Lovin' That Recession!

I've been thinking about retiring from paintball as a hobby and sport for some time now. Generally, when I seem almost convinced of doing so I drag myself back into the idea of playing...even though my "consistent" years of playing were at least five years ago. By consistent I mean going more than twice a year! I have been playing it for going on 15 years this fall, and have even pursued it all the way to the level of playing small local and inter-state tournaments with my friends. It's just these days, my friends and I have all changed our lives so much no one really has time for it anymore. I mean, we could MAKE time, but we don't. We all have much busier lives than we used to, and we don't take the time to go out and play a game like that anymore. Plus, the recession biting into people's discretionary income doesn't help much either.

Speaking of this lovely recession, I think a lot of casual or discretionary things are going to feel the bite. Tanning salons, paintball, tattooing...anything that's fun and costs money is going to give way to seemingly more "important" stuff like having gas to drive to and from work and buying groceries. It's interesting (and not unlike nature) in how one thing causes a ripple effect in the pool of society and effects everything else around it. People should really take note of this and apply it to their life and how they effect their surroundings...but I digress.

Perhaps if I do finally decide to hang it up in paintball it will give me more time and motivation to pursue other outlets for my creativity and athleticism. Like, for one, getting back into shape to begin with. Two, learning to play guitar. I have always wanted to do that and being an artist and a paintball player (not to mention a middle class income) has always made that impossible all together.