Troll - Posted - 11/11/2014:  09:09:33

Over lunch, we were arguing about the respective costs of our hobby/passion. He, being an avid golfer – I, a musician.

He golfs several times per week, takes international golf vacations where he will play two or three rounds per day, goes through golf balls like m&m’s at birthday party, and is a member of a local country club. He estimates his cash outlay at well over $35,000 per year…..every year.

This does not include his alcohol intake or losses due to ill-conceived wagers (the latter due to the former), which I suspect is substantial.

I told him that he was an idiot (which he was already aware of) – because chasing a ball around a field with a stick, and attempting to make it go into a small hole is a fool’s game for people who are predisposed to frustration and self-loathing. He actually called it a “sport”. I told him that he may as well throw his money off of a bridge.

I on the other hand, estimated my worthy and noble “investment in spiritual growth, and betterment of society in general” at approximately $75,000 over 45 years; of which I have made back (I would guess) about $25,000 through proceeds from playing, lessons, and equipment resale.

I play pretty much every day – often for hours at a time, and when I’m done I feel a warm glow in my soul (and it’s not heartburn from alcohol, like my boss). I wipe down my strings and place the guitar back in its case; I do not wrap my guitars around the nearest tree or throw them into a pond in a frustrated rant, like my boss does. I walk upstairs and hug my wife – he sulks all evening while watching the golf channel. All in all, I definitely feel like I got the better of him in this argument.

To top it off, he actually believes that buying the newest, latest, and greatest equipment will actually make play better!?!?!? HAR, HAR, HAR, HAR, HAR!!!!....hee, hee....ha ha.....he......he......heh, heh......ahem, uuhhhh - never mind.

-Tom

blueridge - Posted - 11/11/2014:  09:17:02

I plan to print this out and hang it on the refrigerator with a note to my wife that it could be worse.

And some day, when I find the right guitar, I'll play just like Doc.

Mike

pizmo - Posted - 11/12/2014:  02:37:48

Hey! There's something therapeutic about tossing one's favorite club (seven iron) around a tree  (not that I would ever do that) after a disgusting shot. And all of the king's horses and all of the king's men could not put that club back together again.  But as I struggle with clawhammer banjo, I might get that feeling again (oh it wasn't me with the seven iron).

blueridge - Posted - 11/12/2014:  05:28:51

If you want to wrap a banjo around a tree, I suspect that there are a few folks here that will lend a hand. :-)

Mike

jkm - Posted - 11/13/2014:  11:04:16

I told him that he was an idiot

Curious if your boss bought lunch after that exchange...  ; )

Troll - Posted - 11/13/2014:  13:31:17

Ironically.....I bought lunch. Because he beat me at golf the day before.

I'll bet if I bought more expensive clubs, I could beat him. What do you think?

pizmo - Posted - 11/14/2014:  01:04:11

Forget golf clubs, I have a guitar for sale that will automatically allow you to play any Bluegrass or flatpick song at 300 BPM for $100,000. Bryan Sutton, eat your heart out!