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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?
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bwyoung
140 posts
 
Mine is a hobby which I enjoy nearly everyday and is very much a part of my lifestyle.
ohlala
993 posts
 
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.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
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).
tlhub
19 posts
 
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.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Because I've only been involved in the "high end" for about 10 years now, I still consider it (specifically high end) a hobby. That said though, I've enjoyed music all my life, ie have played guitar(s) for over 40 years, and have always had at least a mif-fi system around, and enjoy live concerts.

I think music is part of American life for many just as it is in many countries, so in that respect, music is part of the American lifestyle in general. Music helps to define a culture. And you don't have to be into "high end" audio either-- us audiogeeks are just more obsessive about it. Cheers. Craig
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