When going through marathon training (I ran three in 2001 and hope to run another in December of this year), one thing that you should always incorporate is cross-training. Typically one day a week, do something other than running to perhaps develop supporting muscle groups, or at least to give your body a little variety.
While I’m not too sure how much it will “develop supporting muscle groups” for my woodworking, I have picked up a new hobby. Thanks to a birthday present from my parents in celebration of turning 40, I took an Open Water scuba diving course and am now a certified diver!
But while scuba diving is as much a hobby as woodworking, the two couldn’t be more different. And I don’t just mean that you can’t build furniture underwater (your coral workbench would just snap right in two). What I mean is that woodworking is a productive hobby. You can’t take up the hobby of woodworking for very long before you produce SOMETHING tangible. Of course, it may take a little longer before you produce something that will actually last, but that’s another issue. If you’re a woodworker who doesn’t have anything to show for it, then you’re really just a tool collector (another hobby).
Scuba diving is entirely unproductive. But being unproductive doesn’t mean it’s useless. It’s just that the things you get out of scuba diving are internal, entirely for you. It enriches your own personal soul, enhances your appreciation of God and his creation, and gives you some memories and perhaps stories. But other than that (unless you have an underwater camera), you have nothing really to show for it.
I think I like that this hobby is so very different from woodworking. Honestly, my time on the islands entirely wiped the Roubo from my brain. That’s good. My slate is clean, and as I start planning again, I’ll be more fresh and will be able to think more clearly.
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June 12, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Gye Greene
Hey, congrats on the scuba certification! (That’s sufficiently arcane to impress people at cocktail parties…)
I got interested in woodworking largely to support two of my other interests: playing/recording music, and martial arts (both of which, sadly, are on hiatus at the moment). Cheaper to build your own guitar cabinet, punching-bag rack, and etc. — and get one to **your** desired specs — than to try to buy one off the shelf.
Maybe you’ll end up building a SCUBA gear cupboard — complete with various hooks and holders…
–GG
June 12, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Chris G
You could cross-train by running an underwater marathon.
June 12, 2009 at 8:44 pm
The Village Carpenter
Man, that water looks inviting! It’s going to be hot and humid here today in PA. I believe that, however you spend your time, as long as you’re enjoying yourself (w/o committing a crime!) is time well spent. And no product nor record of the event needs to prove it.
June 13, 2009 at 1:45 am
Al Navas
Eric,
WOW! I love the entire thread about scuba diving. It sent me back 25 years, to the 84 dives logged in the Red Sea and in Cozumel in 1984 alone… And I wish I could be there, to share in your excitement!!!
But I must do it from half way around the globe – CHEERS!
One suggestion: Underwater photography is a very *productive* hobby to undertake, and extremely rewarding. Cost will be somewhat along to the cost of getting into woodworking, so it is not entirely unreasonable.
Enjoy it to the extreme, as these experiences are not forever. The memories will last a lifetime, but photos really complement the experience and will help you re-live some of them most vividly. I have 2,500 color transparencies to sort through, catalog, and scan… Heck, maybe even try to sell some of them, as a few are that good.
Thanks for bringing back such wonderful memories, Eric!
Al Navas
July 13, 2009 at 12:01 am
Fabian
Hey Eric, that’s great! I haven’t had time to go scuba diving here in Europe so far. Beside of that I prefer the water temperature of your place anyway.
But maybe I’ll be back one day! 🙂