so just might use boat 1-2 day trips a year.

Got another stand up jet ski 7-8 years ago enjoy that for water time. It’s easy to load and go.

Been doing glamis since 86-87 took a couple years off in early 90s got back into it and gone for years. These days with the moron sign and drives I’m over it. Wife wants to go 1-2 times a year so that’s it. I like to stay local and not trails in desert near home. Also still have dirtbike and will get out on single track during week although not much time this year but will do next week.

Firearms well been spending more time with that hobby and main one in winter now. Use to do a lot in late 90s early 2000s but ca made it harder to do. Now in az it’s revived. Have a couple others I do to but at times like said I’ll take a break work more on another and come back at some point.

Jet skis can become a rabbit hole of labor and fun. It seems like once you rebuild a motor, it's time to port, polish, add a pipe, carb, etc...... the never ending need to upgrade and gain more power.Thankfully I only have my son's and mine to work on.

Guns, I just shoot them and then clean them. I'm not much on modifying them.