Hobby or Lifestyle?


This thought reemerged again last night after going to my tax accountant. Upon being told the obscene amount of $ that the govt. is going to releive me of my wife said I should find another hobby which is work related (and thus deductable). This triggered a thought. In the past I've seen many posts about this "hobby" and it has always seemed odd to me to call it a hobby. I've never thought of this as a hobby. I started buying records at about the age of 9-10 (1960-61). I had a cheap "record player" back then and since that time I can never remember a day without a way to play my music or many days that I didn't play some music. My systems got better through the years and I now have the best system that I have ever owned. In my younger nomadic days, I can remember moving with only my clothes, drums and stereo. And if I had to move today and could only take three items, the list would be the same. To me "stereo" is not a luxury item. It is as necessary as any appliance in the house. It's not a hobby but a lifestyle. Anyone else feel this way?
128x128artemus_5
My main point was not the tax issue but that I considered my music and its reproduction a lifestyle and not a hobby. I have started to post this before but did not. The tax issue and conversation that followed just brought it back to mind. I did consider starting a thread about the fact that we as Americans work from 1/1 to about 5/20 just to pay our tax burden for the year. This includes Fed, State, property, sales etc, but that is very close to 50%. The Revolutionary War was fought over far less.
Mine is a hobby which I enjoy nearly everyday and is very much a part of my lifestyle.
Music is more of a lifestyle and audio is more of a hobby. Music is the end of a means that is audio. And all the aspects of audio (e.g. buying, discussing, assembling system) are intrinsically enjoyable. There couldn't be a better hobby.
Music is a lifestyle. I sing in a professional choir, and attend well over a couple dozen live concerts a year that I am not performing in. Other than the HT system, I have three audio systems: the main one; one in a bedroom that is a home office, and one in my work office. So I am surrounded by music all the time (including the car).
I agree, Lifestyle. Fine audio gear is a means to an end: music. It is all about the music for me. If I didn't have the money to buy fine audio gear, I'd still listen to music and be happy with a portable cd player and headphones.