So what exactly is everyone up to in their non-boating hours?

[Bob B.]

I walk my dogs 2-4 miles a day and oversee 2 properties that border mine. I maintain trails, keep lawns mowed, keep the owners in firewood etc. On top of that, it is opening bow season this weekend so I have been tuning my arrows and shooting my longbow.

I am training my pup to track deer as well as therapy training. My old dog Jake is a nationally registered Therapy Dog. We are on staff at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison and will on board this fall with Children’s Hospital.

 

[stripperguy]

Let’s see…been riding motorcycles since I was 14 years old, currently riding a beefed up Triumph Bonneville Special Edition.
I’ve been a fitness bicyclist since 1983, currently riding a full Ti frame Centurian that I built. Frame was a $650 bargain around 2001, several component and wheelsets since then.
I also fix and sell wrecked vehicles…cars, jeeps, motorcycles, motorhomes. I hate to see things scrapped needlessly and I really like puzzles.
I also have a heavily modified 1977 CJ5, that I did all of the work on, from engine rebuild to regearing the axles and transfer case and countless suspension and steering mods. Very capable and nearly unstoppable off road.
I also sail a 19 ft high performance dinghy that I strip built, but it’s too powerful for me to single hand
However, of all the hobbies and activities, my absolute favorite thing is skiing. Specifically, back country skiing. Hike up with skins, ski down. No trails, no tracks, virgin snow every time down. It’s a great combo of excitement, challenge and suffering.

 

[scratchypants]

I gave up motorcycles last year. First bike at age 9 - a Yamaha MX80, then an XR100, and later an XR250R ('93). For road I started with a BMW F650ST, then a 2003 Triumph Tiger ("girlie") - a 10-year hiatus - a 1974 CB360G, and finally a Moto Guzzi V7 II. I wasn't riding very much, felt guilty when I did (wife and dogs left behind), and just wasn't enjoying it like I used to.

It's a funny thing - learning that I can stop doing things that I don't fully enjoy. I think my guitars and amps are next on the block - I suck, have always sucked, and can't see myself getting better with less plasticity in both fingers and mind.

 

[Alan Gage]

It's a funny thing - learning that I can stop doing things that I don't fully enjoy.

That is a hard lesson to learn and one I still struggle with. I tend to hold on because I remember the enjoyment it once gave and I keep thinking it will give it again. It's often such a relief to finally let go.

Alan

 

[LanceR]

We travel a lot for hiking, backpacking, camping and occasional canoe trips. We took 15 trips last year of five to twenty days length.

I "retired" from 29 years military service in 2005 and although I'm pushing 70 I still teach climbing part-time. And I'm a deputy fire chief of a rural fire/rescue/EMS department. Until recently I was a part-time adjunct EMS instructor for our local technical college although I still teach CPR and team-focused CPR for rescue professionals.

When we're in town I work full-time or more than full-time hours for our county EMS department...... which is the source of money for, among other things, play money we spend on the trips.

As I type this I'm sitting in our camper on another trip. We're in Cedar Point Campground, a very nice Forest Service campground on the mainland a mile down the road from the bridge to Emerald Isle in the southern Outer Banks region of North Carolina. Tomorrow morning we're hopping on the ferry at Hammocks Beach State Park to go out to a barrier island to scout for a future trip to some oceanfront tent campsites.

Lance

 

[Keeled Over]

I gave up motorcycles last year. First bike at age 9 - a Yamaha MX80, then an XR100, and later an XR250R ('93). For road I started with a BMW F650ST, then a 2003 Triumph Tiger ("girlie") - a 10-year hiatus - a 1974 CB360G, and finally a Moto Guzzi V7 II. I wasn't riding very much, felt guilty when I did (wife and dogs left behind), and just wasn't enjoying it like I used to.

It's a funny thing - learning that I can stop doing things that I don't fully enjoy. I think my guitars and amps are next on the block - I suck, have always sucked, and can't see myself getting better with less plasticity in both fingers and mind.

LOVE your choice of bikes - you have covered the motorcycle spectrum. I have 4 guitars upstairs, and I have never successfully completed a B Minor on any of them.

 

[Keeled Over]

We travel a lot for hiking, backpacking, camping and occasional canoe trips. We took 15 trips last year of five to twenty days length.

I "retired" from 29 years military service in 2005 and although I'm pushing 70 I still teach climbing part-time. And I'm a deputy fire chief of a rural fire/rescue/EMS department. Until recently I was a part-time adjunct EMS instructor for our local Technical college although I still teach CPR and team-focused CPR for rescue professionals.

When we're in town I work full-time or more than full-time hours for our county EMS department...... which is the source of money for, among other things, play money we spend on the trips.

As I type this I'm sitting in our camper on another trip. We're in Cedar Point Campground, a very nice Forest Service campground on the mainland a mile down the road from the bridge to Emerald Isle in the southern Outer Banks region of North Carolina. Tomorrow morning we're hopping on the ferry at Hammocks Beach State Park to go out to a barrier island to scout for a future trip to some oceanfront tent campsites.

Lance

Wow - you are busier, in a good way, then the combined effort of everyone I know. Good for you!!

 

[yknpdlr]

I retired 12 years ago with 41.5 years of combined active military and government civilian research laboratory credit to my pension, plus retired with concurrent 22 years in the AF reserves. I loved traveling to visit my son in the AF and grandkids while he was stationed in Korea, Germany, and nearby countries, plus visiting found cousins in my grandparent's homeland village in Poland.

Much of my slack time has been spent canoe racing and training for the same in the Adirondacks and Yukon. And working on building my lake cabin, where I am on the lake association board of directors as president. I have been on a volunteerwilderness search and rescue team for 30 years as a state certified SAR crew boss where I served as president of that organization, and was recruited to teach and still continue to teach land navigation to state law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and state SAR members at my state's homeland security training facility. I have also spent 30 years as volunteer trainer of high adventure wilderness trek leader guides for BSA National Camping School in the Adirondacks and co-authorred a related training manual adaptable to national regional areas.

 

[ppine]

Wow!

Hi ScottS,
I used to hang around with buckskinners in Colorado and Wyoming and learned to sew buckskins, tipis, gun leather and horse equipment. Leather work is very rewarding.

I am training my Border Collie to collect firewood She can play chess, but she can't beat me.

 

[ppine]

Sometimes I just want to go paddle a Tripper or find a sailboat. Sometimes I want to go out and buy an old Indian.
We great car shows in Nevada like Hot August Nights. If I go to enough shows I don't need to buy a hot rod.

 

[BigandSmall]

Skiing in the winter, both downhill and XC. Dual sport motorcycles, trail riding mountain bikes, fishing, hiking, quadding, traveling. Lots of BJJ in the past trashed my body but it was fun. I used to build up old Toyota trucks but now only a lightly modded daily driver. Kayaking became an obsession 14 years ago and I got my first good canoe 2 years ago. I built my first kayak about the time we got into kayaking. My wife is petite so I build her something that fit her better. Building paddle craft is another great winter activity I should have had listed at the top.