I really like this comic. I spent close to ten years as a superfan of a band. I saw them all across the US and Canada and even went to Europe and Australia. But about a year ago I found my enthusiasm had waned for a variety of reasons. When I look back, it feels a bit odd. I knew there were some amazing times (my friends and I show up in the band's DVD), but I feel little attachment to that scene now. This comic does a good job of summarizing how I feel. That time wasn't wasted, it was spent becoming an expert in something. Now I've moved on to the next thing (hiking and camping).
That sounds like you had a fantastic time, and have some good memories and mementos from those years; definitely time not wasted. I enjoy hiking and camping but do not have the time or energy to be able to get away to do it, despite living right next to the fantastic Dartmoor; I will definitely be spending one of my lives camping, hiking and sailing (preferably at the same time!)
I'd love to try sailing! There are lakes in town here. I've lived here for fifteen years and only started kayaking last summer. It can be so peaceful out on the water. I'm not so interested in power boats, but sailing might be fun to try. Have you sailed? Is it hard to get into?
My granddad and uncles are all sailors and have worked with boats either in the military, commercially or building them. So naturally they built a fantastic wooden catamaran that could be collapsed so it would fit on a single trailer, it provided two berths to sit or sleep in and a canvas at the front that you could lay on and touch the water. I was fortunate enough to sail it fairly regularly during my childhood, both under motor and wind power. I'm sad that I never got to go across to France with him and his friend, but we would travel up and down river and have some great memories out of it: like getting stuck in the mud for hours because I followed their exact directions, leaving them to get muddy trying to free the boat whilst I managed to escape spotless. Or the time I was in charge of the dinghy and had to rescue a girl who had fallen off a wall into the water, I completely forgot about that until he reminded me a few months ago. There's some great people to meet out sailing, it really is like having a little house on the water and getting invited onto somebody else's boat for a cup of tea puts a fun twist on going over to the neighbours house. My wife and I would like to try out canal boats, maybe that could lead to hiking and camping throughout the country.
