So, I've been trying new adventures this year. I've been hiking and wild camping, I've been cycling more, and found that hammocks can be very comfortable, once you learn not to fall out!
I also tried Stand Up Paddle Boarding recently, and it's safe to say I loved it. No sooner had I finished the 2 hour taster session I was planning how I could get myself into this sport as soon as possible.
Well I set myself the target of getting myself a board and getting out and paddling before the end of 2013, and I'm glad to say I have achieved it! I started looking into the cost of a board, paddle, life jacket etc and quickly figured out I was looking at an outlay of potentially up to £900!
And that was my first big hurdle. I certainly didn't have a spare £900 lying around.... or did I? I've had a few hobbies and interests over the years, and one of my great passions for a long time has been music. I spent a good part of my late 20's and early 30's buying records, yes records! The big round black things that old people used to have before CD's and MP3's were invented.
I amassed quite a collection of vinyl over the years, and I used to enjoy DJ'ing at parties and sometimes at club nights. To play my precious vinyl on I invested in a set of Technic's 1210 turntables. Anyone who has ever had an interest in DJ'ing will know they are the much revered and well loved industry standard tools of DJ's across the world, and they are still very much in favour now. Even in the digital age!
The thing about these bits of kit, and getting yourself started in the world of DJ'ing, is that it is NOT cheap! A pair of Technics 1210's will set you back hundreds of pounds. Much as they were a well loved possession they had sat boxed up safely in my shed/studio for the past few years and I've neither the time or inclination to play them. Seemed a shame to let them just sit there being unused.
Well I thought I'd have a little look on eBay and see if they were still worth anything. It turns out that you can buy a pair quite cheaply, as long as you don't mind them having bits missing and faults galore! If however you want a pair in good, clean condition, that are in their original working condition, that have been lovingly cared for and stored in a flight case their whole life..... you'll have to pay good money!
You can see where I'm going with this. I took a past passion and traded it for a new passion. Simple as that. Out with the old and in with the new. I thought it would be a tough decision and that it would be hard to say goodbye to my old passion, but i figured I'd had my time with that interest, and it was time for something new and equally exciting.
Since saying goodbye to my old friends and passing them on to an enthusiastic new home and the hands of another budding DJ, I have now found and purchased everything I need to get out and start paddling the rivers around my home.
It feels so much more than just selling some stuff and buying more stuff. It's more like saying goodbye to one passion and igniting the flame of another. I hope my new passion will bring me as much pleasure and fun as my last one, and I hope like music and DJ'ing I will meet lots of interesting new people. Well, that part has already begun! I'm now discovering a new world, with new people who are also passionate about paddle boarding. It seems they are popping up all over the place, which is great. More people to go for a paddle with!
If you are looking for a new passion, a new way to find fun and fulfilment, get out there and do it. Look at all the opportunities out there, pick one that catches you eye and go for it. It might be just the thing you need in your life to help make a positive change, to turn a new corner and open your eyes to a whole world of adventure.
Keep an eye on my blogs to find out how I get on with my new sporting passion. I'll be writing again soon.
Cheers, Andrew.
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