Take a deep dive.
Go down the rabbit hole.
Lose oneself.
Be absorbed.
Nerd out.
Do you have a hobby that has become more than just an enjoyment and has become a true passion in your life? I am talking a hobby that you get so deep into that you want to know the how of it, ponder the why it impacts you and others, when it started, where is it most done and known, and meet the whos of the hobby? In some cases, this might even lead down a path of you doing real academic research, changing careers, or lifestyle chagnes. I have two I will share to get you pondering and hopefully sharing as well.
First up for me is my hobby gardening, which is slowly inching toward aspects of the homesteading lifestyle. I started out gardening because my wife was into gardening. She started our first one with me mostly just helping with the digging and maintenance. It was a small plot and we enjoyed what it produced. Then sometime, somewhere, and somehow that dirt under my fingernails seeped into my brain. I began researching square foot gardening, raised beds, rotating crops, heirloom seeds, canning, and more. I moved from small garden plot to a large area of raised beds,a fence row of blackberries, and cherry trees. Had I become a gardener? When did this go from a few fresh veggies and fruits to hobby gardening? Recently I fell down the rabbit hole (the gosh darn cutest nemesis in my garden) and started researching composting, seedling prep, homesteading, and vermiculture (worms!). I have even purchased a small green house and three compost bins to add to my garden this summer! Help? This is no longer just a casual hobby of a garden but a passion I actively read about, subscribe to a good old fashioned print magazine, email fellow gardeners to ask questions, and ponder at random times during the day.
Second delves more into my writing and teaching. As you know from this blog, social media, or hanging with me, that I am passionate about tabletop gaming. That passion led to working in the game industry at conventions, then freelancing editing, and eventually teaching courses on game studies and writing & editing in the tabletop game industry. But, my hobby did not stop by shifting into a freelance career nor an academic pursuit. I became absorbed with the culture, philosophy, and history of gaming. While some of these books I have read to assist my course, many I read because I am so passionate to understand this tabletop gaming hobby that has had such a huge impact on my life and that of many others. Tabletop gaming has become a world wide phenomenon. Reading and discussing the implications of that and the impacts to culture are fascinating to me as can be seen by my current to be read pile.
What hobby has had you head down deep tunnels to learn even more and more?