Interests and Annoyances

There are recurring interests in my life that are annoyances of sorts. For instances, I'm basically annoyed by the fact that I'm interested in videogames. I wish I wasn't. But I am, and after deciding recently that all I really wanted to play was badass FPSes such as Rage (which is awesome, if very derivative -- so maybe not awesome, maybe just very fun with excellent, if overrated, graphics), I've now been convinced by the numerous critics singing its praises that I must play Persona 4.

Here's the rub: I've got a PS2 that came to me free of charge from someone who'd acquired a PS3.  Awesome! But it's in the basement attached to a 19" CRT TV. Not so aweome.  Plus, the newest version of Persona 4 is for the little handheld PlayStation Vita and it's supposed to be even better than the super awesome meg-fantastic PS2 version.

So I guess I gotta buy a Vita.

Now for most people making the adequate amount of bread that I make, dropping $260.00 to get this thing I really want would be no big deal. For me, it's akin to climbing Everest: months of planning, weeks of prep, and a short but exhausting period of execution. So here's the plan: eBay the DS, with its accessories and all games for $100. Sell my old phone (the not so lovable Droid X) with its charging station, et al. for $50.  Buy the Vita and P4G (as it's referred to) for $110 out of pocket.  Play the game over the next year or two (it's a long game -- 90-100 hours), then sell the Vita for at least $80.  Net cost to me (not counting the costs of the DS and the X): $30.

Okay, so that covers Annoying Interest #1.  Annoying Interest #2: guns.

I consider my family (the one where I was an electron, not the one where I am a proton or perhaps a neutron) to be a gun family.  I got a 20 gauge shotgun for Christmas when I was, like, 13. I got a concealed carry permit when I was 18.  We shot guns at camps and, on rare occasions, inside our house in the city of Syracuse.

Earlier this year I bought a shotgun. Now I'm thinking pistol.

The problem with it all is that the thing I need that is most like my need for a hole in my skull is another hobby. I don't have time for another hobby. Currently, I can't regularly saddle up the bike and ride off for a few hours on a Saturday. I can plop down in front of my bitchin' 22" TV and play Rage for a few hours. I can barely maintain my bike, car, and real estate. So taking up a time- and money-intensive hobby like pistol shooting seems foolish.

On the other hand, it's something I want to do and I'm 42 and not, as it turns out, getting any younger.

My reason seems to be tussling with my lust for life. We'll see who comes out on top.